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Powerbox adapter
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rhorton1



Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Posts: 88

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:27 pm    Post subject: Powerbox adapter Reply with quote

All this talk about fins has me wondering..... Are there any fin manufacturers that sell an adapter to convert a given fin to Powerbox? I understand it may not be a bolt-on part (I don't mind doing a little cutting/fiberglassing), but I don't know if I can correctly shape my tuttle box fin into a powerbox with only sandpaper and a rasp. The other option of making a mould and fabricating the powerbox myself sounds messy, and I don't know if I could get the geometry right....

IIRC, such adapters used to be made, but I can't seem to find them for sale anymore.
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U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

their were adapters , since powerbox requires a hole thru the deck to secure the bolt from top of the deck thru into the fin, an adapter does not sound realistic to me.
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rhorton1



Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Posts: 88

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This would be to take one of my old tuttle box fins and use it on my current powerbox board. No holes being drilled on the board.... just modifying the fin!
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spennie



Joined: 13 Oct 1995
Posts: 975
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tuttle to Powerbox can be done, I've done it many times, but it requires skills (35 years as professional carpenter), a good table saw with a carbide blade, the ability to solve problems and make jigs, balls to do semi-dangerous stuff with the table saw, and a total disregard for one's health (cutting fiberglass on a table saw).

No way to describe the whole process here, and no, I won't do it for you, but I will give you one tip: With the fin straight up, the saw should be tilted 7 degrees. You can fill in any mistakes you make with Bondo, usually.

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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The old adapters were to make US base fins into Trim, Tuttle, or PowerBox. I still have one, works fine.
Cutting and milling a Tuttle into a PB would be lots more work than worth your efforts. You would work more than 10 hours to adapt it, time spent you would have making $$$$$ at your job to BUY a fin.
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spennie



Joined: 13 Oct 1995
Posts: 975
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ZIRTAEB is absolutely correct, it's not worth the effort unless you're broke and have a really good fin to convert, and your own table saw. All I was really trying to say is it can be done.
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U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

rhorton1 wrote:
This would be to take one of my old tuttle box fins and use it on my current powerbox board. No holes being drilled on the board.... just modifying the fin!


ahhh haaa

ok, this may be possible to try as it means altering the tuttle base (more work if its a deep tuttle) to fit the powerbox and you would still still have to fit a center screw cup into the fin base.

If powerbox fins weren't so easy to find I may attempt this, zirtaeb is correct IMO.

I would use a angle grinder and sander to fit, then drill the hole for the screw cup.

or watch reruns of Gillian's Island instead

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gobbdogg



Joined: 28 Sep 2008
Posts: 163

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've converted a Tuttle to PB also- no saw involved- grind down the base, notch it, drill for the insert and if your grinding ain't perfect, take some Marine Tex and slather it on the base- stuff it in the box after covering it with saran wrap and make sure the fin is perpendicular to the board- let it cure and sand it up and you are good to go- took about an hour and a half... yes, I'm a highly skilled craftsman and artist, but it's not that hard- and I won't cut fiberglass on my Powermatic table saw.. beats wasting a Tuttle fin you like.
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Might be a slight exageration. MarineTex by itself hardens in 15 minutes, but would take about 6 hours before you can sand it without gumming up the sandpaper.
All that fiberglass shards in your wrists must be really comfortable.
And breathing razor sharp shards is a good thing for you lungs, great for your eyes and ears too.
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rhorton1



Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Posts: 88

PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice. Thank you for all the info. It sounds like it will be a project regardless of how I do it. Definitely something to keep me busy during the upcoming winter months though! I'll keep an eye out for one of those US to powerbox adapters... might be easier to just shave down the tuttle head to the size of a US box and then slap on an adapter.
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