has anyone ever modified a tuttle fin into a power box one?
There are so many more t. fins for sail that i thought if i drill and insert a center fixing I might be right. Any advise?

Yep, it is possible to do the conversion, I've done more than I care to count.

Would recommend finding someone with a mould and jig for getting the shape right.

elmo said...

Yep, it is possible to do the conversion, I've done more than I care to count.

Would recommend finding someone with a mould and jig for getting the shape right.

I'm in the process of converting a tuttle fin to powerbox and I reckon the easiest way to find a mould as well as make a jig to centre and hold the fin upright in the mould would be to get a hold of a chinook cavity fin box like the board makers use:

http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Bits+and+Pieces/321101/Chinook+Cavity+Fin+Box

I've got one of these for the mould and I've fixed tall pieces of 15mm board (approx height of fin/s) to both sides of the box so that I can make sure the fin stays upright and centred during reboxing process.

You'll need a good release agent or wax to get the fin base out of the mould. I got some liquid release agent from a local fibreglass repairer that is easy to apply to inside of mould and works a treat when releasing epoxy (I used three coats on another job I did recently).

SBC said: "Any ...... diagrams..?"

This shows what you need: http://www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk/patlove/hardware/finadapters.html

Couldn't find them on the Select or Sunshine Coast Sailboards site (importers for Select). Might be best to give Sunshine a ring on 07 54 913 065 and asking the question, seeing that DKeating (above) used a "Select Tuttle Head" that cost $16.

Hope this helps.

" A tuttle head is larger and can therefore be ground down to fit a power box".

Best to use an adaptor as per my previous. Internally, the adaptors are rectangular, so you need to grind the old head to fit the internal dimensions, then glue it in. Externally, the Powerbox head has all sorts of angles on it. For "$16", go the adaptor.

"alternatley you cut the tuttle head and mould a new power head on top?"

Wouldn't think this would have any strength at the join point of fin to (new) head.

Hope this helps.

Further information:

Here is a photo of 2 x types of adaptors.







The top fin uses shows a FinWorks adaptor. Don't know whether these are still made but you might contact this US dealer for info: www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=foreverflying&e=com

The lower adaptor is unmarked, but may be from Select. These may be available from www.sunshinecoastsailboards.com.au/.

The other adaptors I mentioned earlier in this thread were available from Pat Love, a UK manufacturer. They may only trade with their dealers, in which case you might try buying them from www.surfstore.co.uk/.

Hope this helps.