We have had good swell lately (by Perth standards) and I was out yesterday riding waves probably where I shouldn't have. Hit the reef hard, board stopped dead and I went flying. Then had that gut wrenching feeling while body dragging back to the board that this was going to be an expensive session. To my surprise the board/fin box was still intact and just some fin damage no doubt due to riding strapless.
No cracks around your fin box?
I had a similar thing happen to me (board stopped dead) a few years back but I hit a submerged railway sleeper.
During the Red kite down winder last Sunday I smacked a reef/rocks so hard, knocked both side fins out on the front side. Managed to find someone in the street with a screwdriver and shifter and knock both back in, the boxes are screwed and the fins look much the same as Slacks. Spent the rest of the down winder asking if anybody had an fin allen key.
Lesson learnt, all ways keep an Allen key in your pocket.
I think I am going to glue the fins in the boxes since they are loose and cannot be tightedned , then replace the whole lot when I loose the fin or pull the box out.
Cheers
Rich
Very lucky there was no box breakage. Easy fix.
RIchswing, I had the same issue with my fins on my quad, they would not tighten any more. I ended up jamming some small pieces of zinc, (very malleable and won't rust), after the fin was placed back in the slot. Snug as a bug now. You can also use a drink can as they are aluminum. They pop off easy enough where as if they were glued in you will struggle.
The deck does not need any oiling. If water still beads on it, it is still good. A decent oil should give you two years of uv protection. However, the decking boards were put on upside down. Those grooves are cut to stop the cupping and are meant to be upside down. But it does make it more anti slip that way, but not very nice on your bare feet.
Carry on.
