Harbour Surfboards

I love this place! They have such great customer service, good quality clothes and surfboards and are so helpful with anything you need. When I stopped in to purchase some things for my backpacking trip to Southeast Asia, they gave me a bunch of stickers to give to the kids there! That was so awesome and giving of them to do that! It’s rare to come across friendly people who are young and love what they do. Bravo to this local surf shop!

We were shopping for full length wetsuits. I called the store and Jaime picked up the phone — he clearly knew exactly what he was talking about. So then we came into the store — he was very patient with us, showing us the features of the various suits, and critically evaluating the fit of the items we tried on. He recommended that we not get the highest-​priced suits, since we only surf once a week or so and are not high-​performance folks — we were impressed with his honesty. We ended up buying exactly the suits he had chosen. (And just so you know this is not one of those fake reviews, I think they need to put taller doors on their changing rooms — I am tall and felt a little exposed. No big deal, but there it is.)

This review is for the non-​surfer or tourist wondering about this shop. If you’re a surfer, especially a local, you already know this place is an icon.
For everyone else, understand that there are very VERY few authentic surf shops left. Those big stores with all the surf garb hung out on rows and rows of hangers outside … those aren’t real surf shops. What makes a real surf shop? Well for starters, the people who work there live for surf. At first glance you’d think these were the same kids working at this shop and the bigger chain stores — nope. The kids at Harbour not only know their stuff and live for surf, but they are very well trained and hand picked by the owner not just in terms of running the shop but in terms of manners and just being a good person. What else makes a surf shop? History and Harbour Surfboards has history comin out of its ears. Rich Harbour and his namesake is an icon in surfing. These are some of the highest quality boards you can get (and can also hit the higher price ranges). A lot of local knowledge and decades of experience go into their boards and it shows in how they carry themselves in their shop.
So worth the stop? Absolutely. Don’t forget it’s also on Main Street which is one of the most quaint streets to spend a lazy morning or afternoon with awesome restaurants, shops, and bars. At the end of Main Street is the Seal Beach pier where you can surf and take surf classes through M&M surf school which is also very well connected with Harbour — it’s all a small, very tight knit community hear and this is a big part of what makes this a *real* surf shop.

The employee’s make this place! It doesn’t hurt that the merchandise is high quality and «sells itself» too. Definitely an iconic place in SB. Got a pair of sunglasses here (which I love), they had a manufacturers defect and became unglued. The employee’s had me come in the next day and pick out a new pair from the case for free!!! Now thats service! I live in Seal Beach and stop in here for all my beach/​surf needs.

Amazing customer service from the team. Had an issue with my debit card and they were totally cool and calm in how the handled what I felt was a very embarrassing situation. Cheers to the team. Shop local.

I bought a wetsuit for my son here. They have a great selection and their customer service is amazing. Everyone was super helpful and seemed to really care about their customers. My husband and I both remarked to each other how friendly and helpful everyone was. We’ll definitely be back here to support this great store.

The best surf shop in southern California. A positive experience visiting Seal Beach and Harbour Surfboards. Greeted with a smile and welcome, cool surfing stuff and great Boards. I ended up getting a pair of Uggs (been freezing lately) but will be back for more. The store is a step back in time, when owners and employees cared. Sure you can buy yourself something on amazon or chain store but you will be missing a experience. Well worth a visit.

i bought a surfboard at harbour surfboards, and ill tll you what.,. IT IS ONE OF THE NICEST BOARDS IVE EVER OWNED. and i have purchased quite a few. short long wide, one fin two fin, thrusters quads, boards that are too fast for my skill level, boards that wont float me, or are like a boat! the reason my harbour board is so perfect is because they guys there made sure i got a board that worked perfect for me, for my height weight skill level, for my age, for where i surf. i never knew there was so much to consider and no one ever took the time to help me, cause i really like to surf, but im not a pro, i was so happy when i left there, i felt like a better surfer because i left there not only with a board, and everything i need, but with a board that ll work for me, rich HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS ALL THESE YEARS AND IS THRIVING, BECAUSE EVERYBODY LEAVES JUST LIKE I DID! HARBOUR SURFBOARDS on MAIN ST in SEAL BEACH CALIFORNIA. IS THE ANSWER. debi

This is my «go to» spot for wax. But, every time I’m in there, it’s always such a great vibe. Dudes who work there are easygoing and not on your back. Super chill and easy to find yourself getting lost in the many things you’d like to take home. Glad Seal Beach has such a great option. They also sell Sun Bum Sunscreen… which is awesome. Love that stuff.

This place is awesome. One of my all time favorite surf shops.

This is a gem of a surf shop. They still maintain an old school traditional vibe, but keep the shelves stocked with everything you need.
If you are in the market for a new board, they definitely won’t be the cheapest. However, you will be getting a hand shaped harbour original. There quality has maintained it’s integrity over the years, and they have a cult following!
Super helpful staff, and incredibly knowledgable. I just recently purchased a board here after don’t months of research, and these guys know their stuff!

Great service! Really friendly, nice workers. I went to Harbour looking for wetsuit tops and the guy (Jaime?) helped me with sizing and suggestions. If/​when I can get a longboard, I think Harbour will be first on my list. I just got back into surfing, and already wishing for more boards in my quiver…

I usually come to Seal Beach to either eat or surf the Pier. I have passed Harbour Surfboards for years but never stopped, well that whole not stopping thing ended yesterday.
It is not very often that you can walk into a surf shop that has been located in the same spot for 55 years.
It is amazing to think that Rich Harbour started shaping boards in his parent’s garage and continues his works of art now out of this shop on Main Street. Harbour boards are without question known for their style, shape & performance.
I walked in and was immediately taken back by the amounts of surfboards (works of art) on display. For a surfer it is like walking into an art exhibit. I got to walk around the shop and see so many boards that are truly masterpieces.
I walked around the shop some more and checked out the large selection of t-​shirts, hoodies & everything surfing. I ended up purchasing a few stickers for a little art project I am working on. When it came time to pay for my items I talked a little bit with the staff working about surfing. We shared surf stories and as I was walking out the door the cashier handed me a Harbour Surfboards shop sticker which I stoked and honored to have.
There are many boards that I want in my quiver and having a Harbour Board is definitely one of them. I look forward to the day that I have a Harbour board made custom=)
If you are like me and finding yourself surfing from Los Angeles to San Diego with regularity plan a visit to Seal Beach for some good waves, good food and while you are at it make a pit stop into this amazing art gallery.

I bought an O’Neill women’s wetsuit here as I was going surfing the next day and wouldn’t dare to jump into the Pacific in February without one. It cost me $ 165 after tax. It is good quality and the gentleman in the shop was friendly and helped me find the perfect size. He also threw in a free bar of cold wax for my surf adventure the next day. Yes, I could have got the suit a lot cheaper on Amazon, but it’s important to help small businesses out before they go extinct. The shop was neat, hip and had a great surf vibe to it.

I am not a customer only because they have a good reputation in the local community, but because I actually enjoy being a customer.
Staffers are friendly, KNOWLEDGABLE, and professional, even on their worst of days. These guys actually know their stuff because they use their stuff. Every line represented in their store is there for a reason, whether it be value, quality, or simply the best on the market.
I wish more small businesses took after the ethic Rich Harbour has implemented… if they did, there would be a lot more successful businesses for people to patronize.
If you are in the market for anything surf related, do yourself a favor and drop in and just check them out. They don’t mind if you browse, lol! And who knows. .maybe you’ll find yourself immersed in a few anecdotes from Rich and the regulars!
Mahalo!

We were just recently in the area and couldn’t pass up the great surf at the pier. But we had decided not to lug E’s long board down from the bay area this time, so what to do? Enter Harbour Surfboards shop. They are everything you’d expect from a surf shop and then some. From hard to come by surf mags, clothing, wax, rentals and other gear to full on custom made boards, they got you covered.
The guys behind the counter were super friendly and seemed happy to be there, even though you knew they’d rather be down at the pier catching some waves. They helped us with everything we needed and we even swapped favorite places to eat in the area.
E wasn’t thrilled they only rented foam tops, but you’d be hard pressed to find something else as a rental. The boards they had were in great shape and looked barely used. We got out to enjoy the surf and fun was had by all thanks to Harbour!

Harbour surfboards is a southern California institution. Just look up the history on their website and any surf museum. Located in the central part of Seal Beach just a few minutes off the 405, you can easily find metered parking and check out the shop during their business hours.
Entering the shop, you’ll find is all kinds of Harbour branded clothing, as they pushing the brand quite a bit. A lot of is actually quite nice, and features some awesome caps and tees. A lot of surf shops do this, but their designs stick out. They’ve got all kinds of flips flops, and trendy Southern California beach clothing. Plenty to keep you looking good. However, this shop isn’t a clothing shop. It’s a surf shop. They have wetsuits of all kinds, roof rack items, leashes, and a sample of the several surfboards from their entire line.
If you’re here to shop for surfboard, note that they have some wonderful longboards. They also have a small selection of used surfboards. I personally have wanted the banana or San-​O for a long time. However, the prices are what hold me back. They make me cringe, and I wish they were much, much lower. Despite the wonderful craftsmanship, I can’t shell out $ 1200 for a board. It’s too painful, but perhaps I can in the future. They can, however, get you started on a board with installments. The shop sales folks were more than helpful in explaining that, and also explained to me that the boards were top notch. I saw this after exploring several other shops, and realizing that their polyurethane boards with thick cloth made for a board that was less resistant to scratches and dings. I understand now that’s how some folks make for cheaper, lighter boards.
Overall, I had a good experience here despite board cost. I would come back here, and even check out their Board Swap. It’s basically a swap meet for surfboards. Come early if you do, otherwise you may be left eating it.

I just started taking surf lessons and got a board but needed a leash. I saw the the price of the leashes here (about $ 28) and told the guy I would have to check a few other stores, ’cause that was more that I was willing to pay.
I told him I was just starting and I had just got a board and was on a budget. He was so cool, he gave me %10 off, that lowered it to where I was comfortable buying the leash. He also threw in a wax. Good, friendly service is always a win!

Terrific shop! Love the surf line of clothing. Continues to amaze me!,

Rich Harbour has been designing and shaping surfboards for 50 years. His showroom displays an endless supply of Harbour Surfboards on the floor with a massive back stock on premises. This place reeks of nostalgia as Vintage Harbours hang from the ceiling.
You can still find Rich in the back of the shop shaping as well as tinkering with new ideas. His bay is actually the oldest running shaping room at a single location in the world!
The Harbour Surfboards shop employees all surf and are very helpful. A scribbled surf report on a dry erase board greets you just inside the doorway. Since the shop sits just up the street from Seal Beach’s Main Street Pier, local surfers are always stopping by to pick up accessories, wax, or simply shoot the breeze with the guys behind the counter.
Classic surf shop!