I dont know whats up with posting pictures…I’ve never had a problem before. Tried uploading to my own pictures and going through photobucket to use the URL no luck.
Anyways i’ve been waiting for 2 months to finally get one of the new FCS screwless single fins and I hope below will be the picture, if not I also attached a file of it for you guys. I know the regular screwless system has caught alot of scepticism as well as the new origins system but this has a way different aproach and wanted to get some thoughts or ride reports from you guys and even though we aren’t stocking them right now they are available for those interested. The Bearing system looks pretty tight and I cant see sand being any real issue but a build up of salt in the chamber wont be doing me any favors I’m sure. I’ll be rinsing this fin throughly and often. Prety rad color too unfortuantley it’s the only color being made right now.
I don’t know about you guys, but the only time I move my fun around a lot is when I’m on a new board and I’m dialing it in. Even then it’s rarely more than a one or two step job. I then mark the position and I’m good. When I exchange fins I mark the other side of the box. If I need a change I determine that before I’m in the water. I’m not in such a hurry that turning a screw makes that big of a difference. So what are the benefits if this system. Quick adjustment. Rapid changeover. I’d opt for a additional $60 in my pocket for beer and gas and buy a normal fin
Anyone know if you can buy those bearing inserts from a bearing shop.
If so, all you would need is a modified head on a drill bit and insert them yourself.
Tommorth.
They fit in a normal fin box, the bottom row of bearings fit in the horizontal finbox slot and either of the top three bearings fit in the vertical slot giving you a choice of 3 positions which you can change while out in the water.
Every time the wheel is re invented what do you get? The wheel! Lol. New isn’t new. New isn’t always better. There is nothing wrong with a screw. It is simple, fool proof and reliable.
Well I beg to differ on the “problem that no one has” part.
I will often take 2 similarly sized boards that need to be stacked on top of one another on the roof racks of my car.
Sure I can use a “smart screw” which has an FCS fin key (hex) head.
This is the simplest but still need to take care not to lose the smart screw head when taking the fin in and out and transporting it to the beach in the car.
It’s a pesky little thing that one can drop easily and spend an inordinate amount of time looking for.
I liked the look of the QFR (quick fin release) thingy I posted in the link much better than the FCS (and other) ball bearings and big $ tag solution.
The QFR is just a put in your preferred fin and leave it in $15 gizmo.
It means you can’t lose the screw head like you can with the smart screw or any normal screw and plate when taking them in and out and then looking for them later and there’s no need to play find the hole in the dark for pre-dawn go outs when trying to beat the crowds at Noosa.
I’m not just going out when it’s all nice and sunny and it’s easy to see where the plate is in the box.
I like the adjustability when in the water aspect too as I’m always tinkering with fins and their postions in different boards.
It’s a damn sight cheaper than a new board.
In closing its too bad their website doesn’t work any more.
A few years ago I bought a box of 100 stainless steel “Button Head Cap Screws” 8-32 thread x 3/4" long with 3/32 hex head from MSC Industrial Suppy here in the states. $8.98 for the box. That’s .09 cents a screw. Box of 100 3/32 hex keys was $7.65. Less than .08 cents ea.
I make my own hex keys with handles with left over resin - throw some shells and assorted shit in to funk them up. Keep a mess of it all, screws and wrenches, in an old prescription bottle in my truck, give alot away, and still have about 1/2 of the original order in the shop.
Also, for Cuttlefish, I keep a little Mag-Lite that uses a single AAA battery that I can hold in my teeth while working with 2 hands to see what I’m doing in the dark. Old fishing trick for night fishing and changing tackle.
Only thing I can’t find are the stainless plates in bulk. $1.00 to 1.50 a pop is rediculous. Anyone have a source? 8/32 or 10/32, no matter…
Plus, there’s the old standby. No screw or plate? Fold a few sheets of newspaper around the base of the fin - jam it in - the paper swells in the water and you’ll be hard pressed to get it out. Works like a champ. Never lost a fin using this method.
All of which just upholds the age old fact - Surfers are cheap bastards - and I’m glad I don’t have to rely on them for a living - and have the utmost respect for those that do…
Just saying, as others have - the wheel ain’t broke…alot of the time, simple is better.
I’m just both clumsy and forgetful so eliminating my chance of losing the screw inbetween when I take it out of the board at home and then putting it in again at surf spot is a good thing for me.
Now, where do I put that screw? I know I put it in a safe place.
Ok, I’ll have to use a spare.
Hmmm, where did I put the spare ones?
That’s sometimes my problem, Lol.
I know the newspaper trick but I was appreciating this doo hickey for its put, take out simplicity (even for $15).
This message typed from a simple little Dell netbook which is well past its used by date.
Sorry for being late to my party! To Surfoils no ads here, I haven’t gotten a chance to get it wet and just popped it out of the box friday. I was just really excited to share my new toy with you guys and get some feedback from people more in tune with fins than myself.
It’s your standard longbox fin with the exception of the plate and screw System. It uses 2 ball bearings on each side of the fins base that compress when inserted into the box and expand back out when they reach the groove that would normaly house the plate. I have put into a couple boards just to see how the fit was. While it wasn’t very hard to push in or out it did have the holding power to not slide forward and back by me hitting it with a decent amount of force. But as I said it hasn’t been water tested yet.
@cuttlefish thats a hefty price for a fin! These will probably be 79.95 retail from what I currentley know.
@Pinnypinny only the bottom row have the bearings to lock the fin in place. I was told the bearings themselves were made/created in japan. If the system works well it would be nice to be able to convert others to the same style.
The whole screwless thing is so trendy currently it doesn’t suprise me that things that have been around for years and got no recognition are coming full circle and showing up as “the latest inovation in surfing” I’m glad things are changing though, it shows a desire for progress even if it is backed by corporate greed in the end.
@Matt I love the wonderbolt for the ability it offers I just have a hard time getting ahold of that small tab when my fingers are numb! I like the super screw as well, easier to get a hold of and I dig the ruler sticker for marking adjustments.
I appreciate the interest and comments guys, I'll snap some picks of it in a board for those interested and give a ride report on wed. if I can get the rest of these guys at the shop out for a surf!
