Harley Ingleby Surfboards’ Description
The HIBT 3+3 marks the first full collaboration between Billy Tolhurst and Harley Ingleby, resulting in the development of an all-new HI x Tolhurst model.
Unlike previous Thunderbolt boards— typically based on existing designs with refinements from Billy’s five decades of shaping—the HIBT was developed from the ground up, with both Billy and Harley involved in every stage of design, testing, and refinement.
Pushing innovation further, the HIBT introduces a unique 3+3 fin setup, offering unmatched versatility. The board can be configured as a true quad, true twin, or with an asym fin setup, adapting easily to different styles and wave conditions—all in one board.
The HIBT has been developed to appeal to our existing customers whilst opening up a new Thunderbolt audience with the introduction of shorter models and the 3+3 fin system. This combined with Harley’s own shaping and focus on shorter boards, the HIBT represents a new direction for the Tolhurst x HI brand.
R&D
Billy started with a classic shortboard rocker, fine-tuned with low foiled flyers and channels. Right away, Harley loved the feel in the pocket and the snap off the top — but across flatter sections, it left him wanting more.
Next, we added low dropped flyers, feedback was too much drive, not as snappy off the top and didn’t change the carry over dead section.
That’s when we switched to the proven BT Twin Fin rocker for better flow. We squared up the rails from the sting style flyer to maximize release and ease off the top. From there we dialed in further : adding channels but ultimately sticking with a double concave that felt more natural underfoot with the most performance.
After rounds of testing and fine-tuning, the result is a full range of fishtail flyer six-plug boards from 5’10” to 7’2”. Fast, loose, drivey — and designed to fly through flat sections without losing a beat.
THREE BOARDS IN ONE
The idea for the 3+3 started in 2016 with my first asymmetrical board — the Twinion — a blend of my favorite 5’11 BT Twin Fin and 5’10 Minion Quad. It delivered twin-fin speed with more control, but there was a slight lag transitioning from toe to heel having one rail longer. A simple tail adjustment fixed it, and for the next three years, it was all I rode.
When we released the Twinion Asym in Thunderbolt tech (alongside the FCS Power Twin fins), I learned a few key things : asyms were expensive to produce having to provide fin sets. Needing a goofy and regular SKU for every size was a pain. And while surfers were curious and liked the idea, many were hesitant to fully commit. After my long stint on asymmetricals I couldn’t help but wonder how much of what I loved about the asym was fin related rather than plan shape and rocker.
This lead me to putting an extra toe side twin plug in some of my favorite quad shortboards. It validated my thoughts but they were too rockered out to be a great twin and I parked the idea temporarily.
Fast forward to 2023 : after shaping dozens of Rita quad fish and hearing feedback from Mid6 and Moe riders loving twins on small days, the penny dropped — why not create a board that offers the best of all worlds? Twin, Quad, and Asymmetrical — three boards in one. By adding an extra set of plugs, riders could experiment risk- free, without sacrificing their trusted setups. Bill backed the idea immediately. I built the first Rita Fish 3+3 — and kicked myself for not doing it sooner. 3+3 just stands for the dual three-fin clusters and the 3 boards in one. Quad, Twin, Asym.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Plan Shape - Wide nose, clean outline which reduces in the tail with a unique sting style flyer to a small deep fish tail for control.
- Flyer/Sting - The Flyer is cut straight out of the rail like a Sting, allowing the board to release when you want it too and especially easy to rotate out of the lip, even as a quad.
- Bottom Contour - Similar to our other models, a forgiving flat entry with Billy’s signature rail relief, flows into a double concave between your feet.
- Rocker - A spiced up version of Billy’s trusted BT twin rocker makes it the fastest board in the lineup.
- Fins – 3+3 – True Quad ( Black plugs ), True Twin ( White Plugs ), Asym ( Twin on toe side rail + Quad on Heel side rail).
- Color – Red Flyer 5’10, 6’0, 6’2. Blue Flyer 6’6, 6’10, 7’2.
