Donald Takayama 10’ Balsa Model T

Donald Takayama 10’ Model T Balsa

This one is special. There was a time around 2008 when Donald was making a series of beautiful Balsa boards in his Oceanside shaping room. The owner of this board had already purchased a few of Donald’s handshapes and was on the short list to get one from the balsa series.

His phone rang at 4:00 am one night/morning. It was Donald and Junior Seau, still up from the night before partying. Donald told the owner to come down and join them as he was going to shape his board. The guy went down and joined in the festivities and this board was made, there and then. 

Junior and Donald both passed away in early 2012 but they’re Mana runs through this board. The board feels like chambered balsa, but the owner says it’s solid. I think he’s right because it’s heavy. It’s a flawless example of Donald’s craftsmanship.

The board Features a glassed-on, handmade wood patterned fin. A tail block that looks to be redwood, mahogany with balsa inlays. It also has double pinlines on the rails and bottom where the concave is in the nose.

Theres one hanging in Mitches Surf Shop with a price range of $28,000

This is a rare one as most the balsas that have come up are guns or funky smaller hybrid types. If you want a piece of art from one of the all time master craftsman, this is it.