My new board has a US box, and getting fins in is an absolute mission. The stock drake fin requires a fair bit of thumping with a hand and a towel, and a new select fin I tried yesterday required hitting the front of it (where the bolt lives) with a hammer just to get it to sit.
To take it out I had to wrap a towel around the leading edge, and belt it with a mast extension (hammer wasn't heavy enough) 20 times.
Is this normal for a new box? Can I use grease or something to lube it up? On my powerbox boards it's normal to file new fins so that they fit properly, is this required for US box fins as well?
Hi Nebs,
I have had the same problem with the JP US box fin. I ended up using a bit of Vaseline on the edges and now seems to slide in fairly easily. Try using the vas treatment before filing your fin....
Is that what all that banging was yesturday while we were derigging?
I thought it was because you hit the fin on a rock?
I cant believe that there wasnt a single scratch on it
sometimes some of the finishing paint can get inside the box, making the fit too tight.
having to use a hammer isn't good for fin, box or board!!! as suggested carefully sand it back, check where the tight spot is, don't make it too loose. (don't let hardy near it). if you like bring it here tomorrow, I'm getting good at making fins fit snug.
Don't forget it's going to be HOT!! and my shed really heats up in the arvo, so sometime in the morning would be good.
