red-x fins

they are a small fin co now, who really cant compete, they are still available and around, just a small baller in the world of FCs and futures, even small compared to ProBox. very few production guys use them, some cali/hawaii, but it is used by more backyarders than pro's. Very good system though.

 

Red X has never really expanded into the larger fin market, basically they are happy being the small guy so why try and compete with a large company who really lets face it... if FCS or Futures wanted to they could basically buy out Red X, but Red X doesn't bother them and they dont bother Red X.... they were a bit bigger earlier on. Bascially back in the late 80 early 90's was when the box system became what it is known as now. I will keep this short to not cause a stir in who is first and best. arguably the first big mass produced fin system that appealed to the public was o'fishl who worked with Stewart early on, because Stewart was sick of Glass on Fins breaking in shipping. so long story short, as o'fishl became a player and their patent ran out one of there higher mucky mucks started Futures with a small tooling company, as well as FCS in the early 80's (also with a small tooling company) originally these companies went to Larry Allison, (Probox Larry) and fibre glass fin co / powerpad to help make their original fins before they started there "RTM" and mass produced fins, but as all companies grow they look to cut cost so they lost the "Handmade" fins from Larry and went to mass production. Not that Larry is not production in fact he pumps out tons of fins and box's as well as pads, and is one of the last originator and innovator of the fin marker, as well as always remaining true to hand foiled fins. so as these companies started to grow and dominate the market o'fishl and red-x slowly died out, Probox is in my opinion the biggest back yard builder and is a great system, but is not as sleek or quick in the production side. So their is a bit of fin history in 2 paragraphs. I am lucky enough to have Larry Allison as a "friend" and i get to talk to him every now and then, and it usually is hours of phone time with non stop stories and information. I hope this helps and informative for you.

 

The benefit of Red-x and Probox is that you can move the fin fore and aft, the further forward a fin is the more pivot you will receive the further back will be more drive, the benefit of probox is that it has the ability to change cant, 0/4/6/8 to change your pivot point, more cant more pivot less cant more drive.

 

IIRC, Larry Block (Blocksurf) owns Red-X. I had a couple boards from Ted Kearns when he was still shaping for GFG that had Red-X. Always liked that you used an actual tool to adjust the fins, not just a little allen key, although having to cut a hole in the trak top to get to the screw was a little weird. I heard somewhere that there was a picture of Slater on a board with Red-X and FCS threatened to sue, so that really stunted Red-X growth. Kinda like how Yeungling can't grow past Ohio because Budweiser will just buy up all the shelf space.

Lokbox is another option if you'd like to move your fins fore and aft.

 

hmmmmm ? you got some of it right ?

For one Taylor Knox was going to ride for Red-X an Block went to Larry Allison to have fins put into production an was typically late with making the fins so Block lost Taylor Knox because Allison could not deliver to Block an then later Allison came out with Probox which does the same as adjusting except you can toe the fins out with plastic inserts which means you have more things to break , but the Red-X System is the strongest since you have a box that goes through the deck making it stronger than any system made . The other thing that you have to cut holes in your deck tail pad so what get a life .