Loose Fin...Any Suggestons?

[Big Al]

I just bought a new pair of Future Jamie Mitchell's for my PSH.  The center fin, in the standard U.S. box, is loose.  Even when I crank down on the screw it slides.  Any suggestions?  It seems like the fin is too thick where the screw tab is but, I hate to cut it?  Whatcha think?

[stvandev]

My fin on my raceboard was loose as well when the screw was cranked down, side to side wiggle.  I put some electrical tape on the base of the fin and it tightened the fit up just right.  May need a couple layers depending on how much room you need to take up.

[surf monkey]

loose up and down or side to side. Is the screw hitting the bottom of the box.

[gjbstandup]

I've had a couple SUP's that had their fins slide or are loose in the box. What I use is scraps of deck pad. I cut a peice of pad the width of the bottom of fin at the base of the fin. I cut about 4-5 inces long. Peel and attach to  bottom  base of the fin. As the fin is inserted in the box the pad allows it to sit higher so you can screw the fin  tighter. (The closer to the pin the higher the angle , closer to the tab the shallow the the fin sits in the box). As the fin is screwed down the foam pad is pinched  at the bottom of the box and the fin fits snug compressing the pad allowing the plate in the groove to get tight..  If the base of the fin is not wide enough orthe box is wider I use good all "RedNeck Chrome"  duct tape and fold over the base on both the sides equally.. You can build up the layers if need be. I usually the deck pad trick  and works great solving the loose fin issue.....This seems to work for me.
Hope this helps..  MAHALO

[Big Al]

The fin is not loose side to side - I think the width is right - It feels like the screw is not tightening down.  I don't think it's bottoming out, but I had suspected that at first.  I think the lip with the screw in it is too thick and hitting the plate before it has a chance to tighten down properly?  The deck pad idea may work if I put it between the plate and the lip with the screw in it?  Does that make any sense?

[PonoBill]

There's a few ways fins can be loose, and different ways to deal with each.

Your screw may be bottoming out in the fin box -- get a shorter screw or cut the one you have
Your fin base may be too narrow--shim with hard plastic--mylar is good
Your fin screw relief may not be deep enough for your fin box. If it isn't deep enough the relief area will contact the nut before the fin is wedge deeply enough in the box to no wiggle. Look at the fin when it's in as far as the screw takes it and see if the base of the fin is completely inside the box or even with the bottom of the board. If the fin base is standing proud of the fin box you need to grind away some more relief. If it is even or slightly below the level of the box then shim the fin to make it tightly in place just as the base of the fin gets level with the board.

[johnrg]

Might be a couple of things. If the front tab is too fat and won't seat flush in the box and hit the metal plate, then some carefull sanding may remedy but the fact that the fin slides makes it sound like the screw is hitting the base and seating too deep in the box and never really tightening the fin. Either way... Sounds like the fin base needs some shimming as you can tighten the tab all the way but it bottoms the fin tab but it's not working against anything. As Bill said any mylar or non absorbing material lying around will work. The fin takes  a load you may not feel just setting the fin in the board. It needs to be snug though on the sides. I just keep a roll of clear packing tape. Apply it on one side of the base and fold over the base and up the other side and then trim with a blade so none of the material is above the fin box when seated. Do one layer and fit the fin. You want it to be snug enough that it takes a bit of hand pressure and then thumb pressure to just get the tab in enough to set the screw. You should then be able to snug down the fin so it won't slide and grabbing it and the board not feel any side to side wobble. If one layer doesn't work try a second and so on. Some fins bases just are not finished evenly and you can shim just a portion. I'm sure the box is OK. I paddle a PSH as well and all my current boards have required some shimming.

John

[PonoBill]

The only problem with using tape is that the glue is a flexible layer. You're really better off without glue. It's certainly simpler to use tape, but the fin will wiggle more with it than with just plain plastic.

[johnrg]

The only problem with using tape is that the glue is a flexible layer. You're really better off without glue. It's certainly simpler to use tape, but the fin will wiggle more with it than with just plain plastic.

You're right about the glue and wasn't the first material I grabbed or normally would use, but it has worked acceptably. 

John

[gorgebob]

Sounds like the screw is too long and the fin needs some shimming. Mylar works but a Coke can
works as well. Cut a rectangle the size of a business card out of the can. Scissors work.
Fold it around the base of the fin so that it will be on both sides and the bottom. Make sure it doe not stick up out of the box along side the fin . Trim if needed. Pivot the fin in and screw into place. The fin tab should be flush with the bottom of your board.

[jd]

Go get a straw, preferably the fat kind from McDonald's or any small piece of plastic you can jam down in there.  Cut it or fold it up and stuff it in the bottom of the box.  Insert fin.  Problem solved.

I had a PSH.  I forget, but does it have the POS china box where you can drop the plate for the screw straight into the box rather than having to insert it at an angle.  If so, that is your problem.  The boxes are too deep. 

[Big Al]

No, has a good box with the angle insert.  Problem solved with a tin can and small rubber strip.  Turns out the Future JM's base was not square - it tapered near the tail and the tab that the screw inserts into was too thick.  I shimmed the fin near the tail with a can sliver and put a piece of rubber under the fin tab where it screws into the fin plate.  Problem solved - thanks for your help.