Well I just bought a new shortboard and it has the Future Fins setup. The problem is that I just tried to put in the fins they gave me and the side fins fit but, the back fin doesn’t. It seem like the box is to small. Does that mean it only fits a small fin like the FCS GX fin? The fins I got are the EA450 model. I went to the Future Fins site but, still no real info. I’m kind of freaked out because I’m living in Japan and just paid $1400.00 for this thing. Any info please. Thanks Da Cheetah
1400 for a surfboard??? Just curious but who shaped it? and why so much??? is this what they cost in Japan??? You wouldnt happen to have a picture of it would you?
Oh as far as your problem I have noticed that the back boxes are not the same on futures as the sides so make sure you are not trying to put a side fin in the back,
Joe~
Well the board I bought is a Darren Tatsuno Hawaii shaped for Japan. The boards in Japan range from $1500.00 for Top shapers brands and down but, you have to convert to Japanese yen. Maybe 105yen to the dollar but pretty close with tax I’m sure. I’ve never spent this much for a board but, over all, balance and rocker and everything inbetween looked perfect to me. Just one of those boards you see and know you have to have. Well if the board works as good as it looks, I don’t care how much I paid for it but, I should get some decent fins with it! Are you sure the back fin box is different than the side fins? Like I said the back fin box is more shallow than the side fins. Can anyone relate? Great if I could get more info on this.
Thanks Da Cheetah!
Hi There Da Cheetah! Like Bohdi said check the centerfin, it should have no angle to it.
The side fins are angled about six degrees, so should be easy to find out.
I have made a board with Futures and had the same problem, I just sanded off a little on both sides of the bottom of the fin and it worked just fine.
I’ve also had the same problem with FCS sometimes, seems like the fins or finboxes dont come out perfect all the time since they’re massproduced.
The price of boards here in Japan are insane! Thats one of the reasons I started makin my own.
Jimmy Yoshio Shibata.
Hey Yoshio what’s up! Well the back fin on my board fits in the hole but doesn’t lock into place because the base of the box is to shallow. The side fins boxes are deep enough to lock into place. The back fins box is half as deep as the side fins boxes. I noticed that the side fins boxes have the F or the Future Fins mark but, the back box has a X. Could this mean something? All 3 fins bases are exactly the same size. This hole system is new to me. This will teach me nextime to put everything together before I take it home.
I'm Still lost, Da Cheetah
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The boards in Japan range from $1500.00 for Top shapers brands and down
well, shit…as long as i’m just hangin’ out makin’ boards and killin’ time…maybe i should do it in japan…i could retire by the time i’m 30.
the “X” means that it’s the center box, so no problem there. you might just need to sand the fin a bit…and this may be a stupid question, but is the screw completely clear of the fin slot?
From what I’ve heard there are two types(depths) of centerboxes available from future, so you must have recieved the WRONG centerfin(the deeper type) from the shop.
Go back to the shop and get it replaced. Or maybe I’m wrong…
Could it be resin or something inside the boxes?
Thanks for some input. Yup! I took out the screw. One big main question! Is the base of the center fins box shallower than the side fins boxes? Or are all the boxes the same depth? Because the base on all 3 fins are exactly the same size.
Thanks Da Cheetah
i don’t think the bases would be any different, but i only ride longboards so my experience with Futures is limited to sidebites in a 2+1…no center fins. how exactly are you putting them in?..are you sure the front side is fully in the clip before pushing the back side down? if it won’t go, you can always take it back to the surf shop and have them give it a look.
I had a look at my setup and the centerfinbase is shorter.
Well guyz I think I figured it out kana? I was looking at specialty fin on the Future fins web site and noticed they have a set up for fishes 2 regular side fins and a small trailing fin like the FCS GX fin. So like you said Yoshio that there are to different sized center boxes. If you look carefully theres a black box and a white box and the white box looks smaller. So I guess I can only change the side fins and have to keep the same little center fin. Well my new board is 5’11 18 5/16 2 1/4 rounded squash. Now I’m wondering how much hold this board will have off the bottom in 3 foot fast, steep, beach breaks? I didn’t even try her out yet so I guess I shouldn’t bitch to much! Anyway THANKS TO ALL FOR THE HELP!!! Da Cheetah
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Well guyz I think I figured it out kana? I was looking at specialty fin on the Future fins web site and noticed they have a set up for fishes 2 regular side fins and a small trailing fin like the FCS GX fin. So like you said Yoshio that there are to different sized center boxes. If you look carefully theres a black box and a white box and the white box looks smaller. So I guess I can only change the side fins and have to keep the same little center fin. Well my new board is 5’11 18 5/16 2 1/4 rounded squash. Now I’m wondering how much hold this board will have off the bottom in 3 foot fast, steep, beach breaks? I didn’t even try her out yet so I guess I shouldn’t bitch to much! Anyway THANKS TO ALL FOR THE HELP!!! Da Cheetah
In boards I’ve seen and made equipped with futures, the 1/2" depth of the rear box and 3/4" depth on the sides is the standard configuration. They’re made this way so you can make the board thinner at the tail. Almost all thruster fin sets I’ve seen for futures have the 1/2" deep rear fin as well. Fiberglass supply has a large catalog of futures fins online, all with the depth of the fins tangs listed, so you can be sure to get the right set.
http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/SurfSailcom/surfsailcom.html
They have good prices, and have always treated me right. I’m sure you could talk them into shipping to Japan.
Good luck!
Futures changed their rear boxes to the newer config with the shallower rear fin. The shop should be able to get a replacement center fin, and in a fair world it would be free.
Shipping of a purchased item to Japan is much more involved than you might think, Schwuz.
I’ve never actually looked into it, I just assumed it would be easy… But yeah, a good shop should handle it for you, especially if they sold you a $1500 board!
Thanks to all for the information, finally I got the answer I was looking for. I swear Swaylocks is a blessing for any questions that has to do with surfboards and design. I feel so relieved now. The board I got looks like it’s a wave killer and to have a fin that didn’t fit really freaked me out. I’ll go today and exchange my fins. If I can figure out how to post a photo here on Swaylocks I’ll post it. I have a digital camera but,I’m still not at par with computers. Thanks again to all!! Da Cheetah
Well I took my board back to the shop.It a seems I got a set of old model fins that didn’t fit the new box. To all the boy Yoshio, Schwuz, Blakestah, and everyone who pitched in to help, thanks! When I was living in Hawaii I could get a new custom board from a top shaper for $450.Now I’m living in a country where boards are 3x’s more expensive. Sometime technology can give you a good scare. Especially if you don’t do your homework. I still think Futures fins are good and will see this Sunday when I put the board and the fins through the test! Hah! Hah! Hah! To all new combers to new fin systems, make sure to do the research before buying. Could save yourself from unnecessary stress. Thanks again Da Cheetah