Does anyone know where I would be able to get several sets of keel fins (wood or glass either to glass on or for a fin box).
I made my own before but would like to try correct doubled foil fins on my fishes.
I’m based in the UK
Cheers Joe
Joe,
I’ve heard you can get Gephart keel fins from Mitch’s Surf Shop in La Jolla, Ca. or the Green Room in Ocean Beach, San Diego. For fiberglass you can try Rainbow Fins. There is a thread from a few days ago that has pictures of Lokbox fiberglass keels that look very nice, although I don’t think they are double foiled. There not difficult to make, either(wood). Mike
Cheers Rooster
I’ll check them out.
G’day Joe,
I have the duck's gut's in keel fins, they are double foiled and are core filled with hexigon pillows.
Photo's in aussie surfing life July issue on a Dick Van Strallen board, I'm on the Gold Coast my address is;
<a href="mailto:finfektionfins@msn.com" class="bb-url">finfektionfins@msn.com</a>
Kindest regards
Rod.
Ask to Robert Turner: burtisea@speed-mail.co.uk I think he can make you any kind of fin for any fin system. I saw a pair of really nice keel fins made by him.
You’ll aford some money on shipping because i think he’s from england to.
Good waves. Coque.
I here lokboxs are also producing keels which look pretty cool, but I still like the feel of glass on’s. Although the lokboxs plugs looks pretty good, anygood feed back?
I made some keels for the eurofin plugs (copy of FCS) and the plugs pulled out the board with in a week.
cheers joe
This guy, Robert Turner, also make glass ons.
I tried to use FCS / Eurofin plugs on a old style twin fin, i made a pair of keel fins and i used three plugs on each fin because i think that the old style twin fins have a lot of area for two plugs. Anyway i broke two fins and some plugs in two months, so, obviously the FCS plugs haven’t enough support for larger fins (do you remember the FCS 4 plugs longboard fins?).
Now i just shaped my second old style fish and i’ll use standard FU fin boxes, so they will support larger fins without a doubt. I want to try the old style twin fins with a 9’’ base, so i think another system wouldn’t hold enough.
Anyway i want to try diferent systems, maybe Red X or Lockbox would be nice.
Do you know if it’s easy to find Red X fins in Europe?
Good waves.
A friend of mine imports the bonzer red x fin sets direct from the states, so i’d be surprised if there is a European agent.
Joe,
You said you make wood fins, but wanted something with the correct foil. I’ve made several pairs and used them with excellent results. I don’t know anything about foiling fins except for the obvious. Keeping things symetrical with smooth tapers and such. Make some more, glass them on, and you don’t have to import anything, no fin box dilemmas, they look cool and work good, and you made them with your own hands. I have some templates I’d send you if you like(anyone else, too). Mike
Joe, so you know the people who’s shaping Bonzers in UK?
I’m really interested on a Campbell Bonzer (i own and old style 8’ Eaton Bonzer) as an alternative to a “high performance”* trifin. I think it would suit my single fin likes adding more versability (is that word correct in english?) to surf in any conditions.
*Now, my “high performance trifin” is a 6’5’’ Mongrel that i think i’ll change soon for a 6’3’', so it isn’t a superthin-supernarrow modern high performance shortboard.
Cheers Rooster I never say no to any templates!!
Unfortunately I’ve been booted out of my workshop (something about the neighbours complaining about a strange toxic smell in the evenings) so no more major work for me at the moment.
My mate Guy is the man responsible for the bonzers in the UK he’s been riding them for years, and got to admit that he’s done a great job over here. But they are expensive at over $800 (for a UK shape) but I would consider getting one. luckly I’ve just made myself a bonzer.
Talk of expensive, we can now get Tyler surfboards over here starting from $2150.
So i must think about $800 for the board + $300 for shipping and handling… So we’re talking about $1100 bonzers. I think it’s a lot of money because i was thinking on the bonzer replacing my white, sanded finish Mongrel ($300).
Anyway i’m still interested on trying a modern bonzer.
Does your friend have a web site or something were to see some of his bonzers?
Good waves.
Joe, i also work as ASP judge and talking about keel fins and retro fish boards i just remembered that Spencer Hargraves last year posted some of the highest scores in small waves using and stringerless fish board made by a shaper from UK or Australia… i don’t remember.
The shape was really close to the ones Steve Brom shapes and he had a pair of keel fins glassed on. I remember him trying to hide his board from the judges thinking that we were going to underscore him if we know what kind of surfboard he was riding on. The truth is that we just see the surfing.
I was talking to him and he was really impressed with this shape. So if you know him or you know how to contact him, sure he can tell more about this board and his fins.
Good waves!
I believe True Ames has a Redx version of the ones Clyde Beatty and Steve Brom are using, as well as glass ons.
They are asymmetrical foils though
Coque,
Give Larry Block a call at 805-583-0057 or e-mail him at <a href="mailto:blocksurf@aol.com" class="bb-url">blocksurf@aol.com</a>. He has worked with a number of people in Europe or he does supply direct.
Tom,
Sorry but, what does Larry Block supply? keel fins? bonzer fins? bonzer surfboards?
I’ll write him later.
Thanks Tom.
Coque,
The company I manage is Daum Tooling Inc. We manufacture Red X Fin Systems. Larry Block Enterprises is the world wide distributor. He's the guy who flys all over the world to set up distributors and dealers. He also is the U.S. distributor for Balin and Ms. Palmers.
Tom,
sorry, i was more than a year away of Swaylocks, so i didn't know that you manage this company.
I'll write Larry later. Thanks for the info.
We don't see other fin systems here in Europe than FCS (just some Futures on longboard rail fins). The thing is that i don't like the FCS system at all, but is the only choice to use removable fins here. I hope your system will arrive here soon.
Thanks again!
Hi Coque
Spencer’s board was made by neil purchase sr, His dad works with my girlfriend over here, talking about other fin brands, I got in contact with southernbooks@lineone.net who import the rainbow fins into the uk and they carry some of the lokbox range (which do some nice keel fins) so I might check them out to see how they go.