New FCS Systems?

[prjwebb]

Anyone seen the FCS II and FCS Origin systems?

They both look pretty familiar...

[Slowman]

Yes saw this as I subscribe to surfboard warehouse...FCS II looks good and the FCS Origin look like the Soar Powerbases. Looks like my old FCS fins will fit into the new FCS II plugs I think.

[prjwebb]

Yeah and the II system is like the Fin-S system. Keyless is no biggy for me but if more boards are available with the 'origin' system it should accommodate my powerbase fins nicely :)

[Chris]

they are super sick systems. I was really impressed. I spend a good bit of time with the FCS crew at expo and got a good idea what is going on. You will be stoked!!

[prjwebb]

What's the score as far as stock boards and fin systems? will the fcsII be standard or will you be making boards with II, Orign and Futures? Will Fusions be obsolete now? Seems like it could be an inventory nightmare if all systems are in play!

[Chris]

the new FCS finboxes won't have an impact on the boards we already make with futures. Basically the FCS II system is slated to be the new box by FCS so you will see that enter the market as the dominant tech in stock boards. the origin will be more athlete, special and custom order. This is industry wide.

[prjwebb]

That sounds like a good strategy.
Cheers Chris

[Slowman]

Interesting, I know a few people including my local shaper that file out the tabs and the boxes a tad to get some "adjustability" in their fin placement for various waves. Local shaper reckons 5-7mm is enough to make some difference. Looks like FCS II will put an end to that.

[Chris]

yeah slowman, honestly the concept is a great one, but the issue is the screws put grooves in the fin tabs and the result is, if you slide that fin all the way back and tighten the screw, it grabs the old grooves and slides the fin forward. In the end, it was really hard to precisely control that motion. I think the decision was a system that made using multiple fin shapes a breeze vs moving fins within a box. just my take though...

[Slowman]

yeah slowman, honestly the concept is a great one, but the issue is the screws put grooves in the fin tabs and the result is, if you slide that fin all the way back and tighten the screw, it grabs the old grooves and slides the fin forward. In the end, it was really hard to precisely control that motion. I think the decision was a system that made using multiple fin shapes a breeze vs moving fins within a box. just my take though...

Yes Chris it's an issue that can be addressed; the fins naturally move forward on the left side and backwards on the right side (looking at bottom of the board from the tail) because of the clockwise screw movement as they tighten. This can be avoided by filing out the box/tab just enough to so that the grub screw hits "fresh meat" on the tab, as well as holding the fins and doing up the screws incrementally together rather than one at a time.