Custom Surfboards
Heirloom Quality for a Lifetime
Heirloom Quality for a Lifetime
Every Paul Surf surfboard is shaped, glassed, and finished entirely by one craftsman in New York City. Built with the precision of an engineer and the eye of a designer, each board is a personal collaboration to create a board that is structurally superior, visually unique, and perfectly suited to your surfing.
Every Paul Surf surfboard is shaped, glassed, and finished entirely by one craftsman in New York City. Built with the precision of an engineer and the eye of a designer, each board is a personal collaboration to create a board that is structurally superior, visually unique, and perfectly suited to your surfing.
THE PROCESS
From Conversation to Craft
A custom board begins with a detailed consultation to understand your needs - how you surf, where you ride, and what you seek in feel and flow. From there, Paul hand-shapes the foam blank to your exact specifications, meticulously balancing hydrodynamic performance with a timeless outline.
The lamination stage fuses durability and artistry. Each board is marked with the Double Diamond, which signifies a superior dual-layer glassing technique that exceeds industry standards for unparalleled strength and longevity. Clients may choose to incorporate one-of-a-kind artwork using the Chromatic Resin System, transforming the board into a functional artwork where color becomes part of the statement.
From start to finish, your surfboard is the product of one craftsman’s unwavering attention to detail.
- Custom commissions start at $5,000
- Custom commissions start at $5,000
- Entirely handmade by Paul J. Schmidt in New York City
- Entirely handmade by Paul J. Schmidt in New York City
- Features superior double-glassing lamination for durability and sustainability
- Features superior double-glassing lamination for durability and sustainability
- Bespoke chromatic resin artwork available
- Bespoke chromatic resin artwork available
Commission a Surfboard
Commission a Surfboard
Commission a Surfboard
Fish
Ideal Conditions
2’-8’
Recommended Dimensions
5’2” - 5’10”
Key Features
A classic fish shape, the outline of which has been refined over the past decade for better control, speed, and streamlined flow. Standard with a twin fin set up.
Paul's Note
“If you don’t have one of these boards in your quiver, I want encourage you to not only invest in this shape, as it’s one of the most fun boards you’ll surf in a wide variety of waves, but to also spend the extra cash and let me glass on twin marine ply keels. They are lighter an fiberglass, and you’d be surprised at how much that positive buoyancy can be felt, as well as the tightness of the overall effect of having the fins perfectly integrated into the structure of the board itself.”
Little Egg
Ideal Conditions
2’-8’
Recommended Dimensions
5’4” - 6’4”
Key Features
A diminutive take on a wide-point-forward, pintail egg. Softly rolled entry, with a slight single concave through the fin.
Paul's Note
“Would highly suggest this board set up as either a twin, or a twin + 1, as the twin is going to really enable you to push this shortboard in much heavier situations.”
Bonnie
Ideal Conditions
3’-10’
Recommended Dimensions
5’10” - 6’10”
Key Features
A uniquely designed bonzer for both wide open and pitchy surf. Flat entry to single to double concave through the tail, with twin glass on side runner fins.
Paul's Note
“This outline was hand-drawn about 8 years ago and has gone through very minimal adjustment, as the first version of this board felt like I had struck gold. The feature which differentiates this design from a traditional Campbell Brother’s bonzer, is the placement and size of the side runners. I always felt the bonzer 3s were only of the pinnacles of surfboard design, but felt the side runner fins were too tall and slightly too long, so I designed my own and have been making a custom twin set of them for each shape I build ever since the first. Loose like a single fin, but with all the grip in the steeper wave face when you need it most.”
Apex Twin
Ideal Conditions
3’-12’
Recommended Dimensions
6’6” - 7’6”
Key Features
Glassed-on-rail, marine ply fins with a classic, though progressive, outline. Flat to single concave, with a touch of v. Single fin box comes standard.
Paul's Note
“I wanted to maintain all the best features of single fin surfing; effortless glide and speed, smooth turning and connectedness with the wave, but try to alleviate the bottom-turn slide out. In heavier surf, a single fin can get squirrelly, especially when pushing the board fully on rail through a bottom turn. The single fin can completely lose engagement, right at the moment you need it most. The small, hand-foiled marine ply fins have been designed to add minimal drag when in trim, and maximal grip when laying the board on its rail. The placement is critical, as it relates to the single fin, and the rail itself. I’ve found the fins to work best when set to the apex of the rail-line, which is where the design finds its name.”
Egg
Ideal Conditions
2’-12’
Recommended Dimensions
6’0” - 8'6"
Key Features
Truly timeless outline for all types of conditions. Loves a clean point, but can handle almost anything the day throws your way. Nothing more pure than the foil and bottom design of this board; rolled with a sharp edge in the tail for maximum release. Suggested as a single, with a twin+1 option.
Paul's Note
“The most popular shape of the boards I build, and for good reason. This board, in the 7’ range, is my go-to travel companion, as it’s ready to take on almost any size and energy. This shape has really helped refine my surfing, rewarding the smooth connected surf style I have always found so captivating.”
Log
Ideal Conditions
1’-6’
Recommended Dimensions
9’2” - 10’
Key Features
Outline has been designed to optimize all aspects of classic logging. Nose concave, rolled through the middle of the board, with slight v through the tail, it will exceed all expectations of what a proper log can do — a nose rider that turns on a dime and flies when in trim.
Paul's Note
“If you are ready to embrace a whole new logging experience, I can’t recommend the Double Diamond design enough. Two small resin diamonds at the tail of the board signify the unique construction of this log. I laminate and hotcoat and sand the board twice, which results in a board as strong as the first era logs from the early 60’s, but with about ten pounds less weight than the standard board of that time period. The added weight is something you need to experience to fully appreciate; the speed, momentum and glide are all lost with the modern longboard design. Watch old footage of Phil Edwards or Mickey Dora and you’ll see a style dictated by the board design of this era.”
Explore Shapes
Fish
Ideal Conditions
2’-8’
Recommended Dimensions
5’2” - 5’10”
Key Features
A classic fish shape, the outline of which has been refined over the past decade for better control, speed, and streamlined flow. Standard with a twin fin set up.
Paul's Note
“If you don’t have one of these boards in your quiver, I want encourage you to not only invest in this shape, as it’s one of the most fun boards you’ll surf in a wide variety of waves, but to also spend the extra cash and let me glass on twin marine ply keels. They are lighter an fiberglass, and you’d be surprised at how much that positive buoyancy can be felt, as well as the tightness of the overall effect of having the fins perfectly integrated into the structure of the board itself.”
Explore Shapes
Fish
Ideal Conditions
2’-8’
Recommended Dimensions
5’2” - 5’10”
Key Features
A classic fish shape, the outline of which has been refined over the past decade for better control, speed, and streamlined flow. Standard with a twin fin set up.
Paul's Note
“If you don’t have one of these boards in your quiver, I want encourage you to not only invest in this shape, as it’s one of the most fun boards you’ll surf in a wide variety of waves, but to also spend the extra cash and let me glass on twin marine ply keels. They are lighter an fiberglass, and you’d be surprised at how much that positive buoyancy can be felt, as well as the tightness of the overall effect of having the fins perfectly integrated into the structure of the board itself.”
Commission a Custom Piece
Commission a Custom Piece
Commission a Custom Piece
