@ Lawless thats a great find! They vary slightly in that the bearing on this fin are seated on a spring inside the housing allowing it to compress and expand back out, however the bearings you found dont look like they compress I think it might actually be stronger and more preffered that way…the only down side is those bearings from what I saw from a quick scan are 1/2" at the smallest. These are 3/8" across including the housing. Given the prices shown for those I can totally see why the fins price would be so high.
Took some more pics for you guys, I know it’s not the most scientific but I figured some of you would be wondering how strong is the bearing system so I tied a couple gallons of resin together and hung it off a 10.5 box at the base of the fin. It held! It didnt make it to 3 gallons though, greater than 20 but less than 30 was the end result.
Hangin two gallons from the box to test the streangth of the bearings before they compress and release the fin.
I get it now, the 2 bearings on each side lock into the corrugations in my fin box, so that the fin cannot move forward or back.
What are the other 5 inserts for ?
Photo below shows bearings lining up with finbox corrugations.
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So if I were to insert 4 of the spring loaded ball transfers into an existing fin base I would need to measure the spacings of the corrugations in my finbox so that the 2 bearings each side fit neatly.
For a greater range of fin positions to try, a 12’’ fin box would be most suitable.
Hey Pinnypinny,
I’m not sure what box you are using but the 10.5" dont have corrugations just one straight channel/groove that the plate would normally slide forward and back in, so when the bearing is pushed deep enough into the box it will expand once it reaches that channel/groove.
So if you wanted to insert these into a fin you have all that would be needed is to setthem at the correct depth which would be the same depth as the pin in the front of the fin.
Oh and I have no idea what all the extra holes are for, my best guess would be structual strength?
Here is a photo of the finbox I am talking about.
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It is also worth noting that the brass pin is not in the same line as the bearings but slightly lower ( about 2mm ), hence my theory about the bearings fitting in the corrugations.
Wow, what brand box is that? I haven’t seen anything like that, also you were correct they are not perfectly lined up but it looks like they both use the same groove in the box we use here.
The finbox in the photo is from Riley Balsa Surfboards here in Australia, it looks whitish in that photo but it is light brown in colour.
When I was in town yesterday I went into a bearing shop and asked about those spring loaded bearing transfers, they rang their supplier and they don’t sell them that small.
A friend bought a gull wing fin with the inserts already fitted. Photo below. Reckon trying this fin in a long finbox in various positions would be a good experiment.
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Well I guess everything really has been done before eh! How is the hold in the box with those bearings?
Here’s a Body glove fin with the ball bearings system. Been using this on a race sup as I have to stack two sups on the roof racks (wife’s and mine) to go paddle in the local river and it makes it super simple.
A bit expensive though…lol
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2013-TEAM-BODYGLOVE-SUP-LONGBOARD-SURFBOARD-FINS-/290767693115?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b31ae53b
Thanks for the pic, cuttlefish! How old is that fin? If all these companies have done this long before FCS I would like to get a few bearings and convert my other fins! Anyone know of a manufacturer for these? I’m also a little bummed my kewl new fin isn’t as new and advanced/different as I thought lol!
The Japanese company that sells the fins with the inserts is called Effect Fin System.
Here is a 29 sec vid/demo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgt6AoFoCbM
OK Guys, I finally have a ride report for you! The fin was riden by three people in fair to good surf, riden as a single on a HPLB, as a single on a traditional style log, and as a 2+1 on my takayama scorpion insired 6’10.
The general feel was everyone who saw loved the “idea” of the fin and how great it was for someone to change it up and find other “solutions” if you want to call it that. As for function, it did great on the 6’10 held well and the flex felt good to, as for the bearings and adjustability it never moved from where I set it (I made a mark every half inch next to the box to keep track) I was able to drop in and bottom turn and decided it felt to tight and kicked out, adjust the fin, take one on the head, and catch the following wave. So to me the function and adjustablity really proved itself worth while when I can adjust on the fly and not miss every wave in the set doing so. The fin didn’t work well on the traditional board, not a surprise since it’s a 7" fin. The HPLB’er enjoyed riding it alot and neither long board had any problem adjusting on the fly or with the fin sliding around after it was set in place.
