Fin Block/Fins

[wyatt]

Hey,
I am a total noob to this, so if this is a dumb question...please forgive me. I got the Guide and the blueprints, and I was looking through the guide so I can get familiar with the process before I dive into it. It all seems straight forward, but what I can't find is how the fin is attached. There is a brief explanation of gluing 2 cedar blocks to the spar...but I don't understand how the fin attaches to that, and in what order the fin and the skin goes on.

Also what is the benefits/drawbacks to "glassing" the fin on versus using the fin box method.

I am sure there are going to be more questions to come...

Thanks

[TimelessSurf]

Wyatt,
The blocks that you are referring to next to the spar are for reinforcement for a "fin box" like this one from O'Fish'l www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=12355"> Once the board is together and shaped, you would router our a cavity for this to sit in to embed it into the spar and 2 blocks that you placed. With this particular box you would router the wood out just deep enough so that the edges of the fin box are even with or just below the deck. The ridge that you see running down the length of it is there to keep resin from filling it in, and this ridge must stick out higher than the finished glass coat.
You would then epoxy this fin box in place being sure to flood the perimeter to create a tight seal. I usually do this after the cheater coat, but before the lam coat. After it is cured and in place, continue your glassing schedule and once you are done you can carefully router off the top ridge of the box. I do this by placing a 1" board on each side of the box and secure them down with clamps or tape but taking care not to damage your glass. Set the depth of your router to the thickness of these boards and router it out bu sliding down these 1" "rails".
That being said, if you choose to glass a fin on, you don't need the reinforcing blocks added.
The benefit of glass on is that it looks cleaner and has less chance of developing a hairline crack next to the fin box if you whack your fin on something too hard. The draw back of glass on is that you cant change your fin, or the position without a lot of work, and sometimes its nice to take the fin off to fit your board in racks, under the bed, or even shipping it. Well, I hope that helps!!

[wyatt]

Ok....I think I got ya....Once I get to that step, hopefully it will become apparent to me, but your explanation makes sense. I am a woodworker, and not a surfer...yet, so things like this are all new to me. Of course, maybe I am doing this backwards, I should know how a surfboard works before I try to make one....but that would not be like me, lol...and the building part is just so intriguing to me...I can't help but make one first .

Thanks again for the help

[slomacd]

Guess what? The fin boxes from Jamestown are "no longer available". Any other sources?

[vilanobeachsurf]

Just go to the horses mouth...or maybe your local surf shop!

www.ofishl.com/systems/boxes.html