Pros: Simple and easy to switch fins in and out; Wide variety of fins to choose; I’ve never had a plug rip out on me (though I’ve bottomed out on reef several times and had the fin tabs rip out once).

Cons: Deck cracking and pressure dimples around the plugs over time (the fastest that ever happened was the second time I ever used my quad-2 front fin plugs dimpled my deck); I had a hairline crack on the bottom left plug from wear; Fastening screw sometimes loosens over time (check every so often).

Overall, I’m pretty happy with how FCS treated me. No major performance issues noticed even with cracking or dimpling.

With that said, I just changed over to Futures with my latest boards. Main reason: Cracking and dimpling of the x-2 plug. I’ve never tried Fusions but I’m more than willing (seems like a better structural design). I chose futures because I was impressed with the way my 7′2 JC1’s handled this past year. Solid box and fins. Only thing I’m concerned about is a fatal blow to the Future fin box-I hear that’s a death blow to a board. But anyways, I’m cool with pretty much any fin system. FCS and Futures are the most accessable for me at this time.

Peace.

I got a replica shaped up of my usual board but this time opted to a future system setup opposed to my usual fcs. Problem is by old 6′1 (all beat up and water logged) Is easier to generate speed and much more Manoeuvrable and loose compared with my brand new board. I’m sort’ve regretting the change to future fins at this stage cause as far as I can tell it’s the only major difference in my two boards therefore must be the reason for the lack of performance in small pus waves, which I unfortuanately ride alot.

So any suggestions to loosen my board up?

I would recommend the people not use fins at all. Side slip more. The Hobgods think its cool.

A skin to skin connection is theoretically the strongest form of reinforcement for fin systems and fin boxes that experience significant lateral load bearing. After pioneering the method needed to eliminate fin box blowout and failure on windsurfers, we did, indeed find the best method of reinforcement was a skin to skin connection.

However, the problem with the FCS X2 plugs is the lack of reinforcement around the fin plugs and the “H” pattern hat connects to the deck layer: even with a deck patch. Severe lateral torque or a blow to the leading edge or the fin can (and does) result inthe plug punching down below the bottom surface, the O ring of reinforcement cracking, or the corner of the tab slot cracking where the material is very thin adjacent to the perimeter of the plug wall.

I maintain, that in theory, it was a good idea, and overall the plugs handle considerable demands, but if you were to ask any number of surfboard repair shops how often they have to replace cracked FCS plugs, they would tell you it’s pretty common.

How can I make these statments? How do I qualify?

I have spent 40 years in the industry building high performance surfboards and sailboards including operating the busiest repair shop in Santa Barbara throughout the 80’s decade. I also designed and built the 2nd fastest sailboard in the world as clocked by radar.

See this retrospective:

http://www.goletasurfing.com/fowler.html

The double tab system breaks when it should, offering affordable and easy replacement, as well as some placement fore and aft. The system is light weight and very strong including a high density foam piece on each cassette that are available in 0, 5, and 8 degree fin cants.

Fusion is easy to install into shaped blanks, and the system nets a very light strong cosmetically appealing end result in all my custom poly & epoxy surfboards.

I surf every day theres waves and am very hard on my boards, FCS.