I just completed the installation of an O Fish’l fin box in my first backyard board. I routed the channel, removed the spreader from the fin box, glassed it in with the fin installed (milled fibers in the resin), removed the fin to grind it down, glassed over with 2 layers of 4 oz. It looks perfect, but somewhere along the way the width of the fin box seems to have decreased so that it is now very difficult to re-insert the fin. I’m afraid I might do some damage forcing it in. Now what? Are there any tricks? I’m sorta new to using a fin box, so there may be something stupid I’m overlooking. Should I lube it? Should I try to widen the gap or remove some width from my fin? Thanks for your help!
We sometimes lightly grind some area off the base of the fin(evenly on each side), and/or use a rubber mallet and tap that baby right in there. Don’t grind too much off the fin.Grind a little and then try fitting it and so on. I like a tight fitting fin. Guess that was an invite to User Dave to make one of his genius comments. Good luck.TedK
For next time: Wedge something in the middle of the box… I used popsicle sticks, because that’s what I had… to keep the box from narrowing in the center due to the hardening resin surrounding it. The fin box I used already had a plastic tab it in, but I poped it out because I like to have a fin in for visual when I set boxes or plugs.
I’d recommend low grit sandpaper instead of a grinder. Fiberglass will sand down pretty fast. And, sand ONLY as much as necessary.
Try K-Y JELLY TO LOOSEN ER UP!
If the fin is too tight, determine if the fin is too big or the fin slot is too small. If it’s the fin, I sand it down with 80 grit on a HARD sanding block. If it’s the finbox, a rough file works good. Doug
sounds like you kicked the resin to hot. sand the inside of the box, but not to much or you’ll have yourself a teeter fin