Attached is a fish I finished this afternoon for my son that is due any day now. I want him to have the same great memories that I have from growing up surfing with my dad. It is 4’5’’ X 17.5’’ X 2.25’'.
Could anyone suggest a good removable fin? Either Future or Lokbox. Something similar to a keel but would have a small enough template that he can push around when he is old enough to start riding it.
ProBox Hawaii …best removable fin system on the market, IMHO
Thanks, Soulstice can you get a small keel for that system?
nice looking board Icarus ! [I remember the 4’11 fish I made for a mate’s son , which he has “outgrown” already …he now rides the 5’8 I left there .]
are you going to spray it ?
[it might be a bit brown in two-four years ?]
fcs or lokbox or futures or bahnes for fin systems should be fine with that …
cheers !
ben
Good point. I was planning on a dark green tint.
Sweet little fish. I bet those Hanalei fins would work. mike
“I was planning on a dark green tint.”
maybe if you went with fcs plugs, I could make you some camouflage material inlay keels for it
ben
What other fins will work in that box? im still stuck in the small world of FCS and would like to get out of it
that’s what i really like about that system, is that it takes FCS fins without any adjustment needed (so you would still be able to put all your FCS fins to use)! FCS has one of the largest fin template catalogs of all the removable fin systems, if not THE largest. most all of my friends who ride more than one fin use FCS, knowing full well that systems like LokBox or Futures are far superior, but they deal with FCS because they want the added availability and diversity of fins they offer. and, what’s really unfortunate, is that i constantly see them having to cut a good session short because they came down in just the wrong way and ripped out an FCS plug. the ProBox system is really simple to install…it goes in after the hotcoat, like FCS…so it doesn’t hold quite as rock solid as a box that goes under the glass job…but because it has more area resined into the board, it holds far superior to FCS…enough of a difference that i’ve never had a problem myself (i use it for sidebites on a longboard) and no one else i’ve seen who used it has had any issues. i’ve turned on a couple of my friends to the system, and they all really like it. in fact, as more of my friends’ FCS plugs pop out, i’m urging them to replace the plugs with ProBox! the only ones who seem disappointed with ProBox are the ding repair guys who were charging $20 a pop to repair a busted FCS plug!!
aside from all the FCS templates, there’s plenty of fin options available specifically for ProBox…and given the simplicity with which the fins fit into the box, it’s very easy to make your own fins for the system. also, i really dig the fins from Hanalei…give 'em a look! but if you’re looking to increase your quiver of fins, i’d have to recommend the home-built route (buying a million different fins can get costly). in fact, if you want a head start in making your own fins, i think you can even buy fin blanks from ProBox. just cut your outline, foil it, and you’re good to go…the tab is already done for you! don’t know how much they cost, though. anyhow, i figure it’s worth looking into…
Thanks, Soulstice can you get a small keel for that system?
i’m really not sure. i’d imagine so, as they have Fibre Glass Fin Co. and Island Fin Design making fins for their system, as well as an associated fin company called Hanalei Fins. to be perfectly honest, though, you’ve put such a personal touch into making this board…why stop before it’s really DONE?! make yourself a set of custom keels. with a green tint, i think a light colored wood accented with something darker would really look great. the tab that fits into the ProBox system is so simple…it isn’t like making fins to fit Futures with its little cutouts, or even FCS with two separate tabs. check the website for the exact measurements for the fish base, but if memory serves it’s 1/2" deep, 1/4" thick, 2-7/8" long, and i don’t recall exactly where the tab goes in relation to the rest of the fin…but that’s easy enough to figure out.
The more I think about it and after some time in the archives, I think I am going to make my first set of wood keels. Its about time. I have made just over 30 fish and have never made a set of wood keels. I can’t think of a better time. Now I need to find a small template. Thanks for the help guys.
yeah, man…something simple…like THESE…
Wow. Where did you pick those up? Nice fins. What are the dimensions?
Michael
Maybe more like the ones in the background. I would like to find out where you got those.
John cherry is the man at fin making. 
I dont see anyone else making fins that even compete.
icarus,
Lokbox makes numerous keel templates. About 9 I think. They also make them in wood. A couple different combos, a couple different templates. They also make the turbo (curved) keels as well. Rainbow sells all their fins. You can pm me if you want as I have tried alot of them and might be have a set to sell to you.
DK
John cherry is the man at fin making.
I dont see anyone else making fins that even compete.
i agree…at least cosmetically. his work is a fine example of true craftsmanship. i snapped that pic off a rusty fish in my local surf shop. a year later, i think it’s still on the racks. price tag is something like $850. and the fish is airbrushed…yellow bottom with 2 airbrushed panels on the deck that give the appearance of a wood inlay. the board would really have much more appeal if it were tinted, and the wood inlay look had actually been achieved with a wood inlay. might even justify the price tag…somewhat!
Saved this pic on my computer from a WHILE ago. amazing…
