Installing an FCS plug

It's possible with some basic tools but I gotta ask the question why...why not just add a nubste if you are looking for a bit more pivot...

As for DIY...I think you'd be taking a risk...I would encourage ya to try it on a broke board or a POS you have first.

 

Sooo easy.

What tools ya got? Do you have a drill? Router? 1 1/8 hole saw bit? Beers, a doob, maybe some irie music? That's it.

 

You gotta get a hole saw bit first. FCS sells a 1 3/16 hole saw bit with their install kit but nobody uses it (kinda big) and you'll never find that size anyhow. Maybe get some of those FCS peel and stick template pads from Surfsource. They cost .50 cents.

Step 1: Get 1 1/8th hole saw bit and hack saw off the guide bit in the middle.

Step 2: Make a 'jig' for drilling holes in a piece of plywood or something similar.

Step 3: Drill holes. Use a chisel or flathead screw driver to pop out the foam pillar

Step 4: Put plugs on a fin.

Step 5: Pour just enough Lam resin in holes to go about half way up the plugs. Do not fill all the way or the resin will exotherm. Come back with Sanding Resin and fill all the way up when it's just past gel stage.

Step 6: You have a kid right? Do they have Playdo or some sorta clay? put a little on the leading and trailing edge of the fin to keep it in place if you don't have those FCS template/damns. Get it perfect then tape from rail, over the top of fin to the other rail. Don't stare at it and mess with it. Walk away.....walk away. This is what all shops do.

Step 7: Route those plugs flat. Sanding em sucks. You'll never get them flat if you don't have a good variable speed sander/polisher. And you'll probably start tapping weave or burning through glass around the plug if you've never used one.

 

Found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iumdWGx98Ig

 

I see diy hack jobs come in all the time. Get it done right the first time. Take it to a shaper/glasser you trust and have them do it. We would charge probably 25 or 30 for that center plug. Also I couldn't tell from the pic if that was a swallow tail or squash?

 

No No No. Just do it yourself. I've installed 1000's of FCS plugs and im an idiot. Trust me, you can do it no problem. You can train a monkey, or even metard to install FCS. Way too easy

You could also throw in a Probox box. Look into em'. You can use FCS fins with those boxes.

 

Leave it alone and buy another board that is a thruster or 5 fin converter. You're ballin and have the money, don't go ruining that board.

 

this.......

 

depends on how much rocker your quad has.

If it's got plenty of rocker, you could (theoretically) add a center fin to stretch it's capabilities...but as DPS says, I'd just buy another board.

If your board is pretty flat, adding a center fin would be useless because the board still isn't going to be able to make the drop, dig a massive bottom turn or fit into a steep bowly wave. As far as having center plugs for a knubster fin, it's not worth it because the waves for which you'd need extra stability are probably going to be better ridden on a rockered thruster. Been there, done that.

 

I have a 5'7 I had shaped as a 2+1 for small waves. It was fun, but lacked an overall feel. I had the rear fins boxes put in recently to make it available for a quad and it absolutely made the board. If you like the board Im all for experimenting with fin setups. Who cares if you put extra plugs in, if it helps it become your favorite board its 100% worth it imo.

 

If you're putting your own fin plugs in why not go with a future's box instead of two seperate fcs plugs? Dunno if you have a personal preference but I feel like it would be an easier job just to route out the space for one box for the center. You can call it the futures fcs board

 

True. Im a Futures man myself.

FCS plugs (the x-2s) are designed for post-lam installation. Futures are designed for pre-lam, and although it's no to big a deal to do it post-lam with no hoatcoat (color boards with futures are done this way), it need will need a bunch of prep on a finished, already-been-sanded board. The real issue is Futures require you to have the install kit or it will look like ****.

 

hot glue a fin to the board? no drilling or cutting required!

 

Forgot a few things in there. Should be a step 2.5 and 3.5.

2.5: Hold your plug up to your hole saw bit. Tape off the hole saw bit just a c#nt hair past the bottom of the plug. Now you know how deep to drill. Also...on a new hole saw bit you should sand around the outside of the bit so you it doesn't transfer to the glass when drilling.

3.5 : After popping out the foam/stringer pillars, you have to drill it again another 'shy' 1/8" around the bottom of the hole you just drilled. For rails you gotta go to the deck. This makes the install way stronger. For the center fin you only need to go a touch more for strength because you have a stringer for support.

If your seriously considering going for it PM me. It might sound like a lot, but it's really, really simple. Trust me.

 

I think Atanticoo is making this a bit more simplistic than it is...dropping plugs is not a difficult process, but doing a quality job is difficult without the proper tools and prep. To be honest, Aoo step-by-step looks great...sounds great...but I would still say take it to a shop as the routing and feathering is the what makes a finish look like crap or a quality product.

Further, my other concern would be your rear fin placement...given the fact that you stated its a retro fish...I assume it has a pretty deep swallow? Usually a thruster rear fin placement is anywhere between 3" - 3 1/2" from the tail (im a fan of 3 1/4" from the tail). I wonder if that is possible from the tips of your swallow...

Also, my point with the knubster was that it would give your fish a bit more drive and a bit more hold imho...doing a bit of the job of the thruster fin--additionally, I was recommending just a single FCS plug almost parallel with your rear fin plug.