I had a custom board shaped for me and he put the leash plug really, really close to the tail. I’m talking barely an inch. Why would you do that?? Should I be worried? It’s in the middle. Is there any danger that the last 1 inch of the stringer will be ripped out by my leash?
do you have any pics?
thickness of board? (at the tail)
tail shape?
glass?
i just made a board with the leash plug kinda close to the tail (more than an inch tho). the reason was that the tail itself was really thin and i had a finbox placed on the other side (the box was placed back a little further than a normal). i don’t think there should be much of a problem as long as it was put in right.
i didn’t think of that–that must be the reason. the board is a swallowtail with twin fins and a small trailing fin. i don’t have it in front of me right now but the fin placement must be the reason he had to put the leash plug so far back. i DID ask him to put it on the side, but that didn’t happen for some reason.
…wide swallow tails like a fish tail must have the plug in the middle of the stringer and not too near the edge of the crack
why?
because the leash rail saver…is not too long to cover all the diameter if you put it on one side
also is a more tight fitting due to the very thin tail (in a real fish) in the sides of the crack
if you have an average swallow tail, you can put the plug everywhere but a finger from the edge of the tail
because of the lace length (where you do the knot) and the rail saver
thanks, that makes me feel better. as long as you don’t think the last 1 inch of my tail will get ripped off by my leash.
Ya man, prolly be alright. Be sure to adjust your rail saver up so the leash loop doesnt crack the glass work in that area. Also, you were right, in my opinion, in the first place to ask for the plug to be installed off to one side. Usually behind your back foot. I’ve done this on all the fish boards I’ve made, with the intention of “if the leash or rail saver will do any damage, it will only be to one side”, is my motto on that.
Keep on fishing, my fav shape for sure
Shoots,
Any sign of damage? I think having it that close to the tail can cause problems with your leg rope wrapping around the tail and gauging it etc.
Hey reverb, does this apply to wide diamond tails as well??. I have a 15’’ DT on my single, and im not sure where to put my plug either. I was thinking in the stringer, about 2’’ up from the diamond “point”. What do you think??
…Beerfan, sounds ok
I think the plug should be placed in the stringer for max holding strength
and placed accordingly as so the rail saver can do its job most effectivly
in other works “put it where it works best”
I agree with Reverb. The farther back, the better. Tends to reduce tombstoning.
Quote:
I agree with Reverb. The farther back, the better. Tends to reduce tombstoning.
And this too
How far back is too far back??. The board has a thick tail, if that helps. If i can reduce tombstoning, surely that would help the longevity of the board. Even in small punchy waves, there can be quite a bit of pull on my twin keel. Having thick boards means im terrible at duckdiving. Lucky i dont surf big waves !!
what is tombstoning?
google tombstoning and mavericks…
Too far back, is somewhat subjective. If a plug is used, you want it placed securely IN the board, so that it can take the sudden loading, without pulling out, or breaking down the tail. I’ve never installed a commercialy produced leash plug. I like to make my own plugs out of PVC end caps, and 1/4 inch nylon rod. They seat one inch deep into the board, and are very STRONG. Never had one come out. I also like a method of attachment to the bottom rear of an FU box. Yes, the leash IS attached on the bottom side of the board. No, there is no rail-saver used. NEVER had a rail cut either. Just lucky. And that method rarely produces a tombstoning event. The board tends to glide up over the broken soup. It’s kind of a ‘‘tightrope walk’’, putting leash plugs into lightly constructed boards, with low density foam.
the more i look at it the more it bothers me. not only am i worried about the strength of the tail…but also, don’t you think having the plug so close to the tail would make the railsaver drag along the tail and affect the performance of the board??
no. In 30+ years I’ve never had a board break at the leash plug, or anything like it. And if you’re worried about drag, don’t wear a leash in the first place. Unless you’re in crowds or just off a rockpile, learn to surf without one, it will make you a better surfer.
I really can not imagine there would be any significant, or even detectable, increase in drag from the rail saver trailing behind the board.