I have an old G&S Hot Curl that I helped a buddy restore. The obly major issue is that we can’t seem to find a fin to fit the old Wave Set box. Any suggestions. We thought about routing a piece of wood and sinking a modern fin in it, then drilling it to fit the old box, or just modifying a new box to drop into the old. The main thing is we don’t really want to alter the board. Any ideas on where to get an actual wave set fin? (Another problem is that we are on located on a little island in the atlantic… not much chance of shops and very expensive phone calls)
www.oneworldsurf.com has reproduction wavesets that look great! Not cheap, $150. shipping included but they are in Florida so thats a bit closer to you. I’ve seen a few on ebay but that’s hit or miss. I’ve found a few by buying beaters with waveset fins in them. You could fill the box with a chunk of foam, glass over it, and put a glass on fin on then when you find a find a good vintage fin grind the mess off but considering your time, the cost of the glass-on and the chance you might crack the box or… Really, the best solution is going to one world surf.
I’ve actually been meaning to post for help and suggestions on an idea for possibly making a mold of my current fin’s base (or in your case, the box) and then using that mold to set glass-on fin in? Similar to your wooden idea.
After drilling any necessary set screw(s) or bolts, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I would definitely not alter the board’s current box. Maybe we’ll get some further advise that will help us both.
I recently converted a nice Halcyon composite fin by grinding down the base to fit in the WAVE “Variset” insert. After building up some epoxy and carbon strands around the base, it now fits the standard WAVE box. The board had no fin when I got it but the variset insert and main box were intact. It is in a G&S Hot Curl as well.
Last time I checked, “One World” website was down. I’m glad to see it back in action.
I wanted to try a more modern template on some of my WAVE Set finned boards. I taped off the inside of one of my WAVE Set boxes, mixed a thick mix of epoxy, filler and chopped cloth strands. I placed my favorite glass fin down in the box and filled the mold with my epoxy mix. (put a tape dam around the top of the box before you fill it.
Next run a length of tape over the top of fin as you would in centering a glasson. Next day it will pop out with some careful persuasion. Touch up with sandpaper/dremel etc. and drill holes as needed to match the box inserts.
I just picked up an old Jim Phillips Soul Creation that had a busted waveset fin box, I drilled it out an installed a standard fin box so I don’t have to worry if the fin breaks plus I can use a wider variety of fins to see what I like with this board. Anyway I have a waveset fin that I’m doing nothing with, It’s been grinded down and there is some bowing in the base but it looks like it is functional, its 5.25" tall minus the base. here is a pic