Aloha I am in search of a leash plug that I can affix onto the deck of an old Surfboards Hawaii gun which has no leash plug. I have kept it pure for close to 10 years, but am getting tired of swimming after the board in wintertime conditions at Ocean Beach, SF. This past summer, I saw a clear leash plug fastened onto the tail of a Christensen fish – no resin, no fin rope, no holes in the fin, and (heaven forbid!), no cutting into the deck of the board. The plug was clear, looked like rubber, and was glued on, post production. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Aloha Kit
Check your local surf shops, they should carry a plug that sticks to the board with some sort of adhesive. I don’t know how well they work but I have seen them in the shops. If you have no luck email me and I can get you one.
Kit contact Blocksurf 805 583 0057 its called E-Z plug 2.50 very cool plug that takes 2 min. to put on.good luck
A rerun, originally by John Mellor. In town John at SF Surfshop (46th and Noriega, tell him I sent you) can make these, or advise you on how to make it. There are numerous benefits to this kind of plug - beautiful, very strong, and if it breaks the deck is still intact. ------------------ One way is to scuff the area on the deck where you want the loop - I would say approx. 6" X 3" with the long dimension along the stringer. I mask off around the scuffed area. Wrap some wax paper around a pencil and place it across the stringer in the middle of the scuffed area - tape the ends down to the deck. Build up fin rope and sanding resin over the pencil. I also put little cloth patches on either side of the pencil to help anchor the fin rope but I’m not sure if this is necessary. After it cures, take the pencil out, feather the edges and clean up the hole where the pencil was - you don’t want sharp edges where your nylon loop attaches thru the hole. Re-mask, gloss and wet/dry sand it - should be good to go.
Minutes to install the E-Z Plug, but let it cure for 72 hours for best results. http://www.surfcohawaii.com/access.htm
The surfco stick-on plug is very bulletproof. I added one to an old board that had no leash plug and the surfco held tight no matter what, even being dragged behind a boat. They probably hold better than glass-in plugs.
Build a bridge
Thanks to all for the replies – you will be saving me from ice cream headaches and noodles-for-arms. Happy surfing, Kit