SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S ONLINE SUFING MUSEUM
South Australias Board Builders
JAYBEE SURFBOARDS
1 INTRODUCTION
JayBee Surfboards South Australia
JayBee surfboards was started around early 1957 when Rod Bedford and brothers Bert and Jim started manufacturing surf skis in Rod's backyard at Edwardstown. By the end of 1957 they had moved to a shop on South Rd at St Marys opposite the Chrysler factory. Around 1958 they were producing hollow plywood surfboards and then by 1959 were building balsa boards. During the early 60s they were making surfboards from Polystyrene using epoxy resin and also from the polyurethane foam that was at first only in limited supply.
The JayBee company Ute at Moana Beach 1963
The Early Days
Besides Building and Repairing Surf Ski’s for some of the life saving clubs, in 1958 they started hiring out surf ski’s at most of the metropolitan beaches in Adelaide. While repairing Ski’s they would occasionally get the odd surfboard to repair. This is how they eventually got into building surfboards.
Bert And Rod Surf Ski Build 1958
Early Sixties
It was around 1962 that polyurethane foam became available and between then and 1965 surfing boomed. Jaybees began locally supplying department stores and marine stores in Adelaide. Taylors Marine became their agent. In 1964 Jaybees started blowing there own Foam blanks to help keep the production up.
JayBee Surf Ski’s 1958
Early to Mid Sixties
With the availability of balsa wood improving in Australia after supply difficulties during the late 50s, Bert who was a carpenter by trade put his hand and his artistic skills to work joining the balsa wood logs together and shaping them. They knew that polyurethane foam would become available in Australia soon but in the meantime. Balsa and polystyrene and epoxy would have to to do.
Balsa Surfboard new boards and repairs 1958
Bert Bedford was the main shaper and was backed up by Rod Bedford and Trevor Lyle
Jaybees made surfboards under several other labels
Surf Star - Surf King - Moana Surfer - Rick - Mack -Treloar - Taylor
Christine Cox
Graham Treloar older brother of David Baddy” Treloar worked in the shop early 60s. Graham Originally from Manly in Sydney, was South Australias first open State champion in 1964 and he had his own surfboard model at JayBee’s.
JayBee Graham Treloar Model surfboard
JayBee’s company name was JayBee Boats. From 1957 - 1969 JayBees Built surf Ski’s and Surfboards, Canoes, trailer sailors, and speed boats etc. but by the early 70s they moved to Lonsdale and concentrated on more industrial Fibreglass work
JayBee Surf Star model