I know this has been covered before but my google search of the forums only seems to be bringing up stripped inserts. Anyway I've been thinking of putting some outboard rear straps on my 2007 S-Type 93 litre to make it perform more like a slalom than a freeride board.

The boardlady shows each insert wrapped in PVC sheet then inlayed into routered hole with epoxy paste. boardlady.com/inserts.htm then glassing over etc.

Had a look on Whitelion's blog https://picasaweb.google.com/TimHemer/BoardBuilding7#5322491605642895282 and found this method where Kimba fits inserts with no PVC sandwich glued around but uses cloth pushed into routered hole with insert and epoxy paste. I assume holes are slightly larger than inserts to allow for cloth.

I understand the glassing over process etc but can I forego pfaffing around with the boardlady's method and just do it Kimba's way i.e. is it any weaker.

Any tips would be appreciated - even comments regarding whether it'll be worth doing to the board.

After reading some excellent posts on the subject, I think I might embark on a little project.

I have a few questions:

1) How do you estimate ideal fin length for a weedy? Is it the same as for a regular fin? If, for example, you are currently happy with a 40cm freeride fin, would you want to use a weed fin the same length?

2) How does one "un-box" a fin? Prior to re-boxing it, I mean?

3) Should I hack up a perfectly good G10 fin or is it better to stick to an old carbon fin -- keep in mind that I will be chopping a bit off and using fibreglass cloth & resin - unless there's another way.

4) Is there a good website which explains how to do it? I should've made that the first question, I know.....


Actually, I think that's all for now.

Thanks in advance!


PS I found this thread already, good stuff!

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Gps/Weed-Fins/