Does anyone have any of the old style US Box fins in good condition that they'd be happy to part with? My wife and I got back into windsurfing a few months ago after a break of 20 years and have decided that we're so comfortable riding our old school boards (Bic Metal Rock, Astro Rock) that we're going to stick with them while we get some fitness and skills before upgrading, but we are short on fins.
US Box fins date back 20+ years ago and were used on many boards such as the Bic Rock series, prior to the introduction of bolt-through fins such as the Powerbox. They are the ones that have the horizontal pins that you slide into the fin track, so you can adjust the fin position (although I have no idea what is the best position!) then you screw a small bolt through a hole in the front tab of the fin and into a flat threaded nut that you also slide into the fin track. (see pics).
I also have one fin pictured below that is OK but is missing one countersunk insert bolt for the front tab ... any idea where I could get one?
My apologies ... I had it wrong. The fins we are after are US box, not Trim Box. I have edited the first post to correct it. Someone told me they were trim box but when I did some googling, I realized that Trim Box fins don't at all look like what we're after. I'll attach pics of the system
we're after:
US box fins grow on trees....... but it is hard to get slalom type fins in US box now. Advantage is when you find a pointer style fin in US box it will be cheap. Ring around the shops, I know most here have boxes of old ones very cheap, but you may have to put up with some tip damage. 20mins with JB Weld and sandpaper will fix that.
OK thanks for the tip ... I will try WA shops! I've worked with composites and epoxies etc a lot, so I'm handy with fixing stuff like that.
I agree with Mark. Lots out there, just not in slalom style.
True ames seem to have better range than most, but their fins are hard to get in Australia.
I found that Windance in Hood River Oregon was the only one of their listed distributors that would post to Australia.
Their service and delivery fees were very reasonable.
If you don't have any luck otherwise they are a good option.
Clarece
Hey, thanks so much Clarece. That's a great tip - they have exactly what we want: www.windance.com/True-Ames-Slalom-Pointer-34cm/6508/
We've put Bic boards through a lot of hard work at times, with my 90-odd kg and really loaded up hard using a 35cm fin, and have never seen any weakening of the US box. I did have it happen in other boards, but not yet in a Bic. (this is harking back to 25 years ago) Maybe it's just luck, or maybe Bic reinforced the box pretty well? But considering that my wife and I are comfortable on the boards and they are so cheap anyway, I'm happy to persevere with US box fins for a while if I can get them. I actually have a CNC router and was thinking of making a mould or even direct cutting fins from f/glass block. But the Windance ones would be a better idea.
And if we do tear the fin box out, I could even have a go at retrofitting Powerboxes or Tuttle boxes (we have 3 Bic boards!).
I will inevitably upgrade to a modern slalom/ freeride board (might be harder to convince Janet ... she just loves the Metal Rock), but at the moment we're happy trying to learn to gybe and get general fitness and skills back on these old boards. I asked Simon at Board Crazy what sort of modern board he'd recommend, which had some of the attributes of the Astro Rock/ Metal Rock but in a more modern style and just off the cuff he recommended a Naish GT.
If you like the old boards, just keep them going I reckon.
For learning to gybe, a more raked fin (compared to a straight up and down race style fin) may help a little.
34 cm length is what I use in my mistral one design US box with no drama. You wouldn't want to go too much longer though.
Clarence
I bought some makani weedie in US box when I was speed sailing with my waveboard. It was hard to get 21cms fins.. Actually I wouldn't mind a more upright pointer type for B & J on the lake .. make it track better..
So you can get US box 28cms upright type fins?
Yes and Surfsail also have Maui Fin Co 36 and 34 cm fins in Classic/ US box too. But they're expensive. The Select Progression are a lot cheaper.
The True Ames seem like good value too.
Thanks very much for all the good advice guys. I did call the shops in WA, and managed to score 2 Flying Objects 350 Freeride fins at reasonable prices, from 2 shops.
Hello,
i don't know if it is expensive in Oz, but you can have a lot of fun with the select Shock B&J, I used it on my Bee 281, rides almost like slalom with a bit more softness on the ride and good in the gybes. About 99€ in Europe or something. Select did another one FX I think. I was advised the Shock B&J again the progression by Select, which is made for some kind of school board of Bic.
have fun with the oldies, you will most probably not have more fun with the new one....might be a tad easier in the gybes.
have fun!
plettil
