Wobbly center fin...

[Vee2]

Guys is there anyway that you can over tighten the centre fin on a longboard? My fin has always got a little wobble in it even when the screw is really tight, should I try and pack it out at the sides or just stick up with the wobble?
Thanks

[jaffa1949]

Up and down or side to side or a little of both?

[Vee2]

Hey Jaffa
Just side to side, its not much but you can put your finger on the tip and wobble it about 10mm in total.

[jaffa1949]

Vee2 , Hi, Old thin cardboard business cards on either side of the base of the fin where it fits in the box are a temporary solution a couple of layers of gaffer tape is another even an old credit card wedged in beside the base of the fin can help.
If you want to get really technical run a thin bead of solar resin along each side of the base and allow to set sand accordingly. Put widening taper on \toward the top of the base so as you pull the fin further into the box with the screw the wedge shape tightens things , be gentle and precise in your work if you do it this way.

[Vee2]

Thanks jaffa!
I've been pretty much converted to longboards from 25years of shortboards and its a whole new experience for me! Good one though.

[Glide]

Vee2,
The clasic way to fix this is to use your surf wax rapper. Fold it over at about the middle of the fin base, push it into the fin box and go surf. If it's really loose, double fold the rapper. Also, always mess around with the fin posistion. Move it forward for looser surfing. Back for noseriding.

Glide

[tony g]

I think the best way to fix a loose fiberglass fin is this. Take the fin out and sand the base of 1 side of the fin the part that goes in the box. Get some polyester clear sanding resin and mix with catalyst (hardener) as per instructions usually about 1-2% hardener. brush a thin coat of sanding resin on the base of the fin and let dry overnight. lightly sand after it is dry and reinsert into fin box. If the fin is still loose repeat on the other side of fin. This should be a permanent solution to your problem.