We had some fun surf this weekend. Whilst tumbling about in the soup after a crash tube I felt a light tap on my foot. It was my fin. When I got out of the water I found a nice gash on top of my foot and as the day wore on it swelled up pretty bad.
I’m getting older and believe it or not sometimes I actually think about safety. I’ve never liked liked the look of the Surfco fins (sorry, but for me aesthetics count). I noticed that FCS has a composite fin- the K-Flex (soft on the outside with a rigid core). The K is for Kelly what’s his name. I was turned off by the price (really sorry, but for me, unfortunately, price counts too). But now I’m thinking maybe $60 may save me a trip to the emergency room in the future.
Anybody use them? Any feedback as to how they work??
Howzit llilibel, Is that $60 retail for the K-flex fin? If you know any body with an account with FCS they can probably get it for about half the price. I have been trying to get FCS to let me be a rep for Swaylocks since there is a demand here for their products but it's a slow process and they are concerned about proper installation, but I told them that on this site they could get all the info to install properly and probably do a better job than some factory guys do. Aloha,Kokua
Hi kokua. Yeah $60 retail. I wonder how much Mr. K gets? anyways let me know if you can get such a healthy discount, although the shipping back to the mainland might negate it.
I’d probably get FCS installed. I downloaded there instructions and it just seemed like you need a lot of specialised tools. They sell a tool kit for like $160 at FoamEZ. I don’t make enough boards to justify that.
But really, anyone out there tried 'em?? That’s what I want to know. They are a bit different that the Surfco ones in that the whole fin is covered with a softer plastic, not just the edge.
Howzit llilibel, I call my rep in a day or 2 since i'm pretty busy these days with boards, logo printing and construction. I also need to order some Simon Andersons for a friend. The wholesale price of an installation kit is about $100.00 and if you plan on doing a lot of boards it's worth the cost. I charge $10 for installs so after 10 the kit has been paid for. Aloha,Kokua
Sorry to butt in on the thread, but could you get me the install kit for a 100 bucks too? That would be fantastic. I made a couple boards in Canada this summer, and am getting stuff (tools, supplies, a room) together to start making boards here in Japan too. FCS is the standard here, and I would probably largely do them on my boards I will make.
I’d probably get FCS installed. I downloaded there instructions and it just seemed like you need a lot of specialised tools. They sell a tool kit for like $160 at FoamEZ. I don’t make enough boards to justify that.
I don’t use the FCS system. That kit does sound expensive. I think there is a lot of the stuff in it you can do with out. If I remember rightly and its the same kit thats sold here in the UK, I think that the kit contains a router too (the only way I can work out that they can charge that price for it. I could be wrong on that, It could be that if you want to instal FCS fins then you got to buy the kit and they have you by the ball in that case. but I know you can buy the fin gigs and and router bit seperatley for a few pounds each. Instalation instruction come with the kit but can be down loaded from the Clarke web site. he hole templates and other bits and peices can be made relativerly easily. I can’t think exactly what the kit contains as I already had a router and took one look at the price and thought sod that.
Howzit susej, If FCS is the standard where you live you might be able to order through a friendly manufacturer who can get you the install kit at wholesale price. It's true you can probably find most of the tools at a hardware store but there are also some of the tools that are customized by FCS which you won't find. Keep in touch and as a last resort I can order you a kit. Also They don't use a router which you probably already know since you've done installations already.Aloha,Kokua
The problem is that there is no one making boards in my area, and the shop that I buy my gear at doesn’t do its own major repairs, but sends them off to a guy who does them. So I don’t really have any good contacts for that. I asked the guy at the shop what the kit would cost, and he pulled out a pamphlet and told me it would be almost $200. I’ll see if I can work something out. Thanks.
Had another look through the instalation instructoins last night and the Kit.
the hole cutters in the kit are modified carbide cutter to go through the glass and retail seperatley for £15.00. each
I dont know why i was assuming that these would fit a roughter. think I was getting confused on how to get the angle right with box instalastion.
I guess they must fit a standard drill, but I was wondering how you would line them up? I know that there is a few degrees leaway, would you measure the cant with a set square, protractor or adjustable angle then dirll the holes by lining up with this. I would have thought that it would be hard to get the angle spot on like this.
reading the instruction do you only use a drill to go through the glass and then do the rest by hand?? this is really confusing me.
I’m intested as I’m bound to have to use this system at some point.
Here’s a pic of what the kit contains. i worked out the cost of everything seperately and and its probably better to get the kit.
If you push farther than the glass with the drill, the barrel bit can wander off line once its past the glass. You’re then sideways into foam and have a big space to fill. Bad news.
If you had a properly sized drill bit, 4" long or so like a big cylinder, it would be fine. Just go slow.
I checked my catalogue and the K-Flex is a composite core covered with an elastomer. This is a rubber coating over a usual composite fin. I have checked the fin as well and it seems a little flexier in the front fins and the center is much stiffer to keep the drive. My mate rode them and said surprisingly in small waves they felt just fine. To me they sound like the perfect fin for someone concious of being cut or concerned with safety.
They should be standard issue at Snapper Rocks where every swell the Tweed Heads hospital is overwhelmed with surfing injuries!
I guess they must fit a standard drill, but I was wondering how you would line them up? I know that there is a few degrees leaway, would you measure the cant with a set square, protractor or adjustable angle then dirll the holes by lining up with this. I would have thought that it would be hard to get the angle spot on like this.
One of the reasons manufacturers prefer to use FCS is that a monkey can basically install the system. It is by far (in my opinion) the easiest of all systems to install. (and find anywhere, and also to repair!) You do not need to use set squares to line up the holes. You simply mark the positions with the mark out template in relation to the shapers dots, drill to the right depth with the hole saw, bore out the excess foam and then go close to the deck with another bit that creates the channel of resin to the deck. It is here that you use the hand tool to create the nice ring on the deck that you cover with the stickers later on. The angles of the fins are created by using your angle template to set the fin with tape or putty before you pour the resin around the plugs. SO SIMPLE!
Howzit woody, The best is a 1/2 " drill since some of the tools have bigger shanks than 3/8" . Actually you need the drill for 4 steps and the only hand process is the angled serrated tooth tool that scores a full circle to attach to the deck, The tool that you probably won't find is the hole saw that has grit attached for boring and clean up, which is the same tool you can put an angle into the hole. The tool that first cuts through the fiberglass is a hole saw with a depth collar. The installation is easier to learn if you can actually see the process done. I think it would be nice if FCS had a video of the process like Mitch made for the ProBox system. I know FCS has an installation video and they should put it on their website. One thing I've noticed is I'm getting a lot more orders for ProBox systems these days and I'm at the point that I need to get more jigs from Mitch. Just checked the last price list from FCS and they don't show a price for the kits but they were about $95.00 before. One thing I noticed was the price of fins have gone down which is nice.Aloha,Kokua
In installing FCS, you use the following tools with a drill:-
*Holesaw with depth guide collar
Borer Bit and Tube
H-Pattern Tool
These three tools are custom, to make the job easier and quick to do. You can make youre own - thats the pure essence of the backyarder. We make them so that medium & high volume factories can get on with the job.
Re the K-Flex fin, when we first made these fins with the elastomer coating, some people claimed they actually went better than Kelly’s K2.1. Something about the rubber being more forgiving on the trailing edge.
We made these fins as a safer option, without compromising performance.
If I ordered through you what would be the final cost, including shipping to Redondo Beach CA? I sure wish I had someone around here who would install the cups for $10. The going rate here is $40. But I’m definitely interested in those fins. The gash I got is still bothering me a week later. I must have hit a nerve because my big toe feels like it’s asleep and half my foot turned black and blue. I’m going safety conscious, mainly because I hate the idea of having to stay out of the water!
Howzit llilibel, I've been looking for thr phone number of the new rep in Hi for FCS and need to find it first. I need to order just a few special fins and hopefully they will let me. Since they closed the Hi warehouse I've been told that I need to make a minimun order of $300 which was not the case before and I bought a lot of products just before they shut down due to the discounts. Let me look into it and if they let me order I get you a set. The price will be $31.00 for the fins, the $1.00 extra covers the shipping to me and what ever the shipping is to yowill be added to the $31.00. The whole thing should be less than $35.00 total.Aloha,Kokua
