taking removable fin systems to the next level

Under-the-glass

Boxes are placed beneath the glass to ensure structural integrity and a watertight installation.

Adjustability

The system provides 3/8" of adjustment for precise fine-tuning, which greatly influences performance.

Strength

The system's design emphasizes strength in every aspect. The elliptical shape maximizes stability while effectively distributing loads.

Easy Install

The box features a unique dam shape that facilitates effortless installation, allowing the glass to drape over it smoothly. It uses a single rout installation method.

Details

All the information about the system and its groundbreaking dam.

By simplifying the system, we have improved its accessibility. We have enhanced the installation process, making it much easier to achieve a secure and sturdy installation.

Our redesign centered on three key factors: adjustability, simplicity, and strength.

Importantly, the box slot is designed to accommodate DUAL TAB and GEARBOX bases, excluding FUTURES bases.

Anatomy of a GB24 Box

A look at all of the high-level details of the box design.

Details of the GB24 box

Adjustment

Adjusting a fin system enables a board to be better tuned to the conditions or the fins.

It enhances a board's capability, enabling it to manage a broader range of conditions with the same set of fins.

The system now features 3/8" / 9.5 mm, double what the previous version offered. With the new system, a quad setup achieves up to 3/4" / 19 mm spread. This adjustment range expands the number of combinations possible with a few sets of fins.

Read our Fin Primer for more information on the results of various adjustment changes and how they affect a board's performance.

Simplicity

Every change to the box was focused on improving its strength and durability.

The design focused on making the system as simple as possible.

This ensured that anyone could achieve a tight and robust installation. It needed to be effortless. This was accomplished with the unique shape of the dam. Compared to the previous version, the dam was streamlined by removing the cover and solidifying the flange. The top of the box was made more universally shaped, allowing it to work for both side and center boxes.

Creating foam collars was simplified by utilizing an elliptical shape for the bottom of the box. However, the main simplification was the dam's shape, which allowed for the elimination of specific screw posts, thereby enhancing the dam's universality. This shape facilitated a clean installation with no air gaps.

Strength

The design concentrated on simplifying the system as much as possible.

The shape was modified to a true ellipse, ideal for load distribution and enhanced stability. The elliptical design was extended to the bottom of the box, providing additional stability.

The unique form of the dam contributes to its strength. It is elliptically shaped, and once sanded down, the remaining profile contributes to the stiffness of the box's top. Finally, the length of the box was increased to accommodate longer flange overhangs at both the front and rear, ensuring greater strength against frontal or rear impacts.

The flange includes lengthwise grooves to enhance the mechanical bond between the lamination and the box. Several resin vents along its edge allow the resin to escape from the cavity, improving the mechanical bond between the flange and the foam. Similarly, the bottom of the box features multiple slits at its widest point, which, when filled with resin, strengthen the bond to the foam.

Dam

The new system's revolutionary feature is the shape of the dam on top of the flange.

For an under-the-glass fin system, a dam is needed to elevate the grub screws above the level of the bottom glass layer. When the board is sanded, this dam is revealed, allowing access to the screws. Fin systems feature flat dams with steep sides, making the lamination process challenging. They have protrusions in the dam outline to accommodate the screws, further complicating the procedure.

We took a radically different approach with GB24. The dam is not only elliptical but a cylindrical ellipse (think of a cucumber). This design makes it effortless to laminate over the box since the cloth can drape over the dam without any flat surfaces. There are no areas for air to become trapped.

The laminator is spared the effort of chasing air at the base of the dam. Additionally, the grub screws are positioned on the side of the dam and thus do not require any protrusions.

There is nothing but smooth curves to laminate over in this dam design. Once the dam is sanded down, it leaves behind a clean, elliptical outline. This means it is much easier to laminate over the box with color, as there are no spaces for the resin to pool, affecting color consistency.

This shape allows the cloth to be partially left on the dam, resulting in a much tighter installation. The flange grooves extend onto the dam to ensure a mechanical bond all the way around.

Flange

The flange is essential in a box meant to fit under the glass.

The shape was changed to a true ellipse, which is ideal for load distribution and enhancing stability. This shape extends to the bottom of the box, where the elliptical design further contributes to stability.

The dam's unique configuration bolsters its strength. It is elliptically shaped, and once it has been sanded down, the remaining profile contributes to the stiffness of the box's top.

Finally, the length of the box was extended to accommodate longer flange overhangs at the front and back, providing greater strength against frontal or rear impacts.

The flange features lengthwise grooves to enhance the mechanical bond between the lamination and the box.

Several resin vents along its edge allow the resin to escape from the cavity, boosting the mechanical bond between the flange and the foam.

Similarly, the bottom of the box contains several resin traps at its widest point, which, when filled with resin, strengthen the bond to the foam.

Bottom

The new system features a distinctive bottom shape that aligns with the design.

Unlike standard fin systems, the bottom of the GB24 box is not rectangular and parallel-sided.

Instead, like all other aspects of the box, it is elliptical. This shape provides greater strength and adds extra stability to the box once installed.

The wide point area of the bottom features several resin traps, which help bond the box to the surrounding foam, further enhancing its stability.

Foam Collar

A foam collar is included in the system for added support in low-density foam.

The foam collar serves multiple purposes. It streamlines the installation process by allowing a single routing operation.

It enhances the installation by supporting the box flange with higher-density foam. Finally, the denser material provides additional stability to an EPS installation.

The foam collar is made from PET foam derived from recycled water bottles.

Routing System

A comprehensive routing system is provided to streamline the installation process.

The GB24 routing system provides a simple and cost-effective installation mechanism. A single configuration includes everything needed to install the system successfully.

The router jig guides the router during cavity creation. A replacement base for our standard Makita routers is available with or without a bushing guide. It is wider than the standard base for improved stability.

The provided router bit has a bearing that guides the router around the inside of the jig. The jig's guide is a phenolic insert, which is very durable and less susceptible to damage. It is also replaceable should it be damaged.

A layout guide fits inside the router jig to assist in positioning the jig on the shaper's marks. A depth gauge is also used to set the router bit's depth in the router correctly.

The system includes a TRIM SPACER that utilizes the router to facilitate the removal of excess dam material after installation. Thus, the amount of grinding required is minimized.

The router jig features a versatile alternate attachment mechanism: two detachable tabs on each end. These tabs can be easily anchored to the surfboard with masking tape. They are removable if needed.

Evolution of a fin system

GB24 takes the GEARBOX fin system to the next level, adding simplicity, adjustability, strength, and ease of installation.

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GEARBOX Surf Hawai'i
Hanalei, Kauai

+1 808 639 5303

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NSW, Australia

+61 243 399 580

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