Adjusting a future fin to move forward

General Discussion
1

So I’m a moron, and I made a measuring mistake in placing my fins.  I think it was due to the fact that I made this board stringerless, and I didn’t have the best method of meausring where the future boxes would go accurately, and also I cut the box holes out by hand.  Long story short, my right side fin on my thruster set up is about 1/4" lower than the left fin… Yes I know, how stupid can I be, measure twice, cut once, but I’m now trying to figure out how much of an impact this will have on the feel of the board.  I’ve been searching and people have said symmetry isn’t everything, but if it is… and if it’s possible, maybe there’s a way to modify the fin so that it scoots up in the box and becomes even with the other side?  I’m using these fins:

And as you can see the leading edge of the fin is pushed back and there is that little tab in the front.  It’s about the right length that if it was removed, and the fin was pushed up, it would all even out a bit better.

 

Is it worth trying to find an extra fin to modify? and how would you do so? Or should I just foget about it? 

 

Thanks for any help.  This is only my second board, and my first time installing boxes.  Despite this fin placement issue, the board came out a lot better than my first one, so I definitely want to fix this if it’s possible and necessary.

 

2

I'd adjust one base forward 1/8th inch, and one base back 1/8th inch.     Then you would have made up the 1/4th inch difference, and the fins would be in alignment.     Good luck.

PS:   Ride it first, it may not make a significant impact on how the board rides.

3

Please consider riding it before apply Thrailkill’s solution… I’d really be interested to hear if it feels like it’s pulling either way, and when it does, -i.e. trim, during some maneuver, etc.  - it is a small difference for sure, but what the hell, information is information.  kc

4

 

yes I plan to ride it before I decide to make any adjustments.  I’m wondering whether or not it will pull in a certain direction.  Who knows, it may not really make much of a difference… But if it does, how would you adjust the base?  Shaving down a side and then using plastic inserts of some type? 

 

Thanks

5

The future fin boxes and fins are not very versatile in the area of being able to modify them.

 

Probox finboxes have , for me, solved all kinds of these situations.

Being able to cut/shave down the tab on the fins to customize the placement,

to even cutting the inside insert for a bit extra of movement, to even the probox having enough plastic

realestate on the surface to be able to liberally thread in some more screw placements.

1/2" of movement is standard,  3/4" -1" is achievable and even more.

No more seriously bad boards due to only one fixed fin position.

 

Good Luck.

 

 

Probox mods:

http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1029396