In the latest transworld biz news, Rusty is quoted describing what he would like to see in a fin system. " My wish list is a box that doesn’t go through the deck, is easy to install,durable,light,and has at least a component of adjustability. "
He just described Lokbox!
THE LOKBOX™
The Lokbox fin box is the most versatile anchoring device for a surfboard fin available today. Designed by surfers and surfboard builders, we have focused on several different things:
First and foremost is performance! In order for a surfboard fin to function properly, it must be firmly attached to the surfboard, regardless of the fins construction.
The lokbox uses a tapered cavity and matching fin base, providing a very solid attachment from fin to board.
Next we focused on durability of the box in the finished board. The Lokbox is installed using polyester laminating resin, and fits very tight to the routed hole. The box is then glassed over with fiberglass cloth. This combined with the unique elliptical shape of the box, give it incredible strength! The “ellipse” is used in many facets of construction and engineering concepts. A continuous curve will minimize the chance of a crack ever forming. Good examples of this effect can be seen in airplane or boat windows. They are usually round. During repeated stresses, cracks will usually start from a corner or straight edge. By eliminating these weak points, durability and strength increase.
Installation and user friendliness for the glasser was our next concern. The Lokbox can be easily installed on the foam blank, or after laminating. Knowing that improper fin “cant” or fin angle will hinder a boards performance, the Lokbox is designed to have adjustable “cant” during installation. This allows for accurate fin angles to be set according to the type of board that’s being built.
We also knew that trying to install a flat box into a flat hole cut into a curved surface such as the bottom of all surfboards, would raise some issues. The ends would tend to sit high and get possibly sanded through, and the center would be deeper, and need to be filled in with resin. Therefore the Lokbox has a CURVATURE or “rocker” engineered into the box, which helps to maintain the rocker on the bottom of the finished board.
Next came adjustability of the fins. Lokbox fins can be adjusted in the box ¼ inch forward or ¼ inch back from the shapers fin position mark Just moving the center fin 1/8th of an inch can create a noticeable difference in your boards performance. Adjusting your fins is the easiest way for a surfer to alter/improve the performance of his/her board.
Next was how to combat the problem of serious impacts to the fins while surfing. A damaged or destroyed fin box can be a major bummer, especially on surf trips. Lokbox fins are designed to detach from the fin box during severe impacts to solid objects such as the reef. The fins are held in by a stainless metal plate known as the “finlok”. The finlok is designed to bend during these impacts, and release the fin/s from the box. In most cases this spares damage to the fin box. Backup fin/s can then be installed after removing the bent finlok from the screw, and placing it on a flat surface then flattening it back out with a hammer or other solid object. Put the finlok back on the screw, install fins, and your back in the water!..quick!