I’ve never tried this way of glassing on a fin has anyone else?
Is it overkill or a good idea for large single fins and twins?
Thanks
I was wondering about that too when I was looking for a big noserider fin. I have no problem with overkill…I just wasn’t sure about digging into my cedar stringer. Interested to see the replies!
I’ve done it a few times but not with big centerfins. It’s a way of getting glass-ons without the big fillet at the base. I prefer to install high density foam inserts in the blank before shaping. I run them from bottom to deck. Then I shape, glass and sand as usual and do the fin install last. The bottom contour stays the way I shaped it and since the fins are connected to the core instead of the lamination there’s no stressing the lam or collapsing the deck over the fins.
I’ve never tried the short tab - I’ve used the full tab on the fin in order to increase the contact area with the core and eliminate the need for fin-to-lamination fillet or fill. I rout in a full length slot - at my cant - with a 1/8" bit then come back and freehand the curve of the outside edge of my fin. I glass and finish the fins before install and cut grooves in the tab and install with some cloth to get adhesion.
It takes a little more time and effort to do it this way but I like the results better than doing a regular glass-on install. Ther’s no BS with the glass around the fin, either. The fins go in so solidly that I think they’ll either break off or tear out the tail of the board before coming loose or collapsing off their cant.