Installing a Fin

The fin is glued in with a clear silicone sealant available at paint and hardware stores.   Make sure the one you choose is waterproof.   We use the brand ‘GE’ door and window sealant “Silicone II”.

 To remove the fin use pliers or vice-grips.  Grab the fin’s back corner using a piece of cloth to protect the fin.  Gently and firmly pull.  If it’s very stubborn, very carefully slide a putty knife in between the fin and the silicone to help break it free.  This is a deliberate, gentle process.   You don't want to ding your hull!

 To replace the fin, clean out the old silicone in the slot with a putty knife or razor blade. We find that the end of a smal plastic fin works really well because it is about the right width.  Clean up any left-over silicon with denatured alcohol. 

Tape around the slot in the hull with masking tape.  Generally we leave about 1/4" gap between the slot and the masking tape.  You're going to fillet the silicone between the fin and the hull so you don't want the tape to be right next to the fin.

Fill slot with silicone and press fin into slot.  Remove excess silicone with a rubber spatula or putty knife.  Carefully smooth the excess silicone.

 Place a piece of masking tape across the fin to hold in place while drying.  To do this, start by sticking the tape to the hull away from the fin.  Run the tape up across the top of the fin and back down to the hull on the other side.   You can sort of pinch the tape to one side of the fin or the other to get it perfectly vertical.

Allow to dry 24 hours.

Copyright:  Maas Boat Company, Inc.  2003