Welcome to the Gulf Stream range of surfboards.
This range is the product of a lifetime's surfing experience and absolute dedication to the craft of surfboard manufacture. The result is a comprehensive collection of ocean going surfboards which have a proven track record in all seas and attention to detail that is second to none. Take your time to click on each shape. We are confident that there is a board here to fulfil your surfing needs and one which you will be proud to own.
Using techniques both modern and old Jools Matthews shapes boards for the mass market as well as the more discerning and skilled surfer. Gulfstream offer both a custom shaping service or the more standard off the peg board.
Use the links to the right to find the board of your choice.
I use US Blanks for all shortboards. Most shortboarders have their own preferences of shapes that work for them. Currently I am favouring my own boards with a bit more tail lift (+1/4" or so), with a low, boxy rail and mostly single concave although I still ride single/double on some of my boards. The range of rockers from US Blanks allows me refine shapes perfectly to suit all types of shortboards. Obviously boards with more rocker and lower rails go great in good waves and remain firmly at the forefront of vertical, manoeuvre led surfing. Saying that, a lot of surfers prefer full boxy rails and flatter natural rockers in weaker waves.
Another major factor in board performance, sadly too often overlooked, is FINS. Of course Fin Systems are standard these days. Unfortunately a lot of fin systems are designed to drive down the cost of manufacturing and not driven by better performance. The key is to use a Fin System that performs as close as possible to a fixed fin, so that it is strong and flexes in the tip and not from the base. Of the two or three good systems on the market my preference is Lok Box. Add a good shape and the rest is up to you.
For Team Model and the Flyer click here
The Team Model
Over the years I have worked hard with all of our sponsored riders to develop a pro competition shortboard, and this is it. I am constantly changing and tweaking
each part of the boards to optimise the performance for each surfer. Because competition shortboards are generally so low volume, there isn't a lot of foam to
waste, therefore small changes can make a big difference. As such it is crucial that you work with a shaper to find the sweet spots that work for you.
No matter if you already are a capable shortboarder or you want to learn to hit lips, do aerials and grab rail cutbacks, this board will help.
More good news is that good shortboards like good surf, so it naturally follows that once you own one of these beauties you really should book a trip somewhere nice to use it. Everyone's a winner!
The Flyer
Our wide-tailed shortboard. I put a 5 1/2" squash tail on them and the 12" mark from the tail is 14 1/2" - 15" wide. I often use hips to straighten out the tail
template as well. Most people like the whole board to be a half inch or so wider than their standard shortboard but it isn't absolutely necessary.
The idea of this board is to provide a wider planing surface for small to medium beachbreak conditions. As such I also use flatter natural rockers.
Saunton Foil
In my attempt to get longer and longer nose rides I have used the basic principles of a traditional 60's plank with its flat rocker line, 50/50 rails,
wide tail and rolled vee bottom. After much research I have been able to combine a refined foil, extended nose concave and pinched nose rails to give a
wonderfully sensitive/precise feel when trimming with five or ten toes on the nose. (Most of our research has been done on the waves at Saunton, hence the name.)
I have also increased tail kick and placed up rails in the tail so turning arcs are smooth and fast.
View images of a Foil
Pro-former
The trick with our progressive mal is not only in the thinned out rocker but our experience with performance shortboards. It always surprises me just how well such a thin,
highly rockered and relatively narrow board actually nose rides. Of course it is all a lot quicker, in terms of time on the nose and getting to and from the nose, but
then that's the idea. Recently I have added a new shortboard rail and tail design that we have ridden all over the world and
that means the Pro-former can all but turn in arcs usually reserved for shortboards alone. Clearly, features such as the two plus one fin set-up, subtle nose concave and light-weight silk finish help to keep the board light and responsive for good surfers
but also very forgivable for the less talented and that's something everyone can enjoy.
Over the years the Retro Rocket has been a perennial favourite. The reason is simple, it is a shortboard, just a wide one. The extra width makes a massive difference for paddling into waves and early planing. The board has shortboard rockers and bottom contours with a swallow tail and standard thruster set-up.
So you don't have to devote your entire life to surfing to enjoy shortboard performance. A relief then, if you have anything else going on in your life!
The size range is from 6'0" to 6'10' and 1 to 2 inches wider than a shortboard of the same size. The board suits lots of surfers and is also an alternative to the Fish.
The Funboard is a bigger version of the Retro Rocket. The board is shaped from a shortboard blank so it has shortboard rockers with a thruster set up and a squash tail. The template is wide throughout with a full nose that still comes to a point so they are relatively easy to duckdive. Of course that is a big deal for a lot of people who want to ride a bigger board that still duckdives.
The Funboard is suited to surfers looking to move from minimals to shortboards. You are basically getting thruster performance for the first time. Also it can be seen as a big guy's shortboard.
The size range is from 6'10" to 7'.4" and between 20" to 21" wide.
Mini Mals firmly remain the best shape for entry level surfers but with a few tweaks they can also be turned into performance boards. One of the local surfers I make boards for (Gavin) rides a 7' 3" x 21" x 2 3/4" squash tail. I have really foiled it out, put low shortboard rails on it and added concaves. He is not particularly liked in the line up simply because he catches so many dam waves on it! But he doesn't care because he can hit the lip forehand and backhand as well as get barrelled on it. Clever so and so.
So the Mini Mal is the perfect board for learning to surf, mainly because they catch waves so easily, but also because they have plenty of room for you to develop your skills. So you can grow into a ripper in the line-up, albeit an unpopular one!
In my personal opinion, the pintails I shape are probably the best of all the boards we make. I always have a good surf when I take out one of my pintails, because, if I am riding a pintail the surf must be good.
There is a beautiful simplicity in the unbroken line that the template takes from the tip of the nose to the point in the tail. It creates the smoothest of turning arcs through any transition and at the highest of speeds there is a real feeling of secure drive and control. Naturally the rounded pin is still the 'must have' travel board. Typical dimensions are: 6'.8"x 18 1/2" x 2 3/8" with single to double concaves.
I have made lots of 'proper' pintails for places as far apart as Hawaii, Madiera and Ireland and I am pleased to report that all those surfers that left to charge in such waves have returned in one piece. Smaller rounded pins, however, are popular as allrounders in the UK, often just with single concave.
I've always thought that the Carpet has the wrong name. It should be called the Minimal, but there is already another board by that name.
By definition the Carpet is a longboard with the middle two feet chopped out, a miniature malibu then, no?
All of the vital stats are the same as a 9'6" traditional mal, except the length.
Eg 7'.4" x 23" x 3 1/4" x 19" x 16"
So Carpets tend to be loved by longboarders who want to feel the tighter turning arcs of a shorter board without giving up all the benefits of the 'girth' of a full length longboard. The Carpet still has 'glide' and nose riding is possible. There are two shapes to choose from as per the full size longboard, Progressive or Traditional. As such the fin set-up can be single fin or two plus one. (Check out our longboard section for details) The Carpet will go in small surf just fine but a lot of longboarders love them most when the surf gets overhead and just paddling out on a full size mal is a handful.
The traditional roots of the Egg and the Omelette come from early attempts to make shortboards. Also during this period there was still a great deal of manufacturing attention spent on resin tints and pin lining. So today these boards aren't just about performance, we make them to display the cutting edge of surfboard craftsmanship. Along with the fish, they form important parts of the re-invented retro forum.
The Egg is a 'double ender', that is to say the nose and tail shapes are similar. Both are wide and come to a point. The template is therefore even with the wide point in the middle of the board. Added to a vee bottom and low rails it makes for a balanced and stable ride. There is a thin and raked single fin which gives the board a nice 'whippy' turning arc. As with all retro boards rockers are fairly flat and paddling is easy. Aaaaah retro heaven in small to medium surf!
The Omlette is a higher performance board in which you can definitely see the early steps towards the modern shortboard. The wide point is forward of the middle meaning the tail outline is more parallel, sometimes with wingers, which gives the board a lot of directional stability and control at high speeds. Importantly the fin set-up is two plus one. Two small thrusters and around a 7" single fin combined with double concaves and a diamond tail all of which provide steady drive when surfing at pace.
The Speed Dialer A new benchmark in progressive Fish surfing. The fins have the same surface area as twin keels but with added release. Water is channelled through the fin cluster, the leading fin providing loads of drive and the trailing fin giving stability. Added to double wings and a belly concave, down the line speed and drive is eye watering. I'm not sure you can call any other board fast after you have ridden one of these.
As with all fishes the wide point of the board is forward of the middle and the rocker is fairly flat so paddling speed is fast and because the tail is also wide the board is extremely quick to plane. Overall the Speed Dialer is suited most surfers with moderate to advanced ability, however Speed Dialers bigger than say 6'2" are also great for surfers transitioning into the shortboard market.
| Board Type | Matt finish* Standard fins |
Matt finish* Glass fins |
Tint and gloss Standard fins |
Tint and gloss Glass fins |
| Shortboards | £399 | £435 | £499 | £525 |
| Speed Dialer | £429 | £469 | £499 | £545 |
| Keel Fish | - | £449 | - | £535 |
| Mini Mal | £399 | £435 | £499 | £535 |
| Funboard | £399 | £435 | £499 | £535 |
| Retro Rocket | £399 | £435 | £499 | £535 |
| Egg/Omelette | - | £445 | - | £535 |
| Longboards to 9'.8" | £595 | £625 | £695 | £745 |
| Longboards 10'+ | £625 | £645 | £745 | £795 |
* Standard Artwork on matt finish boards add £20
All prices are subject to change. Custom orders are the same as price as stock boards, although there are some variations, please call 01271 815490 or for an exact quote.
