The Surfmobile

I have an ’83 Chevy Van that is disguised as a mild-mannered basic transportation device for getting me back and forth to work. On the outside, it is a beater. At its heart, however, it is really my Surfmobile.

Every morning, and especially when I am on Surfing Safari, my Chevy is the ideal base of operations for a wave rider. Up front I have my radio and a companion seat in case there is someone with me to ride shotgun. The heater works well enough to take the chill off those really cold winter mornings.

In back, there are padded benches with room for my surfboard, a couple of body boards, gallons and gallons of hot water, first aid kit, quilt, pillow, change of clothes, shampoo, - in short, what else could I want?

At the break I lock up. After the session, I set up my hot shower, clean up my gear, hang up my suit from the Surfmobile ceiling, and get dressed for work.

For a while, I had a real high-tech shower built in. Picture this: A five-gallon jerry can under the hood, with a copper U-turn hooked to the van heater circuit. As I drive to the beach, the engine heats the water. It stays plenty hot during my surf session. Then an electric demand pump squirts it through the low-flow nozzle hung off a gantry on the side of the van. Voila!