I spent ages agonising over buying fins ... I made a couple of board for my kids and didnt want to spend more than the board cost on over-priced fins. I also didnt want to buy cheapo crap made by non-surfers. I think I found a compromise and since it took me ages to find I thought I'd share my experiences ...
I ended up chatting to Barry Jolly on swaylocks.com - he is ex-Burleigh guy living in china and has a min factory making fins for a lot of the bigger names. However he is also happy to sell to small guys. Really nice dude.
Sold me this 5 fin set for $35 US incl. fast registered postage.
They seem really good quality, hexcore,
very light and stiff. Only thing I dont like is he doesnt do a keel/controller type template for wide tailed quads - keep asking him and maybe he will!
Ultralite Fins - ultralitefins@hotmail.com
Going through the same thing here... replacing 3 stolen surfboard and the only way to do it is to make them ourselves.
Looking at the price of fins/sets and I realized i was well out the loop there. It a whole new industry. One sixth the cost min it seems.
Looking OS at the prices. So with postage from china i'm at about 55 dollars and i can get 5" Surfblanks MF Thruster Set for 64 dollars at surfblanks.....surfblanksaustralia.com/
therefore thinking not worth the effort or worry really. Seems the real money is in fin boxs itself.
Anybody know where to get a good price on thruster/futures fin boxs or the like... any scoop on them.
Thinking of using 7.2 volan cloth too for boards.
Over the self pity now and looking forward to this project.
and thanks for tip.
Nevo you're outta luck ... i couldnt find fin plugs for cheap anywhere ... or definitely not anywhere reputable. I'm happy to give a cheap set of fins a go, but i would be hesitant to put a sub-standard set of plugs in, cos it'd be a bugger to drill them out and put new ones in if they cracked.
I've just done a board using the shapers s-plugs, seem pretty good, I reckon I'll use them for the next ones if I don't really splash out and get FCS II plugs. Which in Aus you can only seem to get from surfboardstudio.com.au @$60 for a 5 fin set ouch! I've also used the old fcs plugs from shapers.com.au, no problems and they're about the cheapest I could find.
Consider talking to the dude at ultralitefins@hotmail.com, he will do a good deal if you're buying 3 sets at once
From what I've read and seen, Cheap fin plugs will crap out pretty quickly. The plastic used in many cases wears out quickly if removing the screws frequently. Over tighten once and your done.
We stock Futures boxes and Gearbox2 finboxes also the install kits also.
Futures boxes start at $10 per box including Grubscrew.
Gearbox 2 boxes are $8 per box including Grubscrews.
www.sanded.com.au/collections/surfboard-fin-system
How much longer till you have copies of fcs2 equivalent fin boxes and are selling them??? 
Select to expand quoteTed the Kiwi said..
How much longer till you have copies of fcs2 equivalent fin boxes and are selling them???
FCS 2 are crap you need to screw them in anyway so whats the point....I know of 10 people that have lost fins because there not screwed in
Select to expand quoteTux said..Ted the Kiwi said..
How much longer till you have copies of fcs2 equivalent fin boxes and are selling them???
FCS 2 are crap you need to screw them in anyway so whats the point....I know of 10 people that have lost fins because there not screwed in
Really? They must be doing it wrong?? Mine dont want to come out. The boxes crack before the fin comes out unfortunately 
I have had no issues either - any others had thoughts on them? I know that some people are preferring not to put the fcs2s setups in super lightweight boards as they have had problems with cracking. I love fcs2 now and wish all my boards had them. They will going forward I think though.
Select to expand quoteBuster fin said..
I haven't used them. My shapers won't touch them. And I dislike Futurez.
Why?
Neither will mine. He's happy to use compatible alternatives but refuses to use their branded stuff. In many cases the alternatives are better or cheaper or both anyway. Like Gearbox.
Select to expand quoteLegion said..
Neither will mine. He's happy to use compatible alternatives but refuses to use their branded stuff. In many cases the alternatives are better or cheaper or both anyway. Like Gearbox.
JD has his 'FCS' plus made and look much better than the standard FCS plugs. His plugs look nice as well.
I have a new board that should be ready soon. Never had an issue with FCS but was tossing up for ages between FCS and futures. Ended up with the FCS 2's based of some friends who love 'em, but more importantly the fact i can use my existing FCS fins in the new set up as well.
Geez........ Hoping they're the ducks guts, otherwise i'll be spewin" time will tell.
Select to expand quotebene313 said..
^ I have them on a CE board I have, using the old fins, it's fine.
Phew , Good to hear 
