Fin Problem

Discussion in 'Surfboards and Surfboard Design' started by mass surf, Jul 13, 2012.

  1. mass surf

    mass surf Member

    13
    Jun 10, 2011
    Yesterday i was surfing with some friends who are just learning in knee high waves. I was letting them borrow old long boards while i rode my shortboard. I wanted to try riding a longer board cause the waves were smaller so i traded and long story shor my friend rode my board to close to the beach and broke a fin at the base of it. I know i will have to buy another set of fins but the problem is i cant get one half of it out. Ive tried everything from using plyers to trying to squeeze a knife under it but i cant get it. Any hints on how to get it out. Any help is appreciated thanks
     
  2. mexsurfer

    mexsurfer Well-Known Member

    662
    Jul 14, 2008
    what kind of fin is it? future? fcs? one broke from my future. i took a screw and drove it in the the front of the broken fin (make sure you dont screw into the box haha) and i took the claw and pried it out. with fcs i did the same thing. both worked
     

  3. goosemagoo

    goosemagoo Well-Known Member

    900
    May 20, 2011
    You may want to drill a small pilot hole so the screw doesn't expand the broken part and wedge it in tighter
     
  4. Masterjasson

    Masterjasson Well-Known Member

    167
    Mar 8, 2010
    use a slide hammer. (A vice grip with a puller on the end of it to yank it out.) Did you loosen the set screw?? Ha!
     
  5. reefscar

    reefscar Well-Known Member

    75
    Jul 12, 2012
    pix

    Slide hammer or vice grip could shatter the glass around the fin box. Post a picture so we can see the problem. Also WD40 the base of the fin before appling any more pressure.
     
  6. Masterjasson

    Masterjasson Well-Known Member

    167
    Mar 8, 2010
    True, Just don't get ridiculous with it.
     
  7. Bill_NJ

    Bill_NJ Member

    6
    Jun 7, 2012
    I broke a fcs fin and got it out by drilling a small hole in the center of the piece still inside the plug. Then carefully with a screwdriver I put in a screw that was just a little larger in diameter than the hole I drilled. Using pliers I pulled on the screw until the piece popped out.
     
  8. Kahuna Kai

    Kahuna Kai Well-Known Member

    Dec 13, 2010
    Get a drill, get a small drill bit, drill in to the piece that is stuck in the fin box and pull her on out. I snapped a center fin on a longboard in half on my garage door last weekend. Forgot to take in to account the height of the door and SNAP! The good news is that the board didn't get damaged, just snapped that fin in half.
     
  9. Kahuna Kai

    Kahuna Kai Well-Known Member

    Dec 13, 2010
    Or..... Just tell your friends that they ruined the board and make them pony up the dough for a new one.
     
  10. capecodcdog

    capecodcdog Well-Known Member

    Jun 22, 2012
  11. purpleheadedyogurtslinger

    purpleheadedyogurtslinger Well-Known Member

    150
    Jun 21, 2012
    same thing happened to me once. Well minus teaching the noobs because I don't owe them anything. I did something so simple, this a no brainer....

    1. Loosen the set screw....
    2. acquire black drywall screw and cordless drill (on the LOW setting). Drywall screw is small and thin enough, with sharp enough threads, that it shouldn't cause the plastic to expand too much.
    3. Screw into the remaining piece of fin, only need to get a couple of threads into it
    4. Using any sort of pliers, grab that thing and start pulling directly out of the hole. Don't wiggle side to side because you can crush the white stuff that holds the fin plug in place (F*cking nightmare to replace that...)
    5. Install new fin
    6. tighten set screw...
     
  12. DawnPatrol321

    DawnPatrol321 Well-Known Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Go finless, it's the new hotness haven't you heard?
     
  13. dlrouen

    dlrouen Well-Known Member

    814
    Jun 6, 2012
    Dude, you're on a roll with these trends. First the track pad, now FINLESS! What a hipster.
     
  14. DawnPatrol321

    DawnPatrol321 Well-Known Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    HAHA, track pad wasn't me, but i'll play along. I actually broke the center fin on my McTavish a couple weeks ago, took my board to work for an evening session of tropical storm Debbie, and forgot to take into account the clearance sign in the parking garage and i drove right on in and smacked it so hard it snapped the tip off, still surfs fine, but i'll be pick up a new fin shortly... and maybe even a track pad, depending on my mood.
     
  15. dlrouen

    dlrouen Well-Known Member

    814
    Jun 6, 2012
    That sucks. McTavish makes killer sticks. Let me know what fin you pick up - I am always looking for feedback on fins.
     
  16. DawnPatrol321

    DawnPatrol321 Well-Known Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Ya it's a great board and catches everything, the fin i'm replacing is a simple Walden center fin, so i'm actually wondering what fin I should go with. Do i replace with the same fin, or should I try something completely different? Decisions, decisions...
     
  17. dlrouen

    dlrouen Well-Known Member

    814
    Jun 6, 2012
    I would replace it with something completely different. My favorite fin is the RFC Wingnut Sweep. The Sweep makes my 9'8" ride like an 8'6" - and a lot faster too. In larger waves , I break out the Greenough Stage 6. Dropping in is effortless and the chicks dig it. I would start with those two options before exploring.
     
  18. DawnPatrol321

    DawnPatrol321 Well-Known Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Good look, I will check those out, do you go single or thruster? My board is 8'1", I went a bit smaller cause I'm not tall and wanted more performance
     
  19. dlrouen

    dlrouen Well-Known Member

    814
    Jun 6, 2012
    9'8" & 9'6" are single fins and my 9'0" is a thruster. I use a 7" True Ames Flex fin in my 7'0" single fin egg. Check it out: http://trueames.com/shop/l-flex-fin I would use an 8" or the 8.5"

    I would also check out the Greenough Stage-6 8" : http://trueames.com/shop/greenough-stage-6-fin This fin has a lot of flex / pop.
     
  20. DawnPatrol321

    DawnPatrol321 Well-Known Member

    Mar 6, 2012
    Thanks for the advise, there are just so many options available