How to Attach your Paddleboard Fin
There are multiple different types of fin. This post is about the type that has fin hardware to attach. There are some other types of fins that have a clip, but all of our boards have this so that’s what we’re going to talk about.
As far as the hardware goes you have a washer and you have a thumbscrew. Some hardware uses a regular screw where you need an actual screwdriver, but most fins today are coming out with thumbscrews so that you can attach your fin with your fingers.
We are going to start by putting the washer in. On your fin box there is going to be one wider spot right in the middle. That’s where the washer is going to go in and then you’re going to push it towards the front of the board. You can just use your thumb screw to kind of guide it to the front of the board.
Now we’re going to grab our fin. At the back of the fin there is a little guide. That guide is going to go in first right in the center and then you’re going to slide it back and push the front part forward. Now, some of them you really have to get pushed down and it’ll kind of clip in. Others you just set it down and it’ll stay just like that.
Now I’m going to use my thumb screw again to guide my washer right underneath the front of the fin, so that the holes match up and i can tighten my thumb screw down.
If you do not have one that needs a screwdriver to tighten and you do just have the thumb screw, you may want to use a set of pliers to really tighten it up if you’re going to leave your fin on for long periods of time. That way you know that it’s nice and tight.
As far as where you want the fin in the fin box, sometimes the fin box is longer than the fin itself. If you put the fin right in the middle, it’s going to be the best of both worlds but if you have it further forward it’s going to make the board turn easier. If you have it further back then the board’s going to track straighter in the water.
To take the fin off you’re just going to unscrew the thumbscrew. Then you’re going to push down on the fin so that the front of the fin pops out. Then you’re going to slide that guide forward to the middle so that you can remove it. To get the washer out you can just use your thumbscrew and screw it a little bit to latch onto the washer so that you can pull it out. It’s then best to store the hardware on the fin so that you don’t lose it.
If your board has thrusters that are detachable you’re going to have to use a fin key to unscrew it. Thrusters are great for ocean surf when you have to make quick, tight turns. Using the fin key you’re going to unscrew the small screw that you find at the front of the thruster. You’re not going to want to unscrew it all the way, just enough to lift the front up. To take the thruster out it’s the same as a fin: you pop the front up first and then slide the back of the fin forward until it can be pulled out.