Aftermarket Surfboard Fins...

Longboard Fins... Either beautiful hand laid coloured fibreglass or the cheaper moulded polycarbonate, these fins are a pretty universal fit for the larger central fin-box found on most single fin and 2+1 Performance set-ups.

Exact fit may vary slightly due to the different boxes made over the years so a certain amount of "fettling" is sometimes required. This may involve a little sanding to the base of the fin if it's tight (washing-up liquid can help) or a strip or two of masking tape down side of the base if it's a little loose.

If the screw won't reach the plate, prop the plate up from underneath with a ball of surf wax or rolled up masking tape until the screw "catches". To help line them up working directly under a singe lightsource helps. If the holes are slightly out of line tilt the board and gently thump it with the side of your hand until the holes line up. Oiling the screw and plate before fitting will help big-time months or years later if you want to remove the fin again for any reason.

FCS style... The beautiful hand laid fibreglass ones are stronger so are harder to snap off but are a little more likely to damage the plugs because of this. Whatever you use take care not to overtighten the grubscrews as it strips the threads.

Don't be put off by any of the above... most go straight in and those (box-fins) that don't are easily adapted.... a nice aftermarket fin (or finset) makes a great present and enhances the appearance (and value) of any board. They might just improve your surfing too.

Left... 2+1 or Performance Mal Set-up. Right... FCS Fin & Slots.

Bodyboarding Swimfins

Buy with neoprene sox as a matched set.. you will need the sox for warmth and comfort, the Swimfins will rub you raw without them. If you intend to surf in the winter you can try and go oversize with your swimfins and wear them with boots... again buy as a matched set. This isn't the easiest thing to do as you need to find the softest soled boot to make this comfortable. Once you have found a suitable combination you will have to wear that Summer and Winter unless you can afford two sets in both sizes required. Don't forget to get some Fin-Savers at the same time. These are little Leashes that prevent you losing your Swimfins in a big Wipe-Out.

We give free Fin-Savers (worth £5.95) to our customers when buying Swimfins with Sox or Boots.

If you forget your sox, ordinary domestic socks will stop the chaffing but will not keep you warm. The Swimfins will be a bit loose but it works in an emergency. If you have been foolish enough to buy Swimfins as a perfect fit on naked feet then again, domestic socks might well help. In this case you can try and retro-fit neoprene sox (thinner 3mm ones might work) but you do risk adding foot-cramp to your other Swim-fin inflicted woes... chaffing, calf-cramp, thigh cramp, hip cramp etc. etc.

Coming soon... A Boot/Sox Hybrid made using 5mm Kevlar Neoprene which in principle sounds like a great idea!