A Pat Curren Spear

Dick Metz with the Pat Curren gun. Dick drove to Santa Barbara to pick this board up.

If you've been up to The Endless Summer Bar at the Santa Barbara harbor and eyed the Pat Curren gun, you already know what a gem of a board it is. If you haven't, well now you can see it by visiting our museum in San Clemente. This thing is a spear, solid balsa, 12' 1.25" long, 3.625" thick, 20.5" wide, nose 14.25" and tail 9.5", weighing in at 33 lbs. The board was just donated by Bev Morgan. 

Tom Carlin and Pat Gluing up the balsa blank. Photo: Collection Bev Morgan

Pat with template and blank. Photo: Collection Bev Morgan

 Tom Carlin looks on while Pat Glues up the balsa blank. Photo: Collection Bev Morgan

Dale Velzy, Hap Jacobs, Bill Meistrell, and Bev Morgan, in front of the Dive N' Surf Shop, 1955.

Bev was Velzy's first glasser to use sun cure resin. He invited Velzy to join him in his pursuit of the growing diving market, including the sale of rubber wetsuits, however Velzy declined the offer stating that "no surfer is ever going to wear one of those goddamn rubbers." In 1952, Bev started the first scuba instructor's program geared for the public. He also is credited with writing the first diving textbook. In 1954, he worked with the Meistrell brothers to develop Body Glove wetsuits. Bev went on to design and manufacture underwater photography equipment and life-support systems and also assisted with the development of the Purisima diving bell. He also has made the public aware of the effects of soaps and Detergents on our environment.