Hey all,

I have a 5'10" twinny fish that I surf and kitesurf on. I have had an ongoing problem with the fin system (Future fins - they're ** and expensive) since I broke it on some reef. I replaced them with homemade, glassed wood fins and screwed them into the board- they took water, have now rotted and broken off.

Now the question- how do you replace a complete fin system on an expoxy board? I know how to do it on a standard glass board, but epoxy is a whole different story. I am looking at putting an FCS system in or if it is possible just have them 'glassed' in permantly. Have people done this before, or had someone do it for them?

Cheers

get yourself some ardite

assuming you have removed the old fins, grind out any water damaged (soggy) bits. fill with board foam if large space or a bit of micro spheres if small (heavier). reglass over top ensuring nice wide taper into good existing glass. fair as required... fit new fcs socket... done!
next time dont screw into the board without putting in a glass plug!
cheers

Future fins have a good secure base. Probably better than FCS. I wouldn't fook with the board unless the fin plugs were stuffed. Better just to buy some new future fins. unless the board is crap - in which case maybe it is worth grinding and drilling the old plugs out - filling the hole with foam or whartever, boring out the holes for the fcs plugs and gluing them in. Get some epoxy resin ( not easy to work with) and away you go. Araladite will work but doesn't look so classy.

Hi CQKiter,

I have always just taken my epoxy boards to a professional surfboard shaper/manufacturer to repair. They get to get all itchy, sticky and dusty and do a mint job. I just hand over a few bucks and get my board back stronger than it was.

Bloody good deal I reckon!

I am happy to fix little dings and such with Epoxy repair kit, (available at all good surf shops), and fix all my own poly board repairs, but if it's a nice board and it warrants a nice finish or is a major repair like folded nose, rolled fin plugs etc, I leave it to the pro's.


Good winds,

Cheers guys. It's looking like a big job may have to leave it with the local shaper.
Hunter- the whole system is gone, needs to be completely replaced. As for Future fin system- each to their own hey

Hey CQ - nothing really wrong with FCS fins, I use them myself - their great selection of fins is a real bonus. If you are going to get the plugs replaced make sure you get the new translucent plastic FCS plugs. They key into the board better than the old black plastic FCS plugs. They are way better than the old black one, but the there are still a lot of the old design around.



Now I've got a question. Has anyone had any success or got any advice about putting foot strap plugs into a tuflite.

I've put plugs into polyester boards before and done complex repairs on tuflites but I am wondering how well the plugs will adhere to the double skin of the tuflite.

Any experience out there?

Thanks