System
The feel of a glass-on fin with the ability to ride a variety of upgrade fins
Fin Boxes
Future fin boxes are the most user friendly and strongest removable fin system available on the market. The system offers all the positive features of removable fins, while providing better performance than glass-on fins.
Full Base - The fin is connected to the board along the entire base. This amounts to 60% more attachment than plug systems.
Flange – The flange around the box creates surface area that strengthens the bond to the fiberglass which is the where the strength of a board comes from.
The patented design makes for the quickest and easiest installation process available.
Truss Base
We removed as much weight as possible while keeping the maximum amount of stiffness
When the tang (or base of fin) is clamped in the box with the set screw the tang is compressed horizontally. This compressive force is dissipated by the trusses into the solid base of the fin. The trusses act as I –Beams with their long axis running the width of the tang. The long axis of the truss resists lateral loading on the fin during surfing keeping the base extremely stiff. The use of Truss and I-beam technology gives the base of the fin a maximum stiffness to weight ratio. This enables Futures to have 60% more base than plug systems while still remaining extremely light and stiff.
Weight
Futures is the lightest system because of a pre-glass install that bonds to the fiberglass of the board.
This is a comparison of Plug systems vs the Future System. The systems were removed from actual boards.
Elements of the board that would be in the board with or without the system were removed in order to make the test as even as possible. All resin used in installation is kept attached.
The foam under the plugs on the side plugs was removed as well as the stringer attached to the center plugs.
Total weight of Plug system is 2 grams heavier. Approximately the weight of half of a nickel.
It is worth noting that plug systems need to bond to the deck of the board or the stringer to have any strength. This means that the more volume in the tail, the heavier the plug system becomes. Also the side fins and quad rear plugs will be heavier than the center in the picture because they need to have the bond to the deck on the opposite side of the board becuase they do not have the stringer to bond to.
Natural VS. Unnatural Tail Flex and Power Transfer
Have you ever heard of a board with Glass-ons having unnatural tail flex? At Futures we think that natural tail flex, and more importantly power transfer, have been happening for more than 60 years, ever since board builders have been glassing on fins. If you want a board that has tail flex and power transfer like glass-ons, you want a board with Futures.
Futures Full Base Attachment
- Power Transfer
Glass-ons and Future's have a full base attachment. This means the board's tail and fins flex efficiently together, and there is a direct and complete power transfer at the board fin interface. During turns you want your fins to be locked to your board so that every bit of power and drive is transferred from your fins to your board and down the line!
- Hydrodynamic Efficiency
As the board flexes the fins stay completely connected along their base and the water flow around the fins is efficient and no turbulence is created. This is important because turbulence creates drag and kills the lift created by the fin surface.
- Tail Strength
The tail of the surfboard is constantly stressed from back foot pressure and Futures and glass-ons strengthen and support it. Installed Futures remove less stringer than plug systems and are a lap-joint laminate construction of foam, box, and fiberglass that reinforces the tail and maintains natural flex.
- Decreased Drive
Unlike Glass-ons partial base systems do not match the natural flex of the board. Even more importantly the fin flexes independent of the board. This means that when the fin is under load the power is not directly transferred to the board resulting in loss of drive and power.
- Hydrodynamic Inefficiency
When the fins do not have a complete connection at the base the water flow (and kelp) gets caught in the spaces or gaps and becomes turbulent. The result is inefficient water flow and loss of speed, power, and drive.
- Weaken Tail
Fin plugs critically weaken tail strength by removing two sections of stringer, the spine of your boards flex, and then adding brittle, butt-joint, non flexing pools of resin and plastic. This leaves the tail drastically weakened and prone to tail cracking from back foot pressure.
