6'3" Mullet - Business in Front, Party in the Back
Basalt-Skinned Fish: A Tribute to Classic Design, Built for Impact
As someone who shapes boards in my garage near Santa Cruz, I’ve always had a soft spot for the classic fish. That short, wide outline with the deep swallow tail — it just speaks to the kind of surfing I love: down-the-line speed, effortless glide, and the ability to find fun even when the waves aren’t perfect.
For this board, I wanted to build something that paid tribute to that original 1970s design — but also pushed things forward in terms of durability. After shaping a few experimental boards and testing different materials, I kept coming back to one idea: what if I could make a fish that felt fast and lively, but could also take a beating?
Enter the basalt skin.
Basalt is a volcanic fiber — naturally dark, with an almost carbon-like look, but with its own feel and flex characteristics. More importantly for a garage shaper like me, it offers serious impact resistance. I’ve dinged plenty of boards over the years, and I wanted this fish to be one I could throw in the truck, paddle out on rocky points, and not worry about babying it.
The lamination schedule on this one was all about balance:
- Two layers of 4 oz E-glass on the deck for that classic feel and flex
- Two layer of 4 oz E-glass on the bottom
- Topped off with a 5 oz Basalt Innegra Hex Weave layer on both sides — that beautiful dark weave gives the board an unmistakable look and adds that extra toughness
I also used a 1.5” carbon strip stringer top and bottom, which helps reinforce the board without adding a lot of weight. The goal wasn’t to make a tank — it was to make a fish you could ride hard without constantly worrying about heel dents, pressure dings, or those inevitable bumps from life on the California coast.
The end result? It still rides like a fish should: fast, skatey, alive underfoot. But when I toss it in the back of the car next to tools, wetsuits, and whatever else I’ve got going on — I know it’s ready to handle it.
For me, this board is exactly what Experimental Surfboards is about: respecting the roots, experimenting with new materials, and shaping boards I actually want to surf here in Santa Cruz.
