I've got an 8' minimal thruster that I want to but a finbox in so I can ride it as a single fin, to make things easier I was thinking of leaving the fcs plugs in it a putting the finbox right in front fcs plug which would make the rear of the single fin 8" from the tail of the board, do you recon it will be to far forward ?
I was thinking I might be able to get away with it or should I go to the extra trouble of taking out the fcs plugs ?

river rider here's a trick that i've done a few times to get a fin back further.

you can cut back an inch and a half or so off the back section of the back or the fin mount section- the part that goes in the box. first, mark out how much you want to cut off and then mark the new brass lug pivot piece centre distance using the original position as a guide. cut out the brass lug before cutting the base back. easier to handle than trying to get the lug out of fiddly bit.

drill and fit lug,round off the end like it was. this is done to allow the fin to swing into the box. sand the toe to correct fit carefully- don't take to much away.

now you have a fin that can slid behind the end of the box and over the fcs plug.


it wont be the whole way back, but it will get you some and a single would generally be more forward anyway

Some good advice there from LL...but if you really want to mix it up I would probably stick a fin box in after removing the fcs plugs. Have a look on swaylocks for any tips if you are unsure but I would just pop them out and fill them in - then when its hard and gone off get the router out and do the fin box - make sure when the fin box is setting that you stick an old fin (or a new one if u r careful) so that the middle section of it does not cave in as it sets. There are some basic rules of thumb re fin box placement for a single fin - some great discussion on swaylocks about this. With mine it was pretty much a bit of guess work that seems to have worked. Most fin boxes are 10 inches so you have loads of room for error. When you first start to ride it as a single fin make sure you get a texta and mark where you put it (or count the indents)....catch a few waves then come in and move it a bit and mark it...head out and catch a few more....repeat a few times and soon you will get an idea of where you need to put it. Make sure you do it all in one session initially so you get a good feel for it. In subsequent surfs you can then start to work out where you need it to be for certain conditions. Post some pics as you go!!

thanks guys, some good advice there, i think i will go with Lacey on this as the tail of the board is pretty thin and the box dosen't need to be as far back as the rear fcs plug so cutting the back out of the fin an inch or so should give me enough space to get the fin back to where i think it will need to be.

Ok, all done now, some before and after shots, just need some waves now

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riverider said...
Ok, all done now, some before and after shots, just need some waves now

nice job, nice soar fins in the first photo- don't know what happened to my set.


stick with me on the fin caper mac and you'll surf like tudor

Hang FIVE did we put a fin box in the board and cut the rear of the fin base
Sorry on fin talk I tune out and let Lacey take over the mic.
If so bloody great work

Lacey I'm with you bro

Nice tidy job - Have you had any waves yet? how does the board go now? You happy with it?

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62mac said...
Hang FIVE did we put a fin box in the board and cut the rear of the fin base
Sorry on fin talk I tune out and let Lacey take over the mic.
If so bloody great work

Lacey I'm with you bro

Yep!

Nice fin!!

IMO.... Your fin is still to far forward..
But nice job... Maybe try a more upright fin if It doesn't go..

Still waiting for some waves to give it a go, tomorrow is looking good.

I did a deal with Billboard to get that fin.

first surf on it this morning, peeling waves up to shoulder high, board goes great, felt just the way I wanted it to, fast down the line and able to carve long turns, just how I recon a single fin should be.

I can't take credit for the handy work, told the ding doctor what I wanted and it came back just how I wanted it to, great job.

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riverider said...
first surf on it this morning, peeling waves up to shoulder high, board goes great, felt just the way I wanted it to, fast down the line and able to carve long turns, just how I recon a single fin should be.

I can't take credit for the handy work, told the ding doctor what I wanted and it came back just how I wanted it to, great job.

i thought the fin looked pretty good where it was

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laceys lane said...

riverider said...
first surf on it this morning, peeling waves up to shoulder high, board goes great, felt just the way I wanted it to, fast down the line and able to carve long turns, just how I recon a single fin should be.

I can't take credit for the handy work, told the ding doctor what I wanted and it came back just how I wanted it to, great job.

i thought the fin looked pretty good where it was

I thought it was going to be a 2+1, and thought it was to close to the side fins but as a single it looks good, glad it went how you wanted, I should of read the post properly..