I just finished shaping my 8’9’’ PU longboard and am now looking to glass it with PE. This is my first attempt at installing fin boxes. The side fin boxes are fcs fusion and I’m not sure what type the center fin box is, but it looks similar to the one posted here http://www.foamez.com/fin-box-105-black-p-351.html.
I’ve looked in the archives and on fcs’s website and decided that I can go with the following two options.
**Option One:**
Use a router to make the hole in the pre-glassed board.
Lay a piece of fiberglass over the hole and push it into the hole with the fin box,
Take the box out and fill the hole partially with resin
Put the fin box back in the hole making sure it is laying flush
Put a test fin in the box to make sure the cant and toe angle is correct
Spread excess resin around the extra fiberglass that is surrounding the box
Let dry and take test fin out
Cover opening of box with tape
Continue with normal lamination being careful to avoid fin boxes
**Option Two:**
Use a router to make the hole in the post hot coated board
Make sure the fin boxes fit correctly in the hole
Fill it partially with resin and then put the box in the hole
Put a test fin in the box to make sure the cant and toe angle is correct
Let dry and take out test fins
Cover fin boxes with tape
Cover boxes with a laminated patch of fiberglass
Then hot coat the patch
Cut out glass on the area that had tape on it to reveal the portion of the fin box that will hold the fins
My main concern is strength and I am thinking the first option would be stronger, but slightly harder to ensure it ends up flush with the surrounding board when it is done. Am I right in this assumption? Also, are there any other upsides/downsides of either method? Or are these methods the wrong way to install the boxes?
I was thinking of installing the center fin with the opening to the air, but I heard that it is supposed to be the other way and then you grind the fin box open after hot coating the board. Which way is correct?
Finally, I am going to do some resin swirls, so would either method interfere with the look of the swirls?