FCS has an add for their Vector- type F-Series fins in the latest Surfing mag. Scheduled to hit stores December. (Right). F-Series features concave inner surfaces, fiberglass and foam construction. Funny: after all the rumors and denials from those “in the know”, here they are apparently. Look forward to trying them, be assured they will be pricey.
What rumours and denials TubeDog ? You obviously have the gos’
People have posted who claimed they have supposedly talked directly with FCS folks here in Hawaii who have supposedly said FCS would NOT be coming out with these. There you go. Now what does “You obviously have the gos’” mean?
sorry for my slang - gos meaning gossip. I have seen the ad too, and am keen to try them.
Howzit Tubedog, As one of the people in the know, I was told once again by The FCS rep in Hawaii that FCS is not making the vector fins. Do they say in the ad that they are actually making the fins or that they are available thru FCS. FCS may be selling them, but FCS tells me that Future is the real manufacturer of the Vector fins that fits in their (FCS) system. The new system and new fins will not be available til Feb. even though the ads are running now. Have you tried talking to a FCS rep or a Future Rep… Yes there will be a small increase in prices, but not much. Think about the thread about the Japanese made FCS type plugs being installed in the Chinese made boards that every body thought FCS sold to the Chinese. FCS sold them to the Chinese 1 time and realized it was a mistake, now there’re being copied by the Japanese. Don’t believe everything you read in a magazine. Aloha, Kokua
Howzit Kokua- I didn’t say that FCS was claiming they made them- their add toutes “The F-Series: Fiberglass Fins with Inside Foil”. I don’t care if they make them or outsource them, even if it is from Futures. They may not even be exactly the same. It seems apparent that they will offer these, though, officially through their outlets too. Can you please try to find out anything more through your sources? Mahalo
Howzit Tubedog, personally I think it great that the fin systems cos. are working together. I’m sure that FCS will be paying Future to make the vector fins. Think about if all the cos. got together and made their to fit adaptable for each others systems. That way you could use the system you prefer but would be able to use any fin you wanted. Have you seen the adapter FCS has for fin boxes? It makes it possible to put a thruster center fin in the box.Aloha, Kokua
- There is no FCS - Futures connection pertaining to this product. 2. This new fin range has been designed to give Surfers the feeling of Fiberglass fins in a light construction with lively flex characterisitcs. 3. The foil on these fins have been chosen to improve efficiency through the water and will allow you to perform tighter arcs and smoother transitions. 4. There will be three sizes - FG-3 (small), FG-5 (medium), FG-7 (large). 5. The WCT teamrider feedback on these fins have been very positive.
Yes, I have a hard time seeing any competing companies helping each other out these days. It’s a dog eat dog world for market share and survival. I’ll be surprised if FCS isn’t doing this on their own. For FCS to pay Futures a monetary fee per set of fins sold to use their idea would seem a stretch. I’ll keep an open mind, but if these are so obviously superior why aren’t all the pros using them yet? I’d just like to test them someday and am glad some will someday fit my FCS boxes.
Have you seen the adapter made by lokbox to accept FCS fins?
Howzit lokbox, We don’t see locbox on Kauai, But I do have some of the adapters that FCS makes for fin boxes that allow you to use FCS center fins in them. Aloha, Kokua
Howzit Dr.Know, I would say those were the fins Tubedog saw on a board and not a Future vector rip off. I’m glad you straightened that part out since my FCS rep said they were not making a vector fin. Wouldn’t be nice if the US gov. would give grants for R&D to the US fin system companies like the aussie gov gave FCS a $2,000,000 for R&D.Aloha, Kokua
Howzit again Dr. Know,From what My FCS rep passed on to me about future making a vector fin that fits FCS, it’s only in the planning stage and if they do do it, then maybe Future will be selling them. We know that there are fin co. that make just fins to fit the available systems. Aloha, Kokua
Kokua- I think I might have the answer that clears this up. Futures’ “Vector Force Fins” are a combination of two fin shapes,a concave inner foil, plus a bend in the fin. They also make an earlier fin called the “Force Fin”, which is just the concave alone. So that is what FCS is doing, coming out with a concave inner foil, so actually FCS is technoically releasing a Force Fin, but not a “Vector” Force Fin combo. That would explain why your FCS guy is claiming they are not making a Vector foil.
Psssst, while you guys are foolin’ around with all that stuff…flat-sided fins still work the best. Just ask AI or kelly…or whoever.
Lets not get too caught up in what is purely invented marketing jargon. Terms to describe fins such as vector, vector drive etc have no previous relevance to fins or aeroplane wings for that matter. The progression from essentially old design flat bottom foils on fins to proper aerofoil sections is natural and understandable now that technologically there are computer controlled methods of manufacturing such complex forms. That is not to cast a shadow on the effectiveness of flat bottomed aerofoils applied to surfing fins - a very good choice. There are however more efficient foils available to those with the technology to produce them. As you put it Tubedog, inside concaved foils or blended foils for that matter are nothing new to the aeronatical industry, but their application to surfing fins are new. So I believe that if any fin company taps into these areas of already existing knowledge, good luck to them. I dont agree that one company is copying the other in this regard.
Howzit Tubedog, At least that got straightened out. Aloha, Kokua
Uh… sort of. Just this am I picked up and looked at the Futures made Vector Fins which are now being sold, but with FCS tabs. They are called Vector Tech Foils but the ones I saw only had the concave inner foil without the bend. Looks like the their Vector VF Series is the concave foil by itself, their VFR Series is with both concave and bend. Looks like FCS will be coming out with the same thing with their F-Series. Remains to be seen whether either Futures or FCS will offer the double foil (concave with bend) for FCS plugs.
if there is money in it there will be the double foiled fin with the bend. what they are doing is probably better. They can sell you concave only and then sell you the full deal.
I read an article in Surfer about these new fins and it showed a diagram, a cutaway view of the fin looks like an airplane wing, concave on one side and rounded on the the other. So I took a regulat FCS fin and built up some Bondo Auto Putty, sanded it and had the exact replica for pennies. It works great! The speed out of turns is awsum, all my boards have them now and I’m makin a few up for Christmas presents too. Get a can of Bondo and make your own, ain’t hard at all!