Picked up a 6’10" vintage single fin. Its about 3 inches thick and a rounded pin. Was wondering what I should use for a fin. It has a Fins Unlimited fin box. Would a flex fin suit the board? I welcome all recomendations. I should mention that this is my first shorter board, I normally ride longboards, so it will take some time for me to figure the thing out. One other thing. I threw a spare fin in the box the other day, and tightened it down. Problem is, the fin slides up and down the fin box, it does not stay in one place. It takes a bit of effort to slide it, but I would prefer a tight fit. Any ideas? Was thinking of wrapping some tape around the thing and shim it in.
Picked up a 6’10" vintage single fin. Its about 3 inches thick and a > rounded pin. Was wondering what I should use for a fin. It has a Fins > Unlimited fin box. Would a flex fin suit the board? I welcome all > recomendations. I should mention that this is my first shorter board, I > normally ride longboards, so it will take some time for me to figure the > thing out.>>> One other thing. I threw a spare fin in the box the other day, and > tightened it down. Problem is, the fin slides up and down the fin box, it > does not stay in one place. It takes a bit of effort to slide it, but I > would prefer a tight fit. Any ideas? Was thinking of wrapping some tape > around the thing and shim it in. The tape trick is one that’s used quite often to good advantage. Just knowing the length of the board does tell one much about how to fin it. More measurements and configuration details would help. Good Surfin’, Rich
Fins and boxes seem simple but can be troublesome. If the tab with the screw hole is too thin, the screw may be bottoming out against the bottom of the box before the plate cinches tight. Compare the tabs with a fin that tightens properly - you might try a shorter screw or cut yours down a little. Side to side wobble is either because the box slot is worn or your fin base is thin. Some tape along the side of the fin base is an easy fix - or try some 5 minute epoxy glue - a little thicker near the top of the base so it wedges in as you tighten. Make sure the epoxy is fully cured before you replace the fin! Still loose? Add some more epoxy. Too tight? Get out the sandpaper. I’ve also had boards come in that had cracked boxes. The horizontal slot(where the screw plate fits) seems to be a vulnerable spot. A good sideways blow to the fin can cause it. The fin wobbles side to side as the top half of the box separates. The box will need replacing if this happens.
Thanks for your replies. Don’t really have too many more measurements on hand right now. As for the loose fin, yeah I think the screw is too long, I will try a shorter one. I didn’t think about that for some reason. If not then I will try the tape trick.>>> Fins and boxes seem simple but can be troublesome. If the tab with the > screw hole is too thin, the screw may be bottoming out against the bottom > of the box before the plate cinches tight. Compare the tabs with a fin > that tightens properly - you might try a shorter screw or cut yours down a > little. Side to side wobble is either because the box slot is worn or your > fin base is thin. Some tape along the side of the fin base is an easy fix > - or try some 5 minute epoxy glue - a little thicker near the top of the > base so it wedges in as you tighten. Make sure the epoxy is fully cured > before you replace the fin! Still loose? Add some more epoxy. Too tight? > Get out the sandpaper. I’ve also had boards come in that had cracked > boxes. The horizontal slot(where the screw plate fits) seems to be a > vulnerable spot. A good sideways blow to the fin can cause it. The fin > wobbles side to side as the top half of the box separates. The box will > need replacing if this happens.
This fin might be good for you, check the link below. You can also go to www.trueames.com and you will get a better description and various other flex templates. As far as the loose fin goes, before you do anything crazy with tape or resin do this: Go to the Mac Donalds nearest you. Buy a happy meal (that way you get a toy to mess with as well). Take the straw and cut about 3" off it, take a razor and cut the straw in half (in the length wise direction). Take your fin out and put the straw half down in the box, (I put it in convex side facing up, but I don’t think it matters). Put your fin down in the box on top of the straw, and tighten your screw into the plate washer. This should work for you. If it is a big gap you might have to double up the straw. An old timer told me about this and I have tried it and it works. Good luck to you. If you get a Lilo and Stitch toy with it, email it to me, I want it! http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=taf_surf_normflex8
This fin might be good for you, check the link below. You can also go to > www.trueames.com and you will get a better description and various other > flex templates.>>> As far as the loose fin goes, before you do anything crazy with tape or > resin do this:>>> Go to the Mac Donalds nearest you. Buy a happy meal (that way you get a > toy to mess with as well). Take the straw and cut about 3" off it, > take a razor and cut the straw in half (in the length wise direction). > Take your fin out and put the straw half down in the box, (I put it in > convex side facing up, but I don’t think it matters). Put your fin down in > the box on top of the straw, and tighten your screw into the plate washer. > This should work for you. If it is a big gap you might have to double up > the straw. An old timer told me about this and I have tried it and it > works. Good luck to you. If you get a Lilo and Stitch toy with it, email > it to me, I want it! .//. …Mike which figure/MODEL of the ,“Lilo and Stitch” toys from MickeyDs do you need/want? I got doubles of some.Herb
Cool. Thanks Mike.>>> This fin might be good for you, check the link below. You can also go to > www.trueames.com and you will get a better description and various other > flex templates.>>> As far as the loose fin goes, before you do anything crazy with tape or > resin do this:>>> Go to the Mac Donalds nearest you. Buy a happy meal (that way you get a > toy to mess with as well). Take the straw and cut about 3" off it, > take a razor and cut the straw in half (in the length wise direction). > Take your fin out and put the straw half down in the box, (I put it in > convex side facing up, but I don’t think it matters). Put your fin down in > the box on top of the straw, and tighten your screw into the plate washer. > This should work for you. If it is a big gap you might have to double up > the straw. An old timer told me about this and I have tried it and it > works. Good luck to you. If you get a Lilo and Stitch toy with it, email > it to me, I want it!
The tape trick is one that’s used quite often to good advantage. Just > knowing the length of the board does tell one much about how to fin it. > More measurements and configuration details would help.>>> Good Surfin’, Rich Hey Rich, I was at koby’s swap meet At the San Diego Sports Arena this past Sunday and saw a glass on single fin, beak nosed, round pin (circa early-mid 70’S) with a logo that was a G&C or C&G butted together with a logo under it that was HALCYON, do you know anything about it?
Hey Rich, I was at koby’s swap meet At the San Diego Sports Arena this > past Sunday and saw a glass on single fin, beak nosed, round pin (circa > early-mid 70’S) with a logo that was a G&C or C&G butted together > with a logo under it that was HALCYON, do you know anything about it? Nope, I started with the name back then but Really haven’t made anything for anyone until recently. I don’t get down south at all so I know it’s not mine. I’m sure It was a positive addition to the board though. What kind of template did the fin have? Better Surfin’, Rich
Halcyon… nice fins, you fall in love when you ride one. Sorry Rich, but i hope you’ll post one of your set ups soon, they’re nice. Seaya!, Coque.
Nope, I started with the name back then but Really haven’t made anything > for anyone until recently. I don’t get down south at all so I know it’s > not mine. I’m sure It was a positive addition to the board though. What > kind of template did the fin have?>>> Better Surfin’, Rich It was the typical fin of the era, semi-vertical, narrow base, with a little rake near the tip.
It was the typical fin of the era, semi-vertical, narrow base, with a > little rake near the tip. I started out cranking out fins to make a few bucks in '70 or ‘71 just glass ons for stock boards in a local shop. I decided I could make something better so I made a few for my own boards. I’m sure someone else used the idea long before I did. But anyway, I made high density foam core cutaway fins that were a gas to surf and that was that for many years. Then life took me away from surfing. Most of the fins back in the 70’s were pretty uninteresting and we didn’t even have box fins back then. When I started back at it I had to return to the project because of the all the new innovations and materials available. A guy can make something pretty nice now if he’s will to learn the tricks with the tools and how to use materials properly. Thanks for the interest Jim Good Surfin’, Rich P.S. gonna talk with a shaper about my 7’6" double winged swallow tail today. I’m stoked!
Okay I guess the follow up question is, what size fin should I buy? The board is a 6’10" round pin. Maybe 3" thick, possibly 22" wide, but that is just a guess. Its kind of tear drop shaped. Pretty thick through the front. I meant to measure it last night but forgot. I was thinking 8"? Thanks again for all your help.>>> This fin might be good for you, check the link below. You can also go to > www.trueames.com and you will get a better description and various other > flex templates.>>> As far as the loose fin goes, before you do anything crazy with tape or > resin do this:>>> Go to the Mac Donalds nearest you. Buy a happy meal (that way you get a > toy to mess with as well). Take the straw and cut about 3" off it, > take a razor and cut the straw in half (in the length wise direction). > Take your fin out and put the straw half down in the box, (I put it in > convex side facing up, but I don’t think it matters). Put your fin down in > the box on top of the straw, and tighten your screw into the plate washer. > This should work for you. If it is a big gap you might have to double up > the straw. An old timer told me about this and I have tried it and it > works. Good luck to you. If you get a Lilo and Stitch toy with it, email > it to me, I want it!
Picked up a 6’10" vintage single fin. Its about 3 inches thick and a > rounded pin. Was wondering what I should use for a fin. It has a Fins > Unlimited fin box. Would a flex fin suit the board? I welcome all > recomendations. I should mention that this is my first shorter board, I > normally ride longboards, so it will take some time for me to figure the > thing out.>>> One other thing. I threw a spare fin in the box the other day, and > tightened it down. Problem is, the fin slides up and down the fin box, it > does not stay in one place. It takes a bit of effort to slide it, but I > would prefer a tight fit. Any ideas? Was thinking of wrapping some tape > around the thing and shim it in. My tight fitting fin trick: Take a business card, fold it around the base of the fin. Stick the fin in the box. Go surf. No sticky tape and it will hold nice and tight. JP
Okay I guess the follow up question is, what size fin should I buy? For a 6’10" – if you buy a short base, flex style fin I would go for the 9" fin. Start out with is ALL THE WAY BACK in the box. I’ve used 9" and 10" flex fins on my 6’4" and 6’6" singles and they work great. good luck and go fast. mike
Right on. Thanks Mike. Also thanks for the biz card idea.>>> For a 6’10" – if you buy a short base, flex style fin I would go for > the 9" fin. Start out with is ALL THE WAY BACK in the box. I’ve used > 9" and 10" flex fins on my 6’4" and 6’6" singles and > they work great.>>> good luck and go fast.>>> mike
As far as the loose fin goes, before you do anything crazy with tape or > resin do this:>>> Go to the Mac Donalds nearest you. Buy a happy meal (that way you get a > toy to mess with as well). Take the straw and cut about 3" off it, > take a razor and cut the straw in half (in the length wise direction). > Take your fin out and put the straw half down in the box, (I put it in > convex side facing up, but I don’t think it matters). Put your fin down in > the box on top of the straw, and tighten your screw into the plate washer. Bicycle tiretubes work as well. You might have to keep them stretched to thin them when putting the fin down. Just cut of the excess with a razor. It really keeps the fins from sliding. Really. It even works if you loose the screw. I never ever tried to remove the fin afterwards so I wouldn’t know if you can. regards, Håvard