Broken Fin Plug

[Tommo791]

Hi,
I made a post a few days ago about my broken fin plug. I am fairly new to surfing and need to know everything that I will need to fix this as I'd like to fix it myself. I live in the UK, so any links from UK stores would be great. I live too far away from any surf shops to make the trip worthwhile and I need this fixed by the 12th of Feb for a surf trip to Croyde.

Here is the link to the original post with pictures of the problem:
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=27444

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Tom

[oldmansurfer]

Others have responded. I have not replaced a fin plug ever but there are videos that you can find online such as this one

I didn't watch that video but if they don't do this I would make a mark or marks on the board and the fin plug with the fin in place to be sure I have it correctly turned. I have not done this repair but I am pretty sure I could do it.

[waikikikichan]

Advice A : take it to a surfboard repair shop
Advice B : Refer to advice A

You got the damage over a month ago, and now wasted another week. Get it to a repair shop and get it done right.

BUT..... since you probably won't....... the video OMS posted is a " full on " repair where both plugs rip out with some foam removed. The guy has the FCS install kit, most shop don't have those in stock and need to order it.
Your damage is a much simpler " push down ". Glass is mainly intact and foam has been compressed.
1)If the plug isn't damaged, pull it out, clean it up.
2)Lightly sand down the glass around the hole. 3) Tape the whole area ( like a foot around ) and cut a ring a little bigger than the hole.
4) screw the plug into the tab of a fin but let it float up a bit so it doesn't contact the resin. ( you should shim the other plug so the fin is level. )
5) cut up some fiberglass cloth like beard shavings
6) mix that into resin
7) add the proper amount ( let it go off slow not fast ). Weather and time of day effects that too.
Put the resin in the hole and push the plug down. Resin is going to flow out, so tape up a lot.
9) before the resin gets too hard, cut away the excess around the hole. ( how do you know when it's the right time ? Experience. )
10) pull off the tape and sand down with a wood block.

there are too many variables to go wrong. Yes, I agree " there's a first time for everything ". But bad things happen when you're in a rush and ill-prepared. I do repairs and have tried to talk many customers ( especially broke college kids ) from doing it them selves. Most come back with a much bigger problem, time and money wasted. Hindsight is 20/20. I wish you luck on your repair ......( err, I mean your dad. )

[Tommo791]

Advice A : take it to a surfboard repair shop
Advice B : Refer to advice A

You got the damage over a month ago, and now wasted another week. Get it to a repair shop and get it done right.

BUT..... since you probably won't....... the video OMS posted is a " full on " repair where both plugs rip out with some foam removed. The guy has the FCS install kit, most shop don't have those in stock and need to order it.
Your damage is a much simpler " push down ". Glass is mainly intact and foam has been compressed.
1)If the plug isn't damaged, pull it out, clean it up.
2)Lightly sand down the glass around the hole. 3) Tape the whole area ( like a foot around ) and cut a ring a little bigger than the hole.
4) screw the plug into the tab of a fin but let it float up a bit so it doesn't contact the resin. ( you should shim the other plug so the fin is level. )
5) cut up some fiberglass cloth like beard shavings
6) mix that into resin
7) add the proper amount ( let it go off slow not fast ). Weather and time of day effects that too.
Put the resin in the hole and push the plug down. Resin is going to flow out, so tape up a lot.
9) before the resin gets too hard, cut away the excess around the hole. ( how do you know when it's the right time ? Experience. )
10) pull off the tape and sand down with a wood block.

there are too many variables to go wrong. Yes, I agree " there's a first time for everything ". But bad things happen when you're in a rush and ill-prepared. I do repairs and have tried to talk many customers ( especially broke college kids ) from doing it them selves. Most come back with a much bigger problem, time and money wasted. Hindsight is 20/20. I wish you luck on your repair ......( err, I mean your dad. )

Thank you so much, again I would love to send it to a shop but that would mean a week without surfing it in Croyde, plus I'm going to Uni next year so won't have an opportunity to surf much. I'm sure we should be able to handle this, are there any specific brands or products you'd recommend?

[waikikikichan]

What ever resin repair kit the supplier has that you get the fin and plug from. Maybe not the UV curing resin type.
In a pinch, I would squeeze Solarez / Suncure type repair in a tube into the area and put the plug in ( properly ), let it gel in the sun for 10-15 seconds, check alignment, then let it sit in the sun for 20 minutes ( changing orientation a few times ), sand down, then put a thin layer of Solarez around the hole ( it might make the fin not sit flush,but better a bump and watertight )