It’s been another amazing year of ocean inspired DIY with our We make It Sic! competition, powered by Bosch and Dremel! The standard of designs and crafts that we’ve received this year have been exceptional, with everything from shaka lamps made from copper, to glow in the dark barrels and home made wooden retro boards – which make up the total of 26 amazing entries.
Congrats to Kevin Fish (Functionality), Jasper Eales (Craftsmanship) and Liam Bulgen (Innovation).
The final votes have been tallied and it’s time to catch up with this year’s winners. Once again there were three categories: Craftsmanship, Innovation and Functionality, with the winner of each walking away with a tidy package of R10K’s worth of power tools – compliments of the good guys from Bosch and Dremel. Without further adieu, here are the winners for 2015:
1) Craftsmanship
Soul Arch Coffee Table by Jasper Eales
2) Innovation
Re-purposed Fin System by Liam Bulgen
3) Functionality
Surf Barge by Kevin Fish
We caught up with this year’s winners, to find out a little more about them and their winning designs.
LIAM BULGEN – Re-purposed Fin System (Functionality)
First off, have you been scoring any waves lately between all the DIY work? What else has been happening?
I’ve been working really long hours in the film industry to raise money for a consumable retail product for both local and international markets. I have developed a unique product that is proudly South African and geared toward making an impact in the above mentioned retail markets. The product is loaded with goodness and the packaging is 100% recyclable.
Keel fins made from a broken skateboard deck and reinforced with carbon fibre.
As a second time winner, what advice would you give to other ocean based DIY enthusiasts out there?
If you have an idea make it a reality. Every time I make something I learn something new and sometimes my final products are very different to what I initially had in mind. If I like something or come up with an idea I note it. Inspiration is everywhere. If you want it, it will find you. If you get stuck go online and the solution is likely to be a few clicks away. Don’t be scared to step out of your comfort zone
Liam’s winning entry for last year’s functionality category – the Eco Tailpad.
Tell us about the concept, how did you come up with the idea and how long did it take you to get from concept to finished product?
The concept came from wanting to make a surfboard fin that would look sexy and be functional. I then started considering using different materials and I invested a lot of time and energy into identifying, trying and testing different materials. I was stoked to use up-cycled goods that would have ended up on the dump. I get a kick from giving something old new life, especially if it is functional and pleasant to look at.
Velzy Logfin, made from a computer motherboard.
Describe the process of making your entry?
After deciding what and how I wanted to do, achieving the process was a matter of trial and error – testing how the various materials reacted together. At times I became very anxious due to the element of surprise that lingered when combining different materials. Seeing my friend carving on the motherboard velzy fin I gave him made me stoked though.
What’s your next project, anything on the cards for the foreseeable future?
A surfboard made out of a variety of locally and ethically sourced natural materials that have not been used before.
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JASPER EALES – Soul Arch Coffee Table (Craftsmanship)
Jasper’s winning entry this year, the soul arch coffee table.
Zigzag: First off, have you been scoring any waves lately between all the DIY work? What else has been happening in the life of Jasper Eales lately?
Jasper: I’ve been surfing almost every day either before or after work for the last month. As after my operation in May I was out of the water for just over six months. I eased back into it slowly and am now feeling stronger and better than ever. So I’m kinda the most frothed middle-aged grom in and out of the water at the moment.
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been conceptualising and implementing a new business with my mate and now business partner Mike Schlebach. We share a similar vision on our new business venture, but bring diverse skills, knowledge and experience to the table. The brand is called Sealand Gear. We create new value product from waste material, our core values lie in environmentally responsible production, and produce high quality product that suits the active outdoor lifestyle that we both live. We have launched with a range of bags, accessories and a collection of deck chairs, all of which have a lifetime warrantee. See more on our website or Facebook page.
Jasper’s mantra favours functionality over form… simplicity and longevity is key.
You’re making quite a habit of scooping the win, any advice for other ocean based DIY enthusiasts out there?
My advise would be to pursue your passions, and try allow your play to crossover into your work. That way work wont feel like work. This is dangerous however, as you can then find yourself working an unhealthy amount of hours. Find your balance and you will be smiling. Soul Arch was for me, was my most exciting and passionately driven project I have done to date. It cost me by far the most amount of money I have ever invested into a single personal driven design but it was worth every cent. Best of all, if it never sells I get to keep it for my living room one day…
Tell us about the concept, how did you come up with the idea and how long did it take you to get from concept to finished product?
I spent a few weeks conceptualising the design. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to create a coffee table that was inspired by the ocean/waves/surfboard, however the last thing I wanted to do was create a kitsch seen before surfboard placed on top of a base. I wanted to refine that concept into something that could comfortably suit the living space of a home, hotel or gallery. Since Soul Arch was created it has been showcased in two prestigious high end collectable art/design exhibitions hosted by the Southern Guild Gallery. The production of all the components that make up the finished product took roughly four weeks.
Describe the process of making your entry?
The process of making Soul Arch was really special. I worked with a collection of very interesting, knowledgeable and passionate people. All of whom I thank gratefully for there time and expertise shared with me.
Conceptualising and design was the first crucial steps in the process.
You’ve just won R10,000 worth of Bosch and Dremel power tools for winning the Craftsmanship category. Is there any tool in particular that you are looking to get your hands on?
I would love to get a good quality skill saw or radial arm miter saw. I love the Bosch and Dremel product range and can’t wait to get my hands on them. I use the ones I won a few years back all the time and can’t fault them anywhere. Thank you very very much.
What’s your next project, anything on the cards for the foreseeable future?
I have great intensions to continue creating high quality, collectable ocean/surf inspired design. I have a concept for a collection of animated bronze cast surfboard holders. Once again, I’d just like to thank Zigzag, Boscha and Dremel for the amazing competition and opportunity to showcase the work I do. I really hope it continues to grow and create a platform for people like use. The ocean and outdoors is the greatest source of inspiration for me and I truly am blessed to have it a stone through away from where I live.
Made from locally sourced timber in the form of Ficus and South African Kiaat.
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KEVIN FISH – Surf Barge (Functionality)
Captain Fish and his wife, enjoing a celebratory cruise on their newly completed barge.
So what’s been happening in the life of Kevin Fish lately? Been scoring any waves lately between all the DIY work?
Yeah I get to surf all the time. I literally do everything in my power to surf everyday as long as there is a little wave to be had.
Luke is back from Qatar for his December break and is blown away. It cost a small fortune in the end to build, but what it has done in terms of improving our lifestyles is priceless. Besides building the barge, it’s been an interesting year. I started performing didjeridoo and drums again after an absence of a few years. I have also been teaching both instruments… trying to put back into our local community with a positive message of mutual love and respect for all which is easily communicated through music. Check this video – it gets interesting around the four minute mark so skip straight through. We had never practised and the whole jam was just improvised on the spot.
The Surf Barge dry docked earlier this year, still in the process of being completed.
So the barge took you most of this year, and ended up costing you and your ‘silent partner’ a small fortune… was it worth it? And what does he have to say from the UK now that it’s finished?
Well the original intention was to make a small floating platform driven by a trolling motor with a bar bench on it. Luke and I have chatted on the phone constantly the whole year, discussing what would be the most practical and functional barge we could build. He laughed at me every time I complained about being itchy or things not going according to plan. I learnt through this process that there are no problems in life, there are only solutions which is something that I think is going to stand me in good stead. At the end of the day we ended up with a barge that is 6 x 4 meters in size, has three pontoons, driven by such a groovy old motor that starts every time. It’s quite a good feeling cruising up and down the river on something I have made. I reckon the nickname of “Captain Fish” is far better than what my neighbours started calling me – “Noah”!
Noah’s Surf-Ark, hoping for storm swells!
Tell us about the concept, how did you come up with the idea and how long did it take you to get from concept to finished product??
Well we decided on making three pontoons the basis of which was to be 18 x 210 litre lubricant oil drums. I made a wooden cradle to lash the drums to and these formed the frames for the three pontoons. They were then inverted so that they could be fibreglassed. I had no experience in fibreglassing and this took by far the most amount of time out of everything in the whole project to complete. No jokes, I have two tools (my angle grinder and my electric screw driver) that are both made by Bosch that without, I would not have been able to complete this project. They are incredibly versatile tools and never let me down once! The barge is literally held together with a million screws and fibreglass. The deck is comprised of 9 x 18 mm shutterply – all joints fibreglassed and sealed. The truth is that the chemicals involved in a project like this are intense and we worked in my garage and boat shed so as to minimise the environmental impact to virtually nothing.
Early days for Kevin and his barge.
You’ve just won R10,000 worth of Bosch and Dremel power tools for winning the Functionality category. Is there any tool in particular that you are looking to get your hands on?
My favourite tool at school to work on was always a wood lathe and I have never been able to afford one. On a functionality level a thicknesser / planer is also a tool that I don’t have in my workshop and is something that would be cherished.
What’s your next project, anything on the cards for the foreseeable future?
Yep, next year my wife and I are moving into a new house and I have undertaken to build the deck outside, our kitchen as well as all the built in cupboards in the house. In the not so distant future, I would like to build a six metre sail boat out of 3mm marine ply.
Lastly I would just like to say thank you to Zigzag, for running this comp. Also thank you for the mag itself, in my book you are hands down the best magazine in South Africa on both a production level, the quality of your content, photos and everything that goes into it. Your magazine allows all of us in who share the stoke to dream… I would also like to thank the sponsors. I use both Dremel and Bosch tools extensively and they never let me down. They empower my hands to make things that would otherwise only remain a dream. I am grateful for the prizes and I truly look forward to using them in the future. Sincerely stoked!
The barge out and about, completed and fulfilling it’s purpose: to provide stoke!