installing handle and fin box on SUP

General Discussion
1

I just finished laminating the deck and bottom on the first board i have shaped.  I have not put the leash plug, fin box, and handle on the board yet.  I read that the reason the fin boxes have those tabs on it was so you install it after the hot coat.  I assume this implies that you don’t glass over the fin box.?  Is all this correct? T So when i make my jig do i make it to the width of the tabs sticking out? 

When should i install the handle on the deck?  The top of the handle i have has a ‘lip’ on it that goes out a 3/8’’ in all directions that is 1/16’’ thick.  Should this be installed before the hot coat so the lip gets covered by the resin and can be sanded flush?

I am using Epoxy, is there a general rule of thumb pertaining to the amount of space that should be given around the handles, fin boxes, and leash plugs?

Thanks,  Matt

 

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2

for the box the tabs should sit on top of the glass after you cut the hole.  put a piece of glass in the hole, don’t need to glass over the box.  

you got the pre glass handle.  it should of went under the glass.  There is a different on that goes on top of the glass.  Still shouldn’t be a problem.  Set the handle a 1mm below the glass and patch it and sand it down, tape it back up and hotcoat.  

 

install everything as tight as you can

3

Thanks for the reply, sounds good

4

Use Slow hardener.  If you do it outside on a warm day you may want to have a couple of ice packs handy.  Too hot (exotherm) will melt the EPS foam around the box.  Suprised no one has voiced this word of caution.  The fin box, leash plug can be installed after glass.  Not everyone uses glass under the box.  Alot of shops use ground/milled fibers or Q-cell with no glass under or over.

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