Hi, I want to swap fins over on my board. The board has a deep tuttle box. What is the correct method to get the old fin out. I have undone the screws, but the fin is in pretty tight. Thought I'd better get some advice as the manufacturer only seems to have info on how to put the fins in, not how to get then out.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

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mattn said...

Hi, I want to swap fins over on my board. The board has a deep tuttle box. What is the correct method to get the old fin out. I have undone the screws, but the fin is in pretty tight. Thought I'd better get some advice as the manufacturer only seems to have info on how to put the fins in, not how to get then out.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Get a rubber mallet and gently hit it back and forth till it moves then you should be able to wiggle it out

Put two booms on it, then ... oh wait....

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djl070 said...

mattn said...

Hi, I want to swap fins over on my board. The board has a deep tuttle box. What is the correct method to get the old fin out. I have undone the screws, but the fin is in pretty tight. Thought I'd better get some advice as the manufacturer only seems to have info on how to put the fins in, not how to get then out.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Get a rubber mallet and gently hit it back and forth till it moves then you should be able to wiggle it out

You could crack the box if its that tight. Try a screw driver in the whole and tap it with a hammer. Two taps one hole and two taps the other hole. Try to get it out evenly.

put screws back loosely - tap the end of the screws

Cover the fin esp. trailing edge with t-shirt and wiggle it... ...just a little bit

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ibid said...
put screws back loosely - tap the end of the screws

You will potentialy damage the thread on the screw and the fin like this. A screwdriver (phillips head) that is narrower than the thread diameter will go in nicely and not damage the fin or the board.

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jermaldan said...

ibid said...
put screws back loosely - tap the end of the screws

You will potentialy damage the thread on the screw and the fin like this. A screwdriver (phillips head) that is narrower than the thread diameter will go in nicely and not damage the fin or the board.

There is always a potential of damage with any method when dealing with stuck objects.

I'm no engineer but M6 thread with about 5mm engagement into a brass nut will take about a tonne of force before stripping the thread. The Brass inserts can be replace easily enough though.

The Phillips head method, as descriped, also has the potential to crack the fin base as it has a pointy end.

Whatever method you use .....softly....softly

just hit the front edge of it with your hand , nothing will break .

Just buy two long thread hex-head M6 bolts (with a length at least 4-5cm longer than the screws that were used to secure the fin) and thread them tightly into the holes so that the threaded ends of the bolts seat up against the end of the holes in the fin, then tap each bolt head with a metal hammer (not too hard though, just alternate tapping from one bolt head to the other until head of fin releases from box).

Hit it back and fourth with a cat.

Take the fin screws out and go for a sail in shallow water!