Longboard fin is stuck

[tbeaver]

Hi all,

This is going to sound like a really "kooky" question I'm sure. I've just gotten into log rolling this summer. I am taking to the whole surfing part well, I can set the trim and get some nice long rides down the line on the green face of the wave. However, I am not very well educated on the mechanics of longboard design.

I got a great deal on a "classic" style 9'2" single fin longboard made by a local shaper (I'm in NJ). The board has treated me great, but I want to experiment with shifting the fin around (forward right now so I can get into doing those sweeping turns). The fin is currently set at approximately the middle of the fin box.

I went to move it foward last night, an I can't get it to budge. Not sure if it's me or something wrong with the fin. It is a pretty basic fin that is attached the fin box via a standard phillips head screw. The screw attaches through the fin and into a flat metal piece underneath the base of the fin that appears to slide up and back. All I"m doing is unscrewing the screw and attempting to move the fin foward.

Am I doing something wrong or is it possible that the fin is just stuck in from the salt, sand, etc.?

Help a kook out!

[Hang11]

It's probably got sand and salt just holding it in there. Sliding a fin up and down a box can be hard, it's probably easier to take the fin out, and put it back in the place you want it by just sliding the pin in the back of it around, then pushing the rest of the fin down into the box.

If you can't actually get the fin out of the box, the easiest way to free the fin up is to just smack the back of it parallel to the base of the board with a hammer, maybe putting a bit of wood over the fin where you will hit it for protection. Should do the trick. Otherwise just cut the thing out with an angle grinder, which is pretty severe, but something I've had to do once before. Just don't slip

[RJD]

WD40 may help too.

[tbeaver]

Hammering it out with a piece of wood to prevent any damage did the trick! Thanks mate!