How to Upgrade an iSUP small fixed fin to a BIGGER fin and fin box. Retrofit Install Repair Replace
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video, you will learn how to remove a permanently mounted center fin (thruster) on an inflatable stand up paddle board (iSUP), and install an iSUP fin box and removable fin.
More information below.
I have a 10' Body Glove Cruiser inflatable stand up paddle board with a small, non-removable tri-fin setup. It's a nice iSUP, but for me to paddle in a straight line, I have to switch sides every two strokes. Very frustrating for the long paddle adventures.
To help with this, and make the iSUP more versatile, I removed the 3" thruster fin and installed an Air 7 fin box system (version 2) with a removable 8" fin.
Tips and Lessons Learned:
1) Determine if you have a PVC or Hypalon iSUP so you can select the correct adhesive for the installation. A quick way to do this is to check your repair kit that came with your iSUP. If the patch is the same color on both sides, odds are it's PVC. If the colors do not match, it's probably Hypalon. As a last resort, you can remove the air valve and look inside the iSUP to check the color.
2) Buy enough of the correct adhesive, and save the small tube of glue that came with the iSUP repair kit for repairs.
3) Once you determine where you want to install the fin box, use tape to temporarily attach the base mount to the iSUP, and dry fit the fin box on the base mount to verify that the location is good. Once the location is good, glue the plastic base mount to the iSUP.
4) When installing the fin box to the base mount, DO NOT glue the plastic base mount and the plastic fin box pieces together. Only apply the adhesive to the fabric, and contact area on the iSUP. If the fin box gets damaged, odds are the base mount will be ok, and all you have to do is replace the fin box/fabric.
![Installing Surfboard Fin Boxes [FCS 2 Fin System]](/img/n.gif)
Just did an install on Performer 11. It went well. Just a word of caution use the heat gun conservatively. Heat a small area ; raise vinyl; pull with pliers; Maximise the pull minimize the heat.
This is awesome. I have the performer 11 as well and thinking to do the same. Great tips and demo. Thanks a lot to make this great video and share with us !
You are welcome Emerok and thank you for your comments! I hope this video encourages you to do the same so you can enjoy your iSUP even more.
Great video dude, I was quite apprehensive about doing this but your video was spot on! I now have a decent quality US box and fin on my SUP!
Hi Scot! Thank you for the comment. I am glad you found this video helpful. I hope you have even more fun times on your SUP! All the best, bobbyV
Hey man this was a great video, big props you did really well. What I would have liked to see if you get the chance would be a riding video difference on control and maneuverability.
Good idea Edwin! I'll work on that.
nicely done
Thank you Scott!
Thank you for this tutorial. I am looking at a used Body Glove Performer 11' for a great price, but was uncertain because of the fins. Problem solved!
You're welcome! I hope your upgraded iSUP works for you as well as it works for me!
@@doitstepbystep3376 so I bought the Body Glove Performer and the guy at the shop suggested that I add a fourth fin instead of replacing the third. I've ordered a fin box and touring fin from Level Six. What do you think; would four fins be too much, or a great improvement over the original design?
@@robfosteris That's a good suggestion, but I am not sure if I personally would like the position of the touring fin location if the original thruster/center fin is in the way. (A quad fin or four fin setup typically does not have two thruster fins. It has a pair of "twin fins" with no "thruster" fin. )
I did notice that the thruster fin of the Performer 11 is placed further back than the thruster fin of my Body Glove Cruiser, so your P11 may track straighter/easier than my Cruiser.
What I would do is try the Performer 11 just like it is and see how you like it. You may be ok with it just like it is without the touring fin.
The cool thing is, if you do remove the original center fin and install the fin box, and you can always buy a shorter fin for shallow water excursions.
@@doitstepbystep3376 I've tried out the Performer 11 and I really liked it in glassy flat conditions. My plan now is to replace the centre fin with the touring fin and possibly get another fin to swap out with it as you suggested. As well as looking wonky, the fourth fin in the centre would make it hard to pack up the board.
@@robfosteris Well done!
Thanks for the great video. Thumbs up from me ;) I was just wondering, has anyone explored the idea of manufacturing a hollow fin, like a sleeve, that we could pull over the rear fin and secure it with a pin? With the advent of 3D printing it should be doable. I would expect that the thickness of the large fin will duble but I don't think that would create too much drag. Thoughts?
Here because my Body Glove performer 11 doesn't track well either. Too bad they didn't come with a fin box.
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I just bought one and was a bit scared of this. Damn. Welp. Guess I got some work to do now replacing that center fin
@@Jose-yx3ek Or not. My older one failed (heat bubble) and I exchanged it for the newer version with the forest decor. Older one had turtle . Anyway, the newer one has wider fins and tracks a tiny bit better. So far, I've not been inspired to change it. Just switch sides more. Part of the reason I think it is harder to paddle straight is the width. Pushes the paddle further to the side and harder to paddle correctly. But it's ok.
Nice job!
Great video, thanks for sharing. i have question though why are you using vinil cement for PVC material? Thanks
@@RomanKundys my iSUP is constructed with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fabric. And the adhesive I used (HH-66) is one of the better choices for this type of material and project. I hope this helps!
Please any chance to do a video on how to install a 2 side small fins to a iSUP with single fin? And a list of materials need? Thanks for the video!
Hi, and thank you for the comment. I can do it and video the installation if one of my local iSUP friends wants the small twin fins added to their iSUP. Until then, we will have to wait.
@@doitstepbystep3376
Cool video. Do you think there is a way to retrofit or convert the smaller side fins to us fin box system? The actual (us fin) box seems quite long and I wonder if there are shorter boxes. I've seen shorter us fin box fins but not shorter boxes and I also wonder if a longer box would impact glide performance.
Thanks for the comment @oBsRVr666 ! I haven't seen smaller fin boxes for iSUPs. But I have seen the Shark foldable fin box. The cool thing about it is it does take US fins! TH-cam search Shark foldable SUP US Fin Box for more details.
I just got the Body Glove Performer 11. Nice board but it does take work to keep it straight. Thanks for this helpful video. How has the performance of your SUP been you added the longer fin?
Hi Gary, Thank you for your comment and question! I have no regrets installing the new fin box and longer fin. The fin is set all the way back so the board tracks straight for longer distances. One thing though. I haven't tried removing the fin and rolling up the iSUP in the bag. I keep my iSUP partially inflated on a rack, not in the storage bag. The fin box may prevent me from rolling it up small enough to store it in the bag that came with it.
@@doitstepbystep3376 This is a factor to consider. Big fin boxes affect the roll up.
@@ceeweedsl True! But if you always store your board rolled up in the bag for extended periods, you risk vinyl cracks from fold lines especially if it is not in an environmentally controlled room.
@@doitstepbystep3376 I think so also. Body glove manual says its fine to store rolledif I remember right, but I feel that lightly inflated is best. In any case I do roll mine up every week for vehicle and backpacking tp the beach.
Amazing video and tios🤙.
I think to add central one to use like a dagger board (when using like a windsup). Can you help me please with some advise, and how to find the right place to stick it.
Thank you .
Hello! Thank you for your comments! In regards to installing a central fin on your iSUP to function as the windsup central fin, I can only recommend searching for inflatable windsups photos, or find a local shop that has an inflatable windsup to mearsure the location of the central fin. If the board length is different than yours, you will have to "ratio" the fin location to the overall length of the board to correctly locate the fin on your board. Best of luck to you!
Are all fixed fins simply glued on?
What different types of glues are needed for different types of boards?
@@saulkravitz I want to say fixed fins are glued on, but there maybe some manufacturers that have molded fins?
Review the video starting at 2:08. I talk about identifying the types of materials, hypalon and pvc, for your iSUP. Then you can get the correct adhesive for your iSUP. Hope that helps!
Do you have a link to where to buy the fin box?
Hi, I bought it on am@zon. You can search there. The seller I bought from looks out of stock.
@@doitstepbystep3376 Thanks for the info! I'm going to add one to my Slingshot Crossbreed so I can use a wing.
Good write-up. Most how-to's are for replacing the original fin box with another one.
I installed air7's on two different paddle boards that used in-house finboxes in their 1st generation models. Since mine used removeable fins, I felt it better to start pulling/heating the fabric from the inner radius close to the fin slot. It lets you be a bit more rough with the removal in the beginning.
As far as finding the center position, I noticed that both my paddle boards had spots in the lettering that indicated the centerline. I'm looking at yours and notice that the middle horizontal line in the letter 'E" in 'CRUISER' may actually be dead-center.
Thanks for taking time to comment and add your helpful tips!
I am planning on doing this on my BodyGlove Performer 11, so virtually identical procedure. Now that some time had passed, do you have any thing you'd do differently, or still follow the steps in the video? Also, what temperature would you recommend for the heat gun?
lekerstein After finding the center of the iSUP, I would probably dry fit the fin box with tape and check the location from all angles. Also, I listed the lessons learned like adhesive selection, and fabric gluing, in the video description. I hope your install goes well!
lekerstein Also, my heat gun only has Low or High selection. I used the Low setting. High would have been too hot🔥
What adhesive did you use for the base plate? I have essentially the same board. Performer 11.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for the question. I used the adhesive that came with the Bodyglove repair kit for the baseplate, which is basically the same as HH-66. If I could do it over again, I would have saved that adhesive for emergency repairs, and used HH-66 vinyl adhesive on the base plate. It is the same adhesive I used for the fabric material of the fin box and on the iSUP.
Do it Step by Step thanks so much! I was struggling to figure out if I should use marine adhesive like 5200 or just the hh-66. Might use this jb waterweld stuff J-B Weld 50172 25 ml. MarineWeld Syringe smile.amazon.com/dp/B00R2CDVIW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6WxmFb9CFAB9Y says it’s good for pvc. Thanks again!
I'm about to do this with my Performer 11 as well. See like everyone else has the same ideas. It's a great board...except that center fin.
Can any one else confirm that we can safely remove that fin using the methods outlined here? Thanks!
Did you find an adhesive that works?
@@jayspeidell I ended up returning it and got a cheapo Amazon board that you can replace the fin. I replaced that one with a longer fin and I love it. Definitely not as stable as the Performer 11 (I fall more often) but a bit more nimble and def faster.