INTRODUCTION
Major fin manufacturers are now providing the surfboard industry with high quality fins that are of excellent design, however the full performance potential of these fins is rarely achieved as existing methods of aligning fins and fin plugs have not made the same advancement and are prone to error.

A surfboards ultimate performance can be significantly reduced if its fins are not accurately aligned, as fin alignment, placement and size together contribute to such a large degree of a surfboards overall performance.

FinAlign is a patented all Australian innovation that will ensure perfection in the setup of fin plugs and set fins on all surfboards.

FinAlign achieves this by setting up a common absolutely flat reference plane and a true board centerline above the bottom of the board that together are used to set the rear fin vertical to the reference plan and in exact alignment to the true board centerline. The side fin angle of cant, (typically 6 Degrees) and tow in angle to the true board centerline, can both be set true to the desired degrees.

FinAlign manufactures two jigs, one to use as a fin plug drilling guide, and one for setting fin plugs and/or positioning set fins. Both jigs work on the same principal.

FinAlign Plug Positioning jigs are supplied standard, with tow in angle adjustable side bars that automatically set side fin cant angle at 6 degrees. The 6 degrees insert plates can be exchanged with 5 degrees insert plates that are also included with the jig. Optional insert plates for 4,7 and 8 degree are available.


ADVANTAGES
Perfection
At last perfect fin alignment can be achieved.

Repeatability
Exactly the same fin alignment for individual surfboard models.

Time saving
For the shaper - no need to define fin placement reference lines as a single dot to show the rear position of each fin and a nominated tow in angle is all that is required.
For the laminator – fast set up time, no fin alignment errors.

Set Fins – So Easy!!
Normal set fins, now so easy to perfectly position - no wedges, clamps, putty, sticky-tape and no guesswork.

APPLICATION NOTES
FinAlign is a high precision fin alignment system and applying such a unit to some surfboards may expose shaping irregularities that will effect fin position and alignment such as non-symmetrical plan shapes and twists along the length of the board.

Non- Symmetrical plan shapes:
Shapers who use a blank’s stringer as a centerline reference are prone to producing surfboards with plan shapes that are not truly symmetrical, since stringers are not a reliable centerline reference. This effects fin positions whereby the two side fins are not truly opposite to one another in relation to the center fin’s position.
The rear or center fin will also be aligned to the line of the stringer rather than the true board centerline.
For esthetical reasons these practices in surfboard shaping are more often used than not, producing surfboards that do not have their fins accurately aligned to the working area of the surfboard resulting in the reduction of the surfboards ultimate performance.
With surfboards that are not symmetrical a compromise may be necessary during the fin placement procedure between esthetic looks and accurate alignment.

Twists:
Twist throughout the surfboards length are relatively common and in some cases when the FinAlign unit is in place there may be a noticeable gap distance difference at either end of the rear cross bar and the underside rails of the surfboard. It may be necessary to tilt the front of the FinAlign unit to average out this discrepancy. This will help to better align the fins to the underside rear or working surface area of the surfboard.


DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Hole Drilling Jig
Place the FinAlign Hole Drilling Jig in position by placing the unit on the upturned surfboard with front and rear cross bar slide clamps loosened and at their maximum width limits and with all cross bar clamp, and hole guide grip knobs loosened such that the jig components can slide with assistance but are not completely loose.

Center the front cross bar then position the center fin hole guide so that the dot on the board, that indicates the rear position of the center fin, is in the center of the V-notch in the drill guide.

Position the front cross bar so that it is exactly centered across the surfboard then gently slide the crossbar slide clamps into position and lock them in place.

Recheck the position of the center fin hole guide V-notch, then gently lock the slide clamps on the rear crossbar. Position both side fin hole guides again using the fin position dots on the board and the notches in the guides.

Note that these side fin hole guides have square notches on the front and rear of the guide and the guide is normally positioned so the corner of the notch closest to the board centerline, and the board’s side fin position dot are aligned.
If the shaper has also marked fin position lines, both front and rear notches can be used for fin plug hole alignment.

Once one side hole guide is fully locked in position using the grip knobs, note the front and rear cross bar settings. The remaining side fin hole guide once positioned, should have similar settings unless the boards fin placement markings are non symmetrical.

The difference between the front and rear cross bar settings is an indication of tow in angle. Using this difference reading, the actual tow in angle in degrees can be read from the table on the FinAlign unit.
If the shaper has marked the fin positions only (no lines) and specified an angle of tow in, the FinAlign table can be used to determine the difference in the front and rear cross bar settings necessary to achieve this angle.
Once all hole guides are in place ensure that all grip knobs are tight before gently drilling each hole.

Plug Setting Jig
A. For Removable fin plugs
Load the jig dummy fins with fin plugs, then set up the Plug Setting Jig on the upturned surfboard in a similar manner to the Hole Drilling Jig, starting with positioning the center fin plug guide, then each side guide. Use the manufacturers normal instructions to position the dummy fins. (FCS and Raptor guides are similar)
Double check that all dummy fins c/w plugs are in position and all grip knobs are tight before marking the rear position of the center fin plug guide.
Lift the entire jig away so as to install resin dams and to partially fill all holes with resin.
Gently replace the jig back to the previous position by aligning the rear of the center dummy fin to the mark.
Once the resin sets the jig can be removed leaving the dummy fins in place until the resin hardens completely.

B. For Set (Glass-on) fins
For set fins, the fins are loaded into the jig in place of dummy fins and set in position using the shapers fin position reference dots and specified toe in angle or with the shapers fin position lines. Once the fins are aligned, secure all grip knobs and remove the jig and fins so that a suitable adhesive can be applied to the base of the fins or on the board at the fin locations or both. Gently replace the jig and adjust the center fin to its final location.
Allow the adhesive to dry before removing the jig from the fins.