Welcome to the April edition of the Board Bazaar. 'Twas a funny month on the second hand scene; the Christmas hangover has passed - people were prepared to spend again - yet a number of big name, marquee items were ignored when the gavel fell. Check the first three items for examples of criminally overlooked boards. Also, eBay sellers, can I have a quiet word about your presentation? It's just not up to scratch. You've gone to all the trouble of opening an account, nurturing it, filling in details, figuring out price...and then you post a photo you took while running across the backyard. All I can see is a blurry shape lying skewiff with a pile of black wax on its belly. And you want how much for it...?

At the risk of sounding like a parent, clean up your act. Go on, let your board be the best that it can be. And with that here's April's offerings...

First board in the Bazaar is this classic stringerless mid-60s number. Shaped by Peter Clarke, who I understand to be a great shaper but always reminds me of the beardy chef from the box. You know, Peter "G'Day!" Russell "G'Day!" Clarke "See you later!". A deep vee signals this as a board shaped just prior to the shortboard revolution. The high aspect ratio fin is most likely a retro-fit (check the legrope hole) but that's the only thing that's been fiddled with. The rest is original, and with a starting bid of $900 the seller knew its worth. Unfortunately there were no bites - "See you later!"

From no stringer to bent stringer. If the details are legit then this board is some Ekstrom level shit. Wasn't till the mid-60s that Carl Ekstrom began his affair with assymmetry, yet this board pre-dates that by a decade - shaped in '58 apparently. Either the shaper was way ahead of his time, flirting with flex patterns 50 years before parabolic rails, or he simply couldn't cut straight. We'll never know 'cause there's no name attached, and so a potentially rich thread of design history leads nowhere. Seemed no-one was curious as the board passed in at $675.

OK, now we've got something more my vintage, a late-80s Rip Curl shaped by Michael Anthony. Bright white foam, unmarked glass, how can a board this age look so good? I was thinking botox and cosmetic surgery...or else just a remake, so I contacted the shaper. Michael said it's legit: "Would've been a stock board," and he even got the confirmation from Russ Graham who glassed it. So there you go, incredible condition and a ticket of confirmation. Posted for $999 without any bidders. Was everyone else also skeptical of its antiquity? If only I had a spare grand...

There was a time when Neal Purchase Senior was just Neal Purchase and he was more known as a nimble foam mower than the father of a talented son - at least to my generation. Clearly there's a lot of crew that still dig his work going on the reaction to this Burleigh Heads Surf Co. singley with curved Jim Pollard-style rail channels. 20 bids took it to $224.50. A downright bargain for its condition, vintage, and history.

Show me a board collection without a McCoy and I'll show you a sad gathering of foam and fibreglass. McCoy's influence on board design cannot be understated, so his boards, even those not featuring his pivotal shapes, are always in demand. This single fin swallow pre-dates the Lazer Zap, and fluoro paint too, although the pattern is in place. With full rails and thin nose it's a close forebear of the Lazer Zap. 28 bids took it up to $640 and someone's sad gathering just became a happy collection.

Is it fair to say Michael Cundith played second fiddle to George Greenough? Does that discredit Cundith's body of work? Both were 60s Californian dropouts who flourished in the rolling hills and pointbreaks of northern NSW, and both made exceptional surf equipment. Greenough, however, was just ahead of the curve and so considered designer nonpareil while Cundith has boards selling on eBay that don't crack a hungey. Just 4 bids and $86 for this Sky twinny. Hope the winner appreciates the history. FWIW the pastel resin tint would make it easy to restore the blemishes.

If you need proof surfing is a tribal sport then allow me to ask you this: Does the name Power Plug Surboards mean anything to you? If it does then you clearly come from the South Australian tribe 'cos it means bugger all to anyone else. This board has all the hallmarks of late-80s vintage: blocky tail, belly channels, shit spray job, but no doubt it appealled to all 8 people who bid on it. The mug who won paid a handsome $53 and guess what, he's a South Australian! How do I know? He's sitting next to me now...

Never let it be said we ain't equal opportunity at the Board Bazaar. This here kneeboard was shaped by Peter Ashley, a fella with rich history in the hamlet of Torquay. It's in exceptional condition but more eye-catching for mine is the similarity to the stumpy Chris Brock-shaped eggs that came back in vogue five or so years ago. It's from a time of standup and kneelo cross-pollination and I can't help but wonder how it'd go (standing up of course, and with the fin shifted further back).

Apparently there was a time when Coola green was a terrific colour to adorn your board: the fins, the rails, even the logos, all polliwog green. Thank heavens those days have passed and we only have to put up with the odd splash of fluoro pink. This Trigger Brothers twinny is very much a product of its age, double-winged, rounded pin, and of course that damn colour. It's in fine nick and went for a bargain price of just $152.50 after 12 bids.

Bonus board in the Bazaar! This month a mate of mine was visiting his parents when a neighbour called by. Told my friend he "had something to show him" and took him to his house. There buried under an old Atari game station and dusty wicker lounge was a board sock. The neighbour picked it up, rolled back the sock, and out slipped a mint condition Terry Bishop-shaped G&S thruster from the late-80s. An explanation was provided but all you need to know is this: It's never been ridden. In fact it's NEVER BEEN WET. It also has a nice new home. Yep, the good finds are still out there...