Spunky's Surfboard Museum: Atlantis 6'8" by Mark Castlow — Exhibit SPM-001
Spunky's Virtual Surfboard Museum · Fort Pierce, Florida
Museum Collection No. SPM-001
Atlantis 6'8" by Mark Castlow
Early 1970s · Single Fin · Performance Mid-Shape · Florida Origin
📋 Museum Quick Facts
| Manufacturer / Brand | Atlantis Surfboards |
| Shaper | Mark Castlow |
| Approximate Year | Early 1970s |
| Dimensions | 6'8" × 20" × 3" |
| Board Type | Performance Mid-Shape |
| Fin Configuration | Single Fin |
| Construction | Polyurethane foam, fiberglass laminate |
| Country of Origin | United States — Florida |
| Artwork | Hand-painted water scenery, signed "Picard 91" (bottom right) |
| Notable Feature | Leash plug mounted on the bottom of the board near the center fin — highly unusual placement |
| Museum Collection No. | SPM-001 |
| Current Display Location | Spunky's Surf Shop, Fort Pierce, Florida |
📸 Museum Photo Gallery
Full deck view — Atlantis 6'8"
Bottom — hand-painted artwork, signed "Picard 91"
Mark Castlow — shaper, Florida native, surf industry pioneer
📖 The Story of the Atlantis
The Atlantis surfboard was born out of passion and innovation, crafted by a young surfer determined to shape his own path in the world of waves. Mark Castlow, a Florida native with a deep love for the ocean, started experimenting with surfboard designs in the early days of his surfing career. His quest for the perfect ride led him to create a line of boards that captured the essence of performance and style.
Mark, having spent years riding waves up and down the Florida coast, knew exactly what surfers needed — durability, speed, and the ability to conquer different conditions. The Atlantis boards quickly became known for their custom designs and exceptional craftsmanship, earning a reputation among Treasure Coast surfers who demanded more from their equipment.
The early 1970s were a pivotal era in surfboard design. The shortboard revolution of the late 1960s had upended everything, and shapers across the country were experimenting with new templates, rails, and fin systems. Mark's 6'8" mid-shape sits at a fascinating crossroads — longer than the radical shortboards of the era, but far more performance-oriented than the longboards that preceded them. It represents a shaper finding his voice during one of surfing's most creative periods.
🏄 This Board's Story
What makes this particular Atlantis so remarkable is the combination of its unusual construction details and the artwork it carries. The bottom of the board features a stunning hand-painted water scenery — a level of artistic investment rarely seen on production surfboards of any era. At the bottom right of the piece is a signature from an artist named Picard, dated 91, suggesting the artwork may have been added years after the board was originally shaped.
Perhaps the most intriguing mystery of this exhibit is the leash plug. Rather than being mounted on the top deck near the tail — the universal standard — this board's leash plug is positioned on the bottom of the board near the center fin. Whether this was an original design choice by Mark Castlow, an experimental modification, or a later addition remains an open question. It is one of the most unusual construction details in the Spunky's collection and a conversation starter for every visitor who examines it up close.
This board arrived at Spunky's as a piece of living Florida surf history — a tangible connection to the shapers, surfers, and waves of the Treasure Coast's past.
⏳ Historical Timeline
Pre-1900s — Ancient Hawaiian Alaia & Olo boards · Surfing as cultural practice
1920s–1940s — Hollow wooden boards · Duke Kahanamoku spreads surfing globally
1950s — Balsa wood era · Hobie Alter & Bob Simmons pioneer foam
1960s — Polyurethane foam revolution · Longboard golden era · Gidget & surf culture boom
Late 1960s — Shortboard revolution · Boards shrink from 9'+ to under 7' overnight
Early 1970s → THIS BOARD — Atlantis 6'8" by Mark Castlow · Florida performance mid-shape · Single fin era
Mid 1970s — Twin fin experimentation · MR twin fin changes performance surfing
1980s — Thruster (tri-fin) invented by Simon Anderson · Modern surfboard template established
Today — Epoxy, carbon fiber, and performance shapes · Retro revival & collector market booming
🔧 Construction & Design
The Atlantis 6'8" is a product of the polyurethane foam and fiberglass era that defined surfboard construction from the late 1960s through today. Mark Castlow's fiberglass expertise — which he later applied to the boat-building industry — is evident in the quality of the lamination and the durability of this board decades after it was shaped.
- Core: Polyurethane foam blank, hand-shaped
- Lamination: Fiberglass cloth with polyester resin
- Fin System: Single fin — the dominant setup of the early 1970s, offering drive and control in a pre-thruster world
- Rails: Mid-era transitional rails — moving away from the boxy rails of longboards toward the more refined edges of performance shortboards
- Dimensions: At 6'8" × 20" × 3", this board occupies the mid-length category — versatile enough for Florida's varied wave conditions
- Artwork: Hand-painted bottom art, signed by artist Picard (1991) — an extraordinary addition that elevates this board to collector and art object status
🌊 Shaper Legacy: Mark Castlow
Mark Castlow's life has always revolved around water — whether on it, in it, or around it. A Florida native, his deep connection to the ocean was shaped by his upbringing in Miami and the Florida Keys, environments teeming with natural beauty and aquatic adventure.
As a teenager, Mark's passion for surfing took off as he rode waves up and down the coast. His love for the surf led him to start his own surf shop and develop the Atlantis line of surfboards. Surfing became a gateway to exploration, pushing him to travel across the country and beyond, discovering every kind of wave condition along the way.
Mark's work in the fiberglass industry was groundbreaking, allowing him to gain a reputation for solving complex problems related to materials — whether for surfboards or boat repairs. His extensive knowledge eventually led him into the boat industry, where he spent years building and selling inshore craft. This hands-on experience became the foundation for Dragonfly Boatworks LLC — a testament to a life built around craftsmanship and the water.
🏆 Historical Significance
The Atlantis 6'8" matters for several reasons. First, it represents Florida's independent shaping culture during a period when the surf industry was dominated by California and Hawaii. Mark Castlow was building performance boards on the Treasure Coast at a time when most Florida surfers were riding mass-produced imports — a genuine act of local craft and pride.
Second, the board's unusual leash plug placement makes it a genuinely rare artifact. Whether intentional or experimental, it documents a moment when shapers were still figuring out the practical details of a sport evolving in real time.
Third, the Picard artwork transforms this board from a piece of sports equipment into a work of art — a reminder that surfboard culture has always existed at the intersection of sport, craft, and creative expression.
📝 Curator's Notes from Spunky's Surf Shop
"The Atlantis 6'8" is one of our most talked-about pieces. Every surfer who walks past it stops to look — and the leash plug on the bottom never fails to spark a conversation. Mark Castlow represents exactly the kind of Florida surf history we want to preserve: a local shaper, working with his hands, building boards for the community he loved. This board didn't come from a factory in California. It came from someone who surfed these same waters we surf today. That connection to place is what makes it special — and why it belongs in our museum."
— Spunky's Surf Shop Museum, Fort Pierce, Florida
🛍 Shop the Heritage Collection
Inspired by the craftsmanship and spirit of the early 1970s single-fin era, these pieces celebrate the heritage of surfing and the shapers who defined it.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mark Castlow?
Mark Castlow is a Florida native and surf industry pioneer who shaped the Atlantis line of surfboards in the early 1970s. He later became a respected fiberglass expert and founded Dragonfly Boatworks LLC.
What makes this surfboard collectible?
The Atlantis SPM-001 is collectible for three reasons: its Florida provenance during a formative era of surfboard design, the hand-painted artwork signed by artist Picard, and the highly unusual leash plug placement on the bottom of the board.
What era does this board represent?
This board represents the early 1970s transition period — after the shortboard revolution of the late 1960s but before the thruster (tri-fin) era of the 1980s. Single-fin mid-shapes like this were the performance boards of their day.
Can I see this board in person?
Yes! The Atlantis 6'8" is on display at Spunky's Surf Shop in Fort Pierce, Florida. The museum is open daily 10am–5pm.
How can I contribute to the museum?
Have a vintage board, photo, newspaper, or surf story from the Treasure Coast? Contact us — we love preserving local surf history and would be honored to hear your story.
📍 Visit the Museum
Spunky's Surf Shop
Fort Pierce, Florida · Treasure Coast
Museum Open Daily · 10am – 5pm
All vintage boards hang in the shop as reminders of the generations of surfers who brought us here. Come in, look around, and feel the history. This museum is free for all to enjoy!
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Have a vintage board, newspaper, magazine, photo, or a story to share? Contact us to contribute to our growing collection of surf history. We love sharing surf stories and the history of the Treasure Coast. Let's keep the spirit of surfing alive together.