Long screw needed :)

[mik911]

I need it bad!

I bought this Larry Allison kelp keel fin

This screw is too short to reach the nut inside the fin box.  This is for my Bark Expedition, perhaps the fin box is especially deep or something, but the screw that holds the fin in, won't reach the plastic nut.

Anyone encounter this before?

I'll PM Larry Allison, or worse case, go to Home Depot, but thought it kinda odd.

Mahalo

[PonoBill]

Try putting it in with the fin box facing down and the board on your tailgate or sawhorses. Takes a little fiddling, but the nut will be at the top of the fin slot instead of the bottom. Make sure you get at leash three full turns though.

[H2Oman]

That screw will work on your Expedition - I have the same fin.  I did loose the screw after a trip though.  Just pick up a regular fin screw and plate at a surf shop for under a buck.  ET will sell you a few and then you'll always have them.

[juandoe]

Make sure your fin is fully seated too.  It may need some sanding to sit deeper in the box.  One of my boards wouldn't reach with the thumbscrew.  A regular screw worked fine.  You are really gonna like that fin.

[adios pantalones]

I had a similar problem once, I just stuffed a paper wad under the plate in the box, it raised it just enough to get a bite on that first thread and sucked it up.

I like the idea of a couple spares in the truck, gonna do that.

[outcast]

OK....now i have screw jealosy.....where do you get the thumb kind?

[mik911]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I'll give it another shot.

Roland--I've got a bunch of regular surfboard screws/bolts, but they're all the same length.

[boardlady]

the problem: screw plate rests on bottom of fin box slot, out of reach of most screws. The remedy: the screw plate lifter! This nifty device comes in a rainbow of colors and is available at all office supply stores for about a penny

[longboarder1973]

Great Invention Boardlady!
You really know how to screw!

[anotherncbeachbum]

OK....now i have screw jealosy.....where do you get the thumb kind?

Wonderbolts are handy, a few bucks at any shop. The paperclip trick is handy, too.

[Tom]

I find that marine supply stores such as West Marine have a good selection of stainless steel screws.

[southwesterly]

Does anybody know where I can get a carbon screw plate lifter?

[pdxmike]

Does anybody know where I can get a carbon screw plate lifter?

Try here:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/04/bike-designer-f/

[blueplanetsurf]

wow, now that's a high performance dog bowl.  I wonder how many ounces you save by going full carbon vs. standard plastic molded bowl...

[pdxmike]

I guess that wasn't a question that was important to very many people.