I’ve never been a huge fan of the current surfboard fin systems available.

Everyone’s got a favorite

To the uninitiated, there are basically two big players in the “fin system” market currently: FCS and Futures. They are the iPhone and Android of the Surfboard Fin World, and have superfans who are just as rabid. Once you pick a fin system to go into your board, you’re stuck with fins made for that system. It’s like only shopping at Google Play for eternity. Great.

FCS has upgraded their systems recently to allow you to snap in your fin without needing the tiny screws anymore. Supposedly.

Lost one of my special FCS II compatible quad fins that way during a surf, so now I’m back to the tiny freakin’ screws set into the old crappy plastic box. And these other quads STILL back out on me, causing the fin to begin to lift out of the box. I discovered this happening again the other day:

This keeps on happening

It’s absolutely absurd to pay this much money for screws that back out, systems that don’t latch, plus the cost of lost fins, which get hella pricey. No wonder FCS has a whole page dedicated to replacement FCS fins. Hmmmm….it’s not because yer a gnar shredda, brah.

Once again, I went back to the online hardware store to find some screws- some call them “grub” screws- a bit longer than the others made of quality 316 stainless steel that are MUCH cheaper than what FCS and Futures sells these for in surf shops.

Link to the screws I bought online here– I don’t get anything for this, it’s just info.

The ones I ordered are da best since they’re not marked up 1000%

Share with ya friends, wanker

These still sit flush when screwed in, and maybe they might have a better chance of staying in. And now when I lose one, it won’t cost a fortune. I have some boards that use Futures Fins, which only require one screw, but it’s the same length as the one I ordered, but I believe these are better quality for approximately 10 cents each. Sooooo much cheaper.

Doesn’t stick out

I replaced all eight

I really wish these companies would step up their game since they seem to be monopolies in the surfing world, much like Clark Foam was years ago.

The Surf Industry is just like any other industry, though….

And people take me to the cleaners daily