Foam kit Boogie board designed by Tom Morey
Datelate 1970s - early 1980s
Object number00030835
NameBoogie board
MediumFoam
DimensionsOverall: 1135 x 577 x 65 mm, 1.5 kg
ClassificationsToys, games and souvenirs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Peter Embrey
DescriptionThis foam kit boogie board was designed by Tom Morey. The square-nosed board has a blue underside and a white top side with 'Morey' printed in black, and silver tape around the sides of the board. The board was purchased and assembled by Peter Embry, who used the board at Sydney's northern and southern beaches. HistoryThe foam belly board, or Boogie board, was invented by Tom Morey in the early 1970s. In the 1960s Morey started a company that commercialised the fin system on surfboards, and the Boogie board was an offshoot of experimentation that led to the development of the company's Morey-Doyle flexible surfboard. Tom Morey's first foam board was made in his Californian garage on 7 July 1971, with the name Morey Boogie trademarked in 1973. By 1977 Morey was producing 80,000 per year, which were mainly sold in the United States.
Based on the Hawaiian Paipo, the affordable board incorporated a flexible soft construction and ‘vacuum track rails’. It was originally offered to the buyer as a self assembled product, where all materials were provided, but they had to be glued together. When Peter Embrey bought his kit boogie board by mail order from Morey in California, Boogie boards were not manufactured in Australia. Embrey assembled this board and the pieces of foam were secured together with gaffer tape.
SignificanceThe board is an early example of body boarding technology designed by a leading figure in surfing.
early 20th century
