Slalom Fin Protectors

[Tomcfitz]

So I was bored in class, and decided to CAD up a slalom fin cover in solidworks. I sent the design to a 3d printing service.

 

Anyway, you can buy them from the link below. I don't make any profit from the sales, and if you guys want, I can add in a logo of your choosing.

 

http://www.shapeways.com/shops/TFitzgerald

 

 

But it does make me curious: what do you guys use to protect your fin?

[Fatroll]

http://finfirkin.us/

 

[Wish]

I'm with @Fatroll. Without a doubt a great design. It does not utilize the fin to hold it on in any way shape or form. The fin is completely suspended inside the shaped tube, wing and all. Nice padding to protect the contact with the ski and brutally tough. The price cant be beat. Never go anywhere without my finfirkin. Bazar name...great product.

[Chef23]

I use the finfirkin also.

[MrJones]

I used a finfirkin once. The padding did not fully cover the edge of the PVC and it scratched up (albeit lightly) my Goode. Never used it again. I have 2 and will sell 'em cheap if anyone wants.

[Wish]

@MrJones I will take them both. PM me.

[MrB]

I use the card board tube from a carpet roll. I cut a piece to the size I need. Some times I insert over a ski sock other times I slide over the ski and insert ski in the bag/tube. Does not cost anything and won't scratch.

[Jody_Seal]

This one does double duty and fits over a slalom bag or sock!

http://www.zappos.com/trigger-point-the-grid-orange?ef_id=UsBI2wAAAQT1uyMW:20140407205302:s

[firkinguy]

MR Jones,

 

Sorry to hear about the felt not covering all of the area contacted buy the ski inside the Finfirkin. If you will send me your address, I will send you out replacement felt (oversized) at no cost to you.

[teammalibu]

@Jody_Seal great suggestion amazon will proly drop mine off before I finish typing!

[Razorskier1]

I use a firkin. I've had one of them crack. Not sure what happened to it. Possible, I suppose, that someone stepped on it. Still, like the design. Had used a wooden fin block and had two fins bent in the block because it relies on the fin to protect the fin.

[Waternut]

I had some issues with the felt as well on the fin firkin. One side was coming off and getting glue all over my ski. The other side just wasn't large enough to cover. I made the swap to some hydroturf or blacktip traction pad, added a little piece up front, and it's been great. I did have a friend jam it on my ski a little too far which cracked it but it still serves it's purpose. Something to consider @firkinguy. Awesome buy either way though!

 

@Tomcfitz Good to see you coming up with new stuff. We need people like you. In this case, there are already a lot of really good options for really cheap. Might be cool for the person looking for personal logos or monograms though.

[webbdawg99]

Firkin Fin!!!!

 

I emailed him asking if the firkin would fit over a ski sock. His response?? He went and found a ski like mine and a ski sock.....and custom made one!! He sent it to me saying, "if you don't like it, you don't have to pay me". Needless to say, it fit great.....and now I'm a huge fan!!!!

[tfriess]

Recently just bought a FinFirkin..Love the name. Great product. The only thing I noticed that with a slightly wider tail of the Senate-C, it does fit rather tight and takes some force to get it on the ski.

[countymountie]

@triess warm it up in the microwave. You don't want it hot, just warm. I was able to get one on a Theory afew years back no problems. Now I use Eagle's ski sock with the built in tube.

 

[ToddL]

Maybe Eagle could make their ski socks/bags with a FinFirkin option... @Eagle1

[Razorskier1]

@Jody_Seal -- I bought one of those after I saw yours at SkiWatch last fall. I use it when I travel for work too -- it is my "travel back roller".

[Jody_Seal]

Dang! @Bishop8950 gave me a thumbs down! whats up with that?

We do have a few of the finFirkin units around, Michele has one for her ski and Steve-O for his. For me though it is hard to stretch out and loosen up on a finFirkin before I ski, it just don't roll right.

[skibumm]

I use the grid daily. I train a ton of cardio running, biking, and swimming and the grid is the best there is for rolling out before and esspecially after a hard effort. I am sure I would be always in pain with out it. Now I am going out to see if it fits over my ski in the bag as that is a great idea

[Chuck_Dickey]

@Tomcfitz‌

How is this guard secured to the ski, interference fit? I have the attached and it is a bit of a trick to getting the fin in the slot because of the strong interference fit. I like this style but with a slightly wider slot.

 

 

http://www.perfski.com/Waterskis/Waterski-Accessories/Kepchia-ABS-Fin-Protector.html?CFID=22429707&CFTOKEN=feb93827843302da-9869095C-5056-8800-783EA4841463E37F

[webbdawg99]

@Chuck_Dickey, I bought that fin guard and immediately sent it back. It is WAY too tight on the fin AND scratches the bottom of your ski

[MattP]

I have one like @Chuck_Dickey‌ posted. I think it was $20 on SIA. I added the soft side of velcro to the top to prevent the scratching. Works great but I may go for a FinFurKin at some point.

[bishop8950]

@Jody_Seal it was a mistake. Smartphone clumsy thumbs. If someone can point me to instructions to do so I will remove it.

[chris_logan]

@bishop8950 just click it again

[bishop8950]

@chris_logan, thanks

@Jody_Seal I replaced my dislike with an awesome to make up for it!

[Jody_Seal]

@bishop8950 I knew my post did not suck that bad, Smart phones are not so smart after all!

[Tomcfitz]

@Chuck_Dickey‌

 

There is a slot in the bottom I'm planning on putting a velcro strap through.

[MattP]

@Tomcfitz‌ come to whitestone this weekend and I'll show you mine!

[Tomcfitz]

Haha, Mine will be there too, UPS has it being delivered tomorrow!

 

I wouldn't miss Whitestone for anything! I'm pissed I had to miss Tenn.

[webbdawg99]

Whitestone rules! ;)

[MAD11]

An eagle ski sock with the built in fin protector isn't a heck of a lot more than that and kills two birds with one stone. Nice design though.

[SkiJay]

I've got just about every fin protector ever sold. The one I keep going back to is by Reflex. It's not the cheapest, but it protects the whole tail of the ski, it protects the fin and wing from all angles, it is soft enough to never mark the ski, and it's really light.

 

http://reflexwaterskiusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/EVA-Water-Ski-Fin-Protector-700x600.jpg

[ral]

@SkiJay‌ , and because your Warp is worth it...

[Tomcfitz]

Well damn. I apparently messed up my measurements, or the 3d printer messed up. But it's WAY too small. Oops.

[ToddL]

Old thread resurrection. The Fin Firkin fits perfectly into the Eagle neoprene ski sock. Just pull out the original Eagle fin protector and push in the Fin Firkin. Works perfectly. @firkinguy

[A_B]

He also has one for the wider Senates. They also float now. Fits easily into my Radar slalom bag. Good product.

[oldjeep]

The skidoc fits on a senate. No idea if it floats though.

[ToddL]

Fin Firkin also fit into the D2 neoprene sock my son uses. So, now it is a ski sock with fin protector, too.

[greg]

A testament to the Fin Firkin, I recently backed over a ski with the Firkin in place. The ski is history, broken just in front of the fin. The Firkin did crack as well but the fin was totally protected and now in use on another ski.

[chris55]

I have to say that the Reflex fin protector is really nice and totally agree with Skijay

[WaterSkier12]

Coleman coolers, -1/2 gallon, handle fits with the Velcro straps in a sock or the strap on a bag.

Cheap and easy

[skiboat38]

Fin Firkin is the way to go.....I was at Firkin International the other night and got to see some of the product development going on daily. Due to a bet I also received the first floating Firkin signed by the CEO. Since his injury all of his efforts have been in his products and maintaining a Level 9 smartass rating. Now with a floating Firkin his sales tactics of kicking Firkins off the dock are useless and the Board of Directors will be raising the price a little to offset the decline in repeat customers.

[BlueSki]

One of the guys I ski with accidentally left his fin firkin on his ski before a set. He got up and made it around the turn island three times, falling on his pull out for the gates each time. He finally got back on the boat and noticed. It had stayed on his ski. He did lose his firkin about a month later when he dropped it in the lake. His new one has a special warning label to help encourage removal before skiing.

[mcvoska]

Could I pay for design specs, and make it myself with a 3D printer I have access? Then I'm not worried about shipping. I'd like to bring my ski to Florida in 2 weeks.

[skimtb]

He can shop quick. Find his address online.

[skimtb]

Grrr. Ship quick.

[BlueSki]

D3 sells them directly now as well.

[skialex]

@mcvoska finfirkin is a piece of plastic pipe ingeniously molded to fit the tail of the ski protecting without touching the fin or fin clump. This is very good because you can not push the fin protector against the fin and also let the fin/clump area to dry.

I’m not sure if a printed one can be as durable as the plastic pipe.

Where are you? If you are in Europe I can send you one, (I have a few) without worrying about import taxes.

 

[aupatking]

Has anyone used the finfirkin with the CG fin? I’m roughly familiar with the finfirkin, as in, I’ve seen it on people’s skis, but am wondering how it fits with the lower wing on the CG.

I’m finding the lower wing doesn’t like all fin protectors

[skialex]

@aupatking I run a standard fin/wing but I took a picture of my finfirkin for you to see and I believe that you will be fine with the CG fin and the lower wing.