A friend of mine came into ownership of a Hansen board that is about 25 years old - maybe older. Beautiful shape with 50/50 rails forward, a slight convave in the nose, and what looks like extra rocker and up-rails in the tail = noserider. He’s going to fix up the few dings it has and use it. But he needs a fin. I don’t know much more than it is a box with a bolt hole through the deck in the center of the box. Any help would be appreciated as to what type of fin & box this is and where it could (still) be found. Thanks, Eric
A friend of mine came into ownership of a Hansen board that is about 25 > years old - maybe older. Beautiful shape with 50/50 rails forward, a > slight convave in the nose, and what looks like extra rocker and up-rails > in the tail = noserider. He’s going to fix up the few dings it has and use > it. But he needs a fin.>>> I don’t know much more than it is a box with a bolt hole through the deck > in the center of the box. Any help would be appreciated as to what type of > fin & box this is and where it could (still) be found. Thanks, Eric Not exactly sure but I think that is the old WAVE SET fin system used on old Hobies and Hansens and probably several others. (just curious but does the shape of the box kinda “dogbone” in the middle?) These are almost impossible to find anymore and if you do you aaare likly to pay dearly for it. You might consider cutting the old box out with a router and jig and setting a new Fins Unlimited box in its place. I did this on an old Gary proper V bottom and it worked fine. I epoxied a cut down Stainless Steel bolt in the hole in the deck to preserve the appearance of the original board. Works and looks great.! JC
Jim, Thanks. I’ll get another look at it and we’ll see if it has any unusual shape (I don’t remember it looking different in anyway from an F.U. box, except for the hole in the middle). I have a F.U. box lying around that might work too if my friend wanted to replace it. Though I know that he’d be more happy with finding the fin that fits before chopping into this baby. If anyone else can shed light on this please speak up! Thanks, Eric>>> Not exactly sure but I think that is the old WAVE SET fin system used on > old Hobies and Hansens and probably several others. (just curious but does > the shape of the box kinda “dogbone” in the middle?) These are > almost impossible to find anymore and if you do you aaare likly to pay > dearly for it. You might consider cutting the old box out with a router > and jig and setting a new Fins Unlimited box in its place. I did this on > an old Gary proper V bottom and it worked fine. I epoxied a cut down > Stainless Steel bolt in the hole in the deck to preserve the appearance of > the original board. Works and looks great.! JC
that fin isn’t a waveset or a hobie. it’s a square base. you should put a “wanted” ad here and on other sites. one could turn up. also, i believe there’s a link in the archives of this site that has glass reproductions of those fins (but it’s possible i saw it somewhere else). i wouldn’t take a router to your board, it would basically ruin it. a new fin box is the easiest way to devalue an old board. another option is to: 1).tape the hole in the box then coat it with mold release. 2)pour resin mixed with milled glass into the box(not too hot). 3)place a regular box type fin into the resin(full depth/tape straight), then let it harden 4)pop it out with water pressure thru the hole. 5)tap the fin. if the box doesn’t have a taper then you might want to tape the inside w/ some layers of tape before step 1 to take up some space. i think those boxes are tapered so that shouldn’t be needed. http://www.cooperfishsurfboards.com
Eric, Take a look at www.oneworldsurf.com. I saw a Hansen fin reproduction with a bolt coming out the top. I’m not positive what you’re looking for but it sounds like it might fit into your box. I don’t know how much you’re willing to pay for this fin. I think they were selling it for $150?!?! http://www.oneworldsurf.com
P.S. There’s some cool old boards under the restorations section. http://www.oneworldsurf.com
Thanks Gene and ajl. I found the fin on the Oneworld site - but I doubt that my friend will go for the $150 price (he was given the board by a neighbor… amazing, but true). I like the idea of creating a new base for a box-fin that would work with this. I’ll bring it up and see if he’ll go for it. That way at least he could surf it if he wanted to while still looking for a real Hansen fin. Any reccomendations on the type of fin style/size for this board. 9’6" wide nose, probably 23+" widepoint, kick & up rails in the tail. My friend is about 5’8" and 170 lbs and a good surfer. He will want to perch on the nose as much as possible. Thanks again, Eric>>> Eric, Take a look at www.oneworldsurf.com. I saw a Hansen fin reproduction > with a bolt coming out the top. I’m not positive what you’re looking for > but it sounds like it might fit into your box. I don’t know how much > you’re willing to pay for this fin. I think they were selling it for > $150?!?!