Tee-Slot Finbox Repair - How To Question

General Discussion
1

There is a long, hairline crack in the bottom of the conventional Tee-slot finbox on my PU foam LB. How to repair?

0) sun dry a few days (no appearance of water, but never the less)

1) drill small holes at each end of the crack to stop them (if i can locate them)

2) grind a small Vee in the face of the crack with a Dremel

3) fill with resin, somewhat difficult but I think I can get the resin there

4) use resin for PU board? Use 20 min epoxy instead? Don't know type of plastic box is made of.

Seem reasonable?

Am I missing a better way?

Is it better to just have the whole thing replaced professionally. It's a board I'll never get rid of.

Thanks much.

2

Just cut that box out (router with template) and install a new one.  It’s more work, but you will have a better outcome. Or just take it to some one who can.

 

3

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Just cut that box out (router with template) and install a new one.  It's more work, but you will have a better outcome. Or just take it to some one who can.

 

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Good advice.    Or, try sealing the crack with super glue.    It will wick into all the hairline cracks, and crannies.

4

Two great answers; one gets me in the water this WE at 1/10 the effort of my original approach, the other I implement in the event of a crack encore. Awfully glad I asked! Super glue, huh - the answer, hidden in plain sight!

5

      Howzit Bill,The super glue fix was what was going through my brain and then you beat me to it, Good call my friend. Aloha,Kokua

6

Super glue is good to fill the crack but it could be that the crack is from the fin pressure during a turn. How else would the bottom of a box end up with a crack in it other than some kind of heavy impact? A 9" fin has a lot of leverage right? I think I might do the super glue first because it will soak into the crack but then maybe after that some epoxy over the bottom on both sides of the crack to tie it all in together. That might help it to not crack again or crack more under the pressure of your heavy bottom turns! Seems to me there is a gap between the bottom of most fins and the bottom of the box big enough to lay some glue in. A good temporary fix you can keep an eye on to see if it gets worse.

7

I’ve discovered another crack, running much of the lenth of the tee slot but there is no evidence of water infiltration. I’ll be spending a week in St Augustine and plan on having Warrior Surfboards R&R the box. Surf Station recommends them and I feel I can trust that, but if anyone has had experiences to the contrary please let me know on or off list. My only concern is that it be done very well. Having finally figured out this board (yes, pilot error), it’s a total stoker. I need to email Bruce Grant to thank him.

8

Burgess or Josh Autrey (father, son) are more than capable of fixing or replacing your fin box. Burgess has been building some of the best boards on the east coast since the 60's. He is the best glasser I have personally ever had experience with. I have an 8'6" that he glassed that has the hardest slickest glassjob I have ever seen.

T

9

Your board will be in good hands with them.If I didn’t fix or shape my own boards thats who would be doing my work.

10

Thanks for the input guys. I feel better. That's what I'll do. I knew there was a good reason to have two LBs, even when living 3.5 hrs away from the beach. Maybe a third?

11

in my expirence when ever you get a crack in a fin box doing anything besides replacing the box will only temporarly fix it, fin boxes go through alot of stress and it will just keep on cracking