everyone probably knows this but....easy fin shims can be cut from plastic milk cartons, or a little harder ...aluminum pop cans...they really help out on the "sinking tuttle fin" problem.
BTW thought it was warm in Atlanta, your temp (45) is the same as here in Michigan today BURRRRRRR!
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Ron, the difference is - the water isn't 45. Not for a couple of months, anyways.
Good tip on the fins. I'd think the plastic is probably a little safer as the alum might leave an edge that would catch a finger. I've even used some vinyl tape layered up as a quick fix.
The pain is when the fin is too big. Those tuttle bases need a ton of sanding to fit just a bit further in.
I'm curious about the sinking tuttle fin deal. I use an A box fin and have heard of making shims although I haven't made one yet.
Actually the fin fell out Wednesday (Thursday, Nov. 10th, hmmm), luckily I was in shallow water and the fin was orange. I decided there were too many spacers on the bolt.
Anyway, what is the sinking tuttle fin?
Linda
A tuttle box fin that fits a little too deeply into it's box so that the base is depressed from the bottom of the board rather than inline with it (creates turbulence around the base of the fin).
Fin 101: The Tuttle Box (named after Larry Tuttle) is basically conical but with flat sides. Which means the front and back of the base slope while the sides are flat up and down. The base inserts into the box until the slanted sides contact the inside of the box. Think of it as one ice cream cone (sugar cone) resting inside another. If I didn't want the cone to fit so far inside, I could add something to the surface of the inner cone which would prevent it from fitting so far in.
A-box shims are usually thinner and go on the side rather than the front/rear as the Tuttle shim does. Since it is a shallow base (doesn't project very far into the board), if it doesn't fit tightly, it is prone to wiggle sideways which some find undesireable. Usually, really thin plastic or plastic tape is used to shim the sides.
Glad you found your fin.
thanks. I imagined the fin sinking the other direction since that's what just happened to me. I'm glad I found the fin too. My other A box fins are too long in the part that fits in the board to fit this shorter board, so maybe it is an E box fin. It is loose from side to side so its on to the milk carton or tape.
e-box are the longer ones,
E (euro)
A (american)
A-boxes tend to be found on shorter boards
E's on some shortboards and most long boards - longer base is stronger/more solid which longer fins on long boards and floaty shortboards need.
got it!