from FCS thruster to single fin

General Discussion
1

After having so much fun surfing my first longboard with a single fin (see balsa flite project), I decided to make a retro single fin. But my fear was that I would spend all of this time and money making a single fin and then not like how it rides when I’m done.

So I had the idea of first converting my 7’4" fun shape to a single fin to see if I liked the feel. However, My fun shape has 3 FCS fins and FCS does not make a big enough center fin to use as a single. So I took an old longboard fin that had some broken hardware and I used a hand saw and a file to shape it into an FCS fin.

I have taken it out in waist to chest high waves and I love it. I feel like I should be in “Morning of the Earth”. If you have not seen this movie you need to check out clips on youtube.

Anyway, does anyone think this set up will break? I did have to file the base of the longboard fin down a lot. I am also worried that the fin will apply to much pressure to the FCS plug.

I love the feel so much I may just glass it on. I want to make one for my 6’6", too.

Let me know what you think.

Josh.

2

if the big fin in the plugs seems dicey, what about ripping them out, reinforcing

the hole and going for a box install?

then you can keep doing the three fin thing or pop our the sidebites and put

a big ol’ center fin in with no reservations about leaning in to that big, macking

bottom turn.

personally, the work involved seems like a suitable premise for building a whole

new board around that single fin.

3

Thanks for the info. I think you may be write about building a whole new board.

4

good job, i’ve been having the same idea.

I was thinking about building my first shortboard in time for the winter and recently watched Morning of the Earth too.

I was totally inspired by the graceful fast surfing in the film and would love to be able to go like that.

Does anyone know what kind (dimensions) the boards were in that film? did they have relatively flat rockers?

I think if i build the board i’ll put in boxes for the side bites just to feel the difference.

the next problem is finding waves like they had - the search continues…

5

Surely there are some guys here at sways that shaped them, I was looking for some info as well. Maybe someone will chime in.

They look kinda thick, I’d say at least 3" around the w-point.

I like the looks of that blue railed board thompson is on.

I wonder about length, any ideas?? 6’8" ??

edit; oops I think I have the “free ride” flick in mind.

6

I have attached some pics of modern single fins I like. I also like the modern single fin that channel island makes. Hope these help with your design.

7

one more picture.

8

perfect. :slight_smile: