Futures Fins Modified to fit Probox

[kensurf]

I got these realy sweet Futures fins from a raffle at Foam easy awhile back (thanks Herb)

I dont do the future box’s (no disrespect, just too lazy)

so Im gonna tweek them to fit the Probox fin system

 

Obviously the base dementions will have to be changed, the side fins are too deep and all are too thick

I only have a partial plan and will post as I go along

today I filled in the base caveties, I used uv resin with glass strands and a drop of blue tint to match fin color

heres a few pics of the process

 

[kensurf]

what the heck happened to the pics!!!

lets try again

 

[kensurf]

after the first side cured I peeled the back side tape and as I expected the resin was a little gellied

so I added a tad more resin glass mix and set it off

I fliped evey few minutes so it would cure throughout

I will try to do more tomorrow

 

[Bud]

Uh oh, smells like a brain fart ? ProBox is FCS compatible, pretty sure those are Future Fins, eh Ken? nice work btw.

[McDing]

Hmm. Guess I am mistaken. It was always my impression that FCS fins would fit Pro-Box without any alterations. Lowel

[kensurf]

Yes they are FUTURES!!!!!!

Boy I sure messed that up

DUH!

how the heck can I fix the header?

I need a moderator asap

[haavard]

Moderator to the rescue.

[kensurf]

thanks Haavard

but you missed a spot in the first post

of which I cant edit

[kensurf]

Ok

I went back at it for a bit today

I got them sanded and marked the base's

then broke out the jig saw and trimed them up then a little fileing and a bit of sanding

and then it dawned on me these hex cell type of fins may get weak when I thin down the bases

(this could be another brain fart)

must think before continueing

 

heres some pics to keep you entertained

[kensurf]

I'm making a new board for my son and its got a blue tint on the bottom so I figured these fins would match up nicely

I finished the FUTURES by hand / block sanding the mounting tabs, I was guided by a pro to only sand on the foild side of the side fins as to retain the structural integrety of the fin via the flat side.

the center fin was taken down a little on each side and still looks to be structuraly intact and strong

after doing a check fit and checking the cant set on the side fins (I had to do a little adjusting and relam with two of the fins due to over sanding)

I used a half round vixen file on edge to make the slots for the hex screws

I gave the bases a coat of sanding resin and lightly smoothed them for a nice slide in fit

went over that with a coat of superglue to help bond things,,, just because !

after I did another check fit I lightly sanded to 320 and masked off the tabs then sprayed acrylic enamel 3 coats

the fins came out nice and wernt very hrd to modify

I will post pics later today

[kensurf]

sorry for the wait, but heres the finished fins

[kensurf]

And here they are installed

come on give it up,,,,,,

 

[chrisp]

nice work Ken!

here's my go at it... luckily i didn't have to deal with the holes in the base like you...

i never liked this center 'hatchet' fin so, i figured i'd chop it first in case i screwed up.

if using an angle grinder is wrong, i don't wanna be right... is there anything this tool can't do? goes through fiberglass like butta!

i really need to find my vice... this did the trick though.

the Future bases are thicker than the Probox bases. to anybody who goes the angle grinder/cutoff wheel route, i would suggest not using it to adjust the THICKNESS of the bases...

it was really tough to take down the material evenly and they ended up slightly wonky. i will probably ad a layer or 2 of glass then take them back down to Probox thickness with a

sanding block. the angle grinder worked great cutting the base's lengths and height's but, not the thickness. next time, i will use a sanding block.

[Durbs]

I like your clamping technique!  The fins look great too nice conversion.

[kensurf]

Hey chris

yours look great

I used a block to get the thickness,

I was thinking of seting up a router with a guide but by the time it would take to set up

I would have been done doing it by hand, which was true.

mine had to be filled and resanded once to get them perfect

 I was elated when they got mounted on the board,,,,,,Perfect!

[kensurf]

yo durbs

hows them zebra fins comming along?

[chrisp]

thanks Durbs and Ken...

yah, live and learn.

my little brain was going a mile a minute thinking of jigs to make to make the whole thing "faster" but...

simplest is usually best...

now, i'd really like to find a set of Pavel Speeddialers to modify!

[greenlight]

Guess this is a good spot to reference a thread we did a while back modifying the PLASTIC Futures fins to ProBox

http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1029695

[img_assist|nid=1046553|title=Plastic Futures to ProBox Conversion|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]

 

 

 

~Brian

www.greenlightsurfsupply.com

 

[kensurf]

wow greenlight

I forgot all about that thread and I was posting in it..... Duh!

 

[Huck]

​Glad I found this old thread, I want to but some Pro Teck safety fins, and as near as I can tell the fins are Futures compatible.  I have FCS, Probox, and FCS II, but no futures in any of my boards.  Wish they made the Pro Tecks with two-tabs, but can’t find them or an equivalent anywhere.