Boards by Design

Custom Surfboards personally shaped by Adrian Phillips

Adrian has many years experience with an impressive record of over 7000 boards hand shaped in both the UK and Australia. A recent Adrenalin Magazine feature article described Adrian as "Specialist in every sort of custom board you can throw at him". He's the type of shaper that is still enthusiastic and knows the importance of talking and listening to customers.

Every board is hand shaped by Adrian and glassed from start to finish in our own factory using only the best materials in the world. All boards are available with Lokbox fin systems and a fully sealed matt or polished finish and spray job of your choice.

The following descriptions provide a basic guide to our most commonly requested shapes although with custom boards anything is possible and all designs are in a constant state of evolution and refinement. (Photos not to scale).

This page last updated: Tuesday 16th April 2008

This is what the pro's ride. If you aim to progress your surfing to the highest level then a custom version of this design, fine tuned to your style is the way to go. Available as a squash, thumb, diamond or rounded pintail with a thruster or quad fin set up.

Typical dimensions 5'4" x 16 3/4 - 6'8" x 19 1/2"

This super high performance fish tailed quad effectively combines twin fin speed with thruster bite, giving you the best of both worlds in waves from waist high to double overhead. Includes Lokbox 'next generation' quad fins. Demo model available

Typical dimensions 5'8" x 18 - 7' x 20 1/2"

Highly versatile design. High performance shortboard with plenty of speed for smaller waves whilst the swallowtail keeps it solid in overhead surf. Mid-length sizes are ideal for heavier surfers and progressing beginner and intermediate surfers.
Demo model available

Typical dimensions 5'6 x 18 - 7'6 x 22½

Dismiss this as a retro board at your peril. State of the art concaves, rocker and rails combined with Lokbox custom glass fins make this the ultimate high speed performance board and not just in small waves.
Demo model available

Typical dimensions 5'2 x 20 - 6'4 x 22½

This awesome design surfs like a thruster but faster. Amazing projection out of turns, corners like it's on rails! 'Pavel Speed Dialer' fin set up. Bat-tail or Swallowtail. Demo model available

Typical dimensions 5'2 x 18 - 6'8 x 21

Performance all rounder for wide range of waves and abilities. The ultimate 'just one more wave' board. With a single plus side bite [2+1] fin set up this board combines single fin glide with thruster performance.
Demo model available

Typical dimensions 5'8 x 19 - 8'2 x 22

This is an easy riding high performance thruster design adjusted for a smooth flowing style. Ideal for all abilities in waves from knee high to double overhead.
Demo model available

Typical dimensions 6’ x 19 - 7’6” x 22

A.K.A the "Stubby" (recently featured in Wavelength issue no 134), wider version of the high performance thruster - possibly the ultimate high performance board for average waves and all abilities including good surfers who don't get in as much as they'd like.

Typical dimensions 5'8 x 19 - 6'8 x 22

Bigger guy/Intermediate version of the high performance thruster.

Typical dimensions 6'6 x 20½ - 7'6 x 22

Bigger wave versions of the high performance thruster, longer and narrower usually with a rounded pin, narrow squash or narrow swallow tail.

Typical Dimensions 6'8 x 18 - 9'6 x 20½

Swallow tailed version of the wide thruster - similar performance but more bite in carving turns and increased wave size range.

Typical Dimensions 5'8 x 19 - 6'8 x 22

Combining the performance of a fish with the stability and paddling power of a mini-mal.

Typical Dimensions 6'4 x 21½ - 6'8 x 22

Possibly the best all round - do everything board - suits wide range of wave sizes and all abilities.

Typical Dimensions 6'8 x 20½ - 8'2 x 23

High Performance version of the 'Hybrid', can be surfed to a very high level and in all wave sizes but also suitable for young learners and intermediates.

Typical Dimensions 5'4 x 19' - 6'8 x 21

Ideal all round learning board, more
stable version of the Hybrid.

Typical Dimensions 7'2 x 21½ - 8'2 x 23

Designed to make the most of a girls surfing style, generally thinner and narrower. An ideal all round learning board.

Typical Dimensions 7'2 x 21 - 8'2 x 22½

Shortboarder's Longboard or Longboarder's Shortboard. Highly maneuverable mini-nose rider, great fun in most conditions, also suitable for learning.

Typical Dimensions 6'10 x 22½ - 7'4 x 23

If you're not competing you don't need to go to 9' or more to get the benefits of a longboard - fast paddling, easy wave catching, small wave glide and laid back style.

Typical Dimensions 7'2 x 21½ - 8'6 x 23

Designed to complement a girls surfing style, generally thinner and narrower with reduced concave, flowing template and rocker for softer power application and a more graceful approach.

Typical Dimensions 7'2 x 21 - 8'6 x 22½

Ultimate high performance Longboard. Modern rails, rockers and outlines provide the control and responsiveness experienced Longboarders demand.

Typical Dimensions 9'1 x 22½ - 9'6 x 23

Combining the high performance longboard with the traditional Californian 60's longboard to provide easy paddling and wave catching, smooth turning, nose rides and the ability to handle a wide range of wave sizes.

Typical Dimensions 9' x 23 - 9'8 x 24

The ultimate board to make small waves look good! Pretty much straight from the 60's with a few subtle up to date adjustments. This design was actually much more evolved and refined than most people realize, made to extract max fun (wave count, distance, speed, surprising manoeuvrability) in smaller summer style waves. Smooth rocker, nose concave to rolled vee bottom and 50:50 rails.

Typical Dimensions 9' x 23 - 9'8 x 24

This board looked so good as it went through the glassing process that we had to just wax it up and get it in the water before we even thought about taking a photo! To mark our 7000th board this fully up to date ‘traditional longboard’ incorporates design features from over 40 years of surfboard design evolution. It is now part of our demo range and has hardly been out of the water since its first surf. Ideal for all abilities in waves from ankle to chest high. Demo model available

Typical dimensions 9’ x 23 - 10’ x 24

Retro Models:- Full range of proven designs from the past incorporating all the relevant design improvements from the present. Available shapes include late 60's twin fins late 70's twin fins, full range of single fins inc stingers, Early 80's thrusters etc. All based on original inventors templates.