Has the development of new, adjustable removable fin systems made glass-on fins obsolete? Does anyone still prefer glass-ons and, if so, why?
I just ordered a board with glass-ons and I wonder if I should have just gone with lock box instead?
glass-ons ride better…period.
but is that worth sacrificing adjustability, changeability, and ease of travelability?!
maybe?!..depends on the board and the rider.
I ride both. I don’t believe for a minute that glass-ons are obsolete.
But I love the choices offered by removable systems.
For customers, I tell them if they absolutely, positively know exactly
how they want their board finned, then it’s ok to go with glass-ons.
And I do the same on my personals. The guys who are looking for that
last one percent of performance seem to still have a liking for the firmly
rooted feel that glass-ons give. Then there’s the whole aesthetic thing.
But the convenience and tuning potential that the removables offer makes
them a better choice most of the time. For example, if you put 4 sets of
FCS plugs in your quad, you’ve got something like 4000 potential combinations
just using FCS’s arsenal of fins. Then there’s aftermarket(or make your own).
Mike
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glass-ons ride better…period.
This is an ongoing debate in which I am obviously biased…however, all I can offer is feedback from the team (well and a couple titles from Kelly). After the last Rip curl event “somewhere in chile” I received a cool e-mail from Taylor Knox who has been predominantly a glass-on a guy for the last 15 years… - “Boards are working better than ever”. Then got this that was just titled “Cabo”.
I prefer the glass ons because of the good clean transition from board to fin AND glass ons are easier to move-exchange than fin systems in that you are not limited by the placement of the boxes or the fins the system offers. Unless you do not know how to remove and mount glass on fins, of course. mike
howzit, jjr…
glass-ons are the gold standard. how many times have you yourself said that lokbox “holds like a glass-on fin”?!
Ahhh your finally beginning to read between the lines…
glass ons break
fin boxes fail/break
switcheroo fixation
for the speremental
Psychosis is only
possible with a
removeable system
Alexi Tradenov
the inventor of
interchangeable
parts in 12 century
Fixitovia is often
quoted.What he said
is irrelevant
If you wanna switch
fins arround and
take em out and
put em back in
fin boxes are a must.
If you have a fin box
and never change
the fin…
You shouda glassed it on.
…ambrose…
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Has the development of new, adjustable removable fin systems made glass-on fins obsolete? Does anyone still prefer glass-ons and, if so, why?I just ordered a board with glass-ons and I wonder if I should have just gone with lock box instead?
glass ons seem to be the choice for pro’s who go through 10 or 20 boards a year, but if you’re traveling a lot and only get 1 or 2 boards a year, i’d go with fcs, as futures are too heavy on shortboards. That stupid box adds another pound.
Quote:
Quote:Has the development of new, adjustable removable fin systems made glass-on fins obsolete? Does anyone still prefer glass-ons and, if so, why?
I just ordered a board with glass-ons and I wonder if I should have just gone with lock box instead?
glass ons seem to be the choice for pro’s who go through 10 or 20 boards a year, but if you’re traveling a lot and only get 1 or 2 boards a year, i’d go with fcs, as futures are too heavy on shortboards. That stupid box adds another pound.
2 FCS plugs weigh 18 grams. On a 2 and 1/4 thick shortboard, the resin needed to install those 2 plugs is approximately (drilled to the deck) about 1 ounce each, so roughly 56 grams, plus the 18 grams for the plugs which equals approx. 74 grams. The futures box weighs approx. 20 to 25 grams, and uses approx. 2/3rds of an ounce of resin to install the 1 box. If we took the higher number (25 grams) and factored in 1 ounce to install the box (28 grams), you end up with approx. 53 grams which is still more than 20 grams lighter, or close to an ounce. Lokbox has a very similar weight as Futures, and remember as the board gets thicker the install for FCS requires more resin to reach the deck side of the board. More cost (resin) more heat, and more weight. Futures and Lokbox use the same amount regardless of board thickness.
FWIW, a couple boards back I took some weight measurements, 3 future fin boxes added about 4.5oz to the shaped blank. this was Bennett PU foam, a 5’10" thruster
shaped blank, routed but with/out boxes… 2lbs, 6 oz
shaped blank with future boxes pasted in … 2lbs, 10.5 oz
heya lokbox
fcs are 18 grams
i can install a full set of plugs in a compsand with 50 grams plus powder
thats just over 8 grams each plug
26 grams per plug total
your plugs
156 grams total for an install
pretty similar weight in a compsand