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Stainless steel fin tab - fin saver

Created by

sailquik > 9 months ago, 3 Aug 2022

sailquik

VIC

6166 posts

3 Aug 2022 1:28pm

Can anyone point me to a shop (preferably in Australia) that has these in stock please?

sailquik

VIC

6166 posts

3 Aug 2022 1:47pm

Well wadaya' know!!

At some time in the very distant past I must have thought it was a great idea to get a few of these just in case I needed them.On a vague memory, I went through my odd and ends old stuff box and found I have three of them already! Problem solved! Happy days!!

The post bag they came in tells me I got them from SOS surf. From memory, that was a Western or South Australian Fin company that am pretty sure has gone long ago.

westozwind

1416 posts

3 Aug 2022 12:24pm

Stainless split pins work well too. Just flatten off the broken tab, drill a hole and glue in.

Grantmac

2339 posts

3 Aug 2022 1:09pm

How do these work/what do they do?

RichardG

3761 posts

3 Aug 2022 1:36pm

Select to expand quote

sailquik said..
Well wadaya' know!!

The post bag they came in tells me I got them from SOS surf. From memory, that was a Western or South Australian Fin company that am pretty sure has gone long ago.

SOS still exists in WA but is now only kiting, SUP and surfing no windsurfing. It is still run by John Geyer.
www.sossurf.com.au/surf/

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 3:44pm

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..
How do these work/what do they do?

Replace the broken off tab on a US box fin.
After some router work to mill some thickness off

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 3:44pm

Select to expand quote

westozwind said..
Stainless split pins work well too. Just flatten off the broken tab, drill a hole and glue in.

That is bloody gold. Never heard of it. Ripper tip

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 5:50pm

Select to expand quote

westozwind said..
Stainless split pins work well too. Just flatten off the broken tab, drill a hole and glue in.

It's the wrong end man . The screw clamp end , not the pin .

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 6:01pm

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said..

westozwind said..
Stainless split pins work well too. Just flatten off the broken tab, drill a hole and glue in.

That is bloody gold. Never heard of it. Ripper tip

What are you guys smoking , it's the other end .

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 4:10pm

A split pin has a hole in the end.

Drill a hole in the longitudinal axis of the fin where the tab should be.

Glue the split pin in, so the holey end now creates a hole for the fin screw. Would be good enuf.

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 6:18pm

Some good acid guys ?
Why would one steel line a hole for a bolt to go through , when there is no front left , because it's broken off , hence , the steel thingy in the original post that is wanted .?

mr love

VIC

2415 posts

3 Aug 2022 6:22pm

Bunnings has 316 stainless steel split pins..I looked today and reckon the 4mm looks to be the one....great idea should work well.

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 6:25pm

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said..
A split pin has a hole in the end.

Drill a hole in the longitudinal axis of the fin where the tab should be.

Glue the split pin in, so the holey end now creates a hole for the fin screw. Would be good enuf.

What ?
A split pin has a hole all the way through.
Huh ?
Out about 90 deg ?
Has someone spiked my beer , you guys

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 6:34pm

Select to expand quote

mr love said..
Bunnings has 316 stainless steel split pins..I looked today and reckon the 4mm looks to be the one....great idea should work well.

WHAT ?
Its not the 4 mm pin that needs replacing .
Its the other end , with the screw , the screw plate , the clamping end .

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 4:35pm

Switch on Imax.

the tab is gone.

we want a hole in the vertical axis to run a bolt thru.

a split pin glued into the front of the fin could acheive that.

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 4:37pm

and u just helped me invent something else, ta

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 7:19pm

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Mark _australia said..
Switch on Imax.

the tab is gone.

we want a hole in the vertical axis to run a bolt thru.

a split pin glued into the front of the fin could acheive that.

I'm trying soooo hard .
The tab is gone , **** , no tab .

Hence no room for another hole or anything . Unless you want to drill through the front of the fin . Is that not what the steel thingy above replaces ? The missing tab ?
If there was still some tab left in front of the fin , a simple another hole is needed . And not the steel thingy .
Where and how could a split pin work here ?
Am I having a tumour ?

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 5:28pm

Yes lol

Because you can't buy those tabs anymore - or bloody hard to find. So anther solution as suggested above may be a split fin
Drill into fin and glue in. Creates an eyelet for bolt. Not pretty, could work.

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 7:55pm

With limited tools and skills , I would bend some 2 mm stainless sheet into u U shape . 10 mm x 60 mm long. With a file or grinder reduce fin base 2mm deep x 20 mm back . 3 small countersunk screws . Two on one side , one on the other .

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

3 Aug 2022 8:05pm

Ok , I see where the , ( my confusin ) , is .

There are split pins and split pins .
I was thinking hollow dowl split pins , and you were thinking cotter split pins .
Bendy split cotter pins could work

I have used a 4 mm hollow split pin to replace the other end pin .
Anyone want the acid I'm on ?

kato

VIC

3513 posts

3 Aug 2022 8:06pm

Select to expand quote

Imax1 said..
With limited tools and skills , I would bend some 2 mm stainless sheet into u U shape . 10 mm x 60 mm long. With a file or grinder reduce fin base 2mm deep x 20 mm back . 3 small countersunk screws . Two on one side , one on the other .

Ha ha, that's exactly what I was thinking. Make a paper template then grind.

RichardG

3761 posts

3 Aug 2022 6:51pm

There is also this one, looks new, never seen it before. www.ebay.com.au/itm/254187107847

Mark _australia

23526 posts

3 Aug 2022 7:52pm

^^^ bugger thats what I thought I invented.....

sailquik

VIC

6166 posts

3 Aug 2022 10:16pm

Select to expand quote

kato said..

Ha ha, that's exactly what I was thinking. Make a paper template then grind.

By coincidence, I have a used fin I got in a clearance with a repair very like that. It was my plan 'B', but didnt need it. Should have got a photo. Will post one when I get back Monday. I could be wrong, but I think it might be a tad thinner than 2mm sheet and it looks like rivets holding it together. It is supporting a cracked and split tab.

Icelake

96 posts

4 Aug 2022 3:07pm

RAL INN

2896 posts

6 Aug 2022 9:08am

John Skinner used these on all his Torquay Sailboards fins.
0.5 mm stainless would be ok. 2mm is very heavy duty.

they only work by allowing some give by bending when you hit something. Then it's either replace or try to straighten.

RAL INN

2896 posts

6 Aug 2022 9:13am

Maybe drill an over sized hole and press in a plastic grommet, drill hole for a screw. that could pull through when you hit the thing you shouldn't be sailing near.

GazMan

847 posts

13 Aug 2022 2:36pm

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RAL INN said..
Maybe drill an over sized hole and press in a plastic grommet, drill hole for a screw. that could pull through when you hit the thing you shouldn't be sailing near.

Still got a couple of these fin savers that were meant to do exactly that, but would only really work on an original glass tab as they need compression to work:

GazMan

847 posts

13 Aug 2022 2:41pm

Will give away if anybody needs them:

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