A little help please. I’v started a little project, Some might say too big.
I’v got some time on my hands at the moment so I’m having a go at making a load of boards, 9 in total. Only ever made one in the past on a four day long workshop, which went well.
All is going very well so far. Taking my time to get everything right, no big slip ups. I’v shaped all nine boards three are fully glassed ready to put fin plugs in the other six are in verious stages all of which have a layer of glass on the bottom.
Today I started to get redy to put the plugs in one of the finished boards and as I read though the fcs installation guide to my horror I realise that on NONE of the nine Finished boards have I put in extra glass patches. Feeling pritty stupid and pissed off with myself.
My question is do I really need the extra patches? Is it standard practice? Does everyone put them in?
So far I’m really happy with the way its going. Some of the boards have rein tints on the bottom and I don’t like my chances of matching the colour when putting the extra patches on. All boards have one layer of 4oz glass on the bottom.
generally yes, with 4oz you’d need patch unless using glass ons. I’ve been led to believe that patches are better done after lamination and before hot coat. This way you get less air trapped and the first 4oz layer lies flat the whole way down the board. I’d def put post lam patches if you can.
Grind into your hotcoat, add the patches, Feather in and re-hotcoat.
You are debateably installing the weakest fin system currently on the market. Making the install weaker is only a recipe for disaster. Especially if you are selling these boards to build a name.
I forgot once, it was for a board I was shaping for myself, I surfed the hell out of it for almost a year without problems, after that i got a few cracks around the plugs. I surf off the fins quite hatdhardso I was not expecting it to last more than a couple of surfs.
However I would NEVER sell a board without extra fibregass patches. I have a feeling I was just lucky.
I haven’t checked their latest instructions but back in the day it was also recommended that extra patches be placed deckside directly above the plug locations. I’d say to follow their recommendation on the ‘H’ pattern thing as well - after cutting holes for the plugs, make sure to take a sharp instrument (doesn’t have to be the FCS tool) and scribe to the deck glass to form a resin bridge between the plugs and the deck glass. This will help prevent the plugs from twisting or sideways crushing in to the foam.
Lots of the old FCS plugs were not installed correctly and in my opinion, this helped to give them a bad name. I’ve seen plenty that were not reinforced on the deck or the bottom and were not bridged to the deck via the ‘H’ pattern.
…the problem with fcs plugs is if its damaged because is not possible to do a satisfactory repair due to no more H pattern so is like putting a leash plug; even worst due you should need more resin.
When installing FCS I drill oversize holes (Next hole saw size up) and take them right through to the underside of the glass on the deck. I add quite a bit of q-cell to the resin so the extra resin doesn’t add much weight. I’ve never had a plug move on me. And oh yes, I always add an extra glass patch.