fin-s popout (and pop-in) fins

Just saw this in the new TWSurf, seems like a pretty cool way of eliminating fin screws.  "Don't screw with us" hahaha

http://www.fin-s.com/engineering.php

Rip Off.....

O'Fish"L has been doing it for ever......And you don't hear too much noise from O'Fish'L.... I've fixed quite a few top brands with their system. It's a quality set up and I've had good customer service from O'Fish'L.

How long until the little spring rots out on the rip off system? Hey, I've got this great idea that someone else started about 20 years ago. Even my "don't screw with me" boxes look just like O'Fish'L and Future and Lokbox.

I'm not a part of the surf industry. Just a back yard hack. I'm bracing for the rebutal from the new company.

 

http://www.ofishl.com/

 

Hey Ray - thanks for the response.  I am not familiar with the fins / boxes you describe.  I went to the O-fish-L website, but couldn't find a clear explanation of their snap-in fins.  I actually had not heard of snap-in fins before this (with the exception of Thrailkill's sharktooth sidebites).

I guess all fin systems are going to have similarities, but you feel this is a case of blatantly stealing someone else's idea?  I'm guessing the patent attorneys will be all over that one.

[quote="$1"]

I actually had not heard of snap-in fins before this (with the exception of Thrailkill's sharktooth sidebites).

[/quote]

By way of bragging a bit, and providing info for those who may be too young to have been there, my fins date from concept in Oct. 1970, to production by Feb.1971.

Credit where credit is due.  Good ideas have a way of resurfacing, even if they're ignored (maybe too far ahead of their time) at first.  I noticed the fin-S system because I've been thinking (and still am) of a way I could make a pop-in wood fin for my wood boards.

There’s no spring in the O’Fishal system box and no hooks or pins. Just a box you jam the wedged shaped fin base into (and it 's sometimes quite hard to remove the fins if it’s been in there a while). This looks like a much better system then O’Fishal but way to similar in shape to the Future box.

Surfers are too dumb to use a screw driver or a hex key tool or an Allen wrench.........????????????????????

I rest my case....

Stingray.....

Hey Ray, yeah probably some of that.  But I'd also like to make a removable fin of my own design, just because.  If I could make it work without screws, that would just be a bonus.

I really like working with Wood Surfboard Supply's pre-made insert, but its a bit spendy for me right now, with my remodeling business in the dumpster.

 

So...maybe something like this...? (just kind of a half baked idea at this point)

Hey Everyone,

We wanted to chime in on the conversation here and let you know that a lot has been going on behind the scenes at Fin-S. We are very serious about our products and we belive in them and their capabilities. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be doing it. We carefully researched the existing and past tool-less fin systems and have created the best tool-less fin system. Please check out our facebook page and twitter for the latest info and pictures of the system in use. It’s been tested and endorsed world-wide by pro tour surfers along with amateurs too!

We will be at the Surf Expo in January 2012 and we invite you to come by our booth and get some hands-on time with our system. If you’d like more info, please check out the links in the signature and/or send us an email to info [at] fin-s [dot] com.

Best,

Fin-S

O'fish'l's been around for a long time and is a great set up.  An easy under the glass install much like Futures.  They have waned over the last few years and not kept up with the competition.  They used to be the only fin system most suppliers like Fiberglass Hawaii sold.  They still have a nice array of fins and designs.  If I owned a glass shop today I would be asking myself how many damned router jigs, templates and install kits I would need and where I would store them.  One has to think about which system is the most universal, so that your customer has as many options as possible.  That would mean these days any system that would accept two tab fins of the FCS type.   There are at least five or six that I can think of.  Right now though the most popular box in So. Cal. glass shops is Futures.   

All you have to do is hit the rear or trailing edge of the fin with the heel of your hand in a sharply upward blow.  Pops right out.