Forums > Windsurfing General

Fin Screw Tabs

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Created by Kimba > 9 months ago, 20 May 2011
Kimba
SA, 453 posts
21 May 2011 12:59AM
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I had to make some washers for my fin screws tonight and thought I would make it easier to insert and remove them from the recessed holes on my boards with standard tuttle boxes. The holes are recessed about 25-30mm below deck level and are too small in diameter to get a finger either side of the screw head. By extending the rubber washer into a strip, two tabs are created allowing the screw to be placed perfectly. I dont know why I haven't done this before as most of the time when I need to get the screws out I have resorted to tipping the board upside down and shaking them out. You can sometimes guide the screw in and remove it on the tip of the screwdriver but this is hit and miss and magnetic tips don't work on 316 stainless. This should work well on thicker tailed boards with powerboxes also...







More info here...
whitelionwindsurfing.blogspot.com/2011/05/fin-screw-tabs.html

Windxtasy
WA, 4014 posts
20 May 2011 11:37PM
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What a good idea!
I always end up tipping the board over also.

Waiting4wind
NSW, 1871 posts
21 May 2011 10:10AM
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It would be a great idea if all board makers did the elongated oval hole, like Starboard do, so you can get two fingers in.

It seems that they're a bit slow at times to implement simple ideas.

Mark _australia
WA, 22344 posts
21 May 2011 11:14AM
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with powerbox I stick my little finger up from the underside and the bolt comes up high enough to grab it easily.

Does that not work with Tuttle? (haven't had a Tuttle for a looonng time)
Should be easier as the Tuttle box is wider than PB?

mr love
VIC, 2352 posts
21 May 2011 1:20PM
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By the look of the length of your finger I think a tuttle will be no issue at all.

Mark _australia
WA, 22344 posts
21 May 2011 1:51PM
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OK was asking for that haha

but seriously can't you just poke the bolt up from below?

Waiting4wind
NSW, 1871 posts
21 May 2011 4:07PM
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Mark _australia said...

OK was asking for that haha

but seriously can't you just poke the bolt up from below?


Not on a fat slalom board...unless uoi have really long fingers.

Mark _australia
WA, 22344 posts
21 May 2011 2:10PM
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ah yes - cos the bolts are pretty much all the same length I guess - so on a really thick board the recess is deeper?
On my FSW the bolt head is only 20-30mm below the deck, on a thick board it would be triple that I guess

haven't looked at a race / slalom / freeride board for a while

Mux
QLD, 226 posts
21 May 2011 4:12PM
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That's a great idea, so helpful for the fittment and removal of the screw. No lost screw in the sand either

Kimba
SA, 453 posts
21 May 2011 6:08PM
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Yeah, they are easier to see in the sand and also spin as they float slowly down to the ground

ok
NSW, 1088 posts
21 May 2011 9:33PM
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magnet?

GeoffS
NSW, 49 posts
21 May 2011 10:41PM
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300 series stainless which is what most of our fin bolts are made from, is non magnetic.

Jaime
NSW, 90 posts
29 May 2011 3:02PM
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AUS718 said...

That's a great idea, so helpful for the fittment and removal of the screw. No lost screw in the sand either


You could also leave the screw in the board all the time.

I use a tap washer (silicone type) on the underside of the board.

Cut the round washer so it has two parallel sides, same width as the fin. Then insert the screw thru the board, it'll screw into the washer and stay attached to the board inside the fin box.
I was sick of losing screws after removing the fin.

I've had the same fin screw in the board for a couple of years now.

J

ikw777
QLD, 2995 posts
29 May 2011 3:08PM
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Jaime said...

AUS718 said...

That's a great idea, so helpful for the fittment and removal of the screw. No lost screw in the sand either


You could also leave the screw in the board all the time.

I use a tap washer (silicone type) on the underside of the board.

Cut the round washer so it has two parallel sides, same width as the fin. Then insert the screw thru the board, it'll screw into the washer and stay attached to the board inside the fin box.
I was sick of losing screws after removing the fin.

I've had the same fin screw in the board for a couple of years now.

J


Kimba
SA, 453 posts
29 May 2011 9:29PM
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The tap washer in the finbox is a great idea for power boxes with the step down above the barrel nut.
Tuttle boxes are a different story with the top of the head sitting flush with the top of the fin box cavity.

DrJ
ACT, 481 posts
30 May 2011 11:01AM
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Another idea is to; next time you have a cup of tea, detach and keep the string and tab from the tea bag, tie around the top of the fin bolt. Just leave the string poking out the top of the whole when fin bolt in place ...... Easy.

[Note tetley tea bag tabs are no good, they seem to go soggy to quickly and fall apart, while the T3 brand tabs are the opposite and have sharp hard corners which might hurt your feet, I have found that twinings maintain their integrity while are soft enough not to be a hazard]





Kimba
SA, 453 posts
30 May 2011 2:09PM
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Nice Dr J .... but you need to drink tea. I would be a little scared of pulling a little white string...

DrJ
ACT, 481 posts
30 May 2011 5:12PM
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Kimba said...

...but you need to drink tea.


Not so, I dont drink tea... but the next time you stay at a hotel, in addition to the shower gel, shampoo etc, take the tea bags. Its a top tip because as well as having a supply of fancy 'fin bolt extracting devices' you can impress visitors with a fancy selection of teas, such that they might suspect you are Royalty or something!

jsnfok
WA, 899 posts
30 May 2011 7:57PM
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always one in a crowd haha

gh
NSW, 151 posts
30 May 2011 10:26PM
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I noticed that there were no spring washers in the pics. after losing a fin years ago I have always included a spring washer with the fin screws,

How about other people?




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"Fin Screw Tabs" started by Kimba