One "Trippy" Cassette
A WakeWorld How-To
Date: 5/22/02
Concept & Photos: Mike Scott
Technical Writer: Alexandra Scott
Related Items:
One "Trippy" Cassette Photo Gallery
Many time, when flipping though a wakeboarding magazine or watching some of the newer wakeboarding videos, you see the pros riding their wakeskates finless. I guess they are doing this because it gives them the most freedom to do the surface tricks that they want to without having to worry about getting caught up on the fins. Well, since I am not good enough to go finless myself, I thought I would try something in between the stock fins and going completely finless.
I came up with a four-fin design for my 2001 Cassette that utilized the smaller, outside fins from a Liquid Force Trip. The four-fin design should allow the board to hold an edge into the wake, provide the freedom to do surface tricks such as shuvits and kickflips and keep lateral stability when doing 50-50 grinds on sliders. Let the revolution begin!
Tools required:
Drill (preferably cordless)
Four Liquid Force TSI 0.7 inch Trip side fins
1/16 inch Brad point bit
1/4 inch Forstner bit
3/8 inch Forstner bit
13/64 inch Counter spin drill bit
Ruler
Safety goggles
Step 1: Take off the fins that came with your Cassette.
Step 2: Here's the tricky part. You have to eyeball where you want the first fin to go. From the center hole where the original fin was on the bottom of the board, measure 4 1/2 inches out and mark that measurement on the board. Extend that line lengthwise down the board. Then, measure down 3 1/4 inches from the top edge of the board and mark a line perpendicular to the first line, creating a cross, or drill point. This is where you will drill the main center hole for the fin. On your drill point, use your 1/16 inch Brad point drill bit to drill a pilot hole all the way through the board. Then, using your 3/8 inch Forstner bit, drill down from the bottom of the board far enough so that the center knob of the fin can be inserted flush in the hole, about 9/32th of an inch down (I just eyeballed it). Just make sure you don't drill all the way through the board!
Step 3: Drill the holes for the two outer knobs of the fin. Place the fin where you want it, with the center fin knob placed above the newly drilled hole. Get the fin to the angle you want it and trace around the two outer fins knobs onto the bottom of the board. Not a very technical way to do it, but it worked for me. You can also try dabbing a bit of paint onto each of the outer knobs. Then, instead of tracing them, you simply press them against the board and you'll have your drill hole marks. Drill the holes using the 1/4 inch Forstner bit. Drill down from the bottom of the board just far enough so that the outer knobs can just fit inside the hole flush, about a quarter inch down. Again, make sure you don't drill all the way through the board.
Step 4: This step was suggested by Cassette owner Thomas Horrell after seeing my initial fin installation, which "featured" the fin hardware onbnoxiously protruding from the top of the board. Flip the board over so that you are looking at the top. Using the 13/64 inch Counter sink bit, line up the drill bit up to the pilot hole you drilled in Step 1 and drill down just far enough so that you can sink the head of the screw. You want to do this so that your feet won't get hooked up on the screw head while riding.
Step 5 (Optional): Before you go and repeat Steps 1-4 for the other three fins, I have a little suggestion that might be helpful to you. Take a piece of paper, put it up against the bottom of the board and trace the edges of the board from the top of the board. Then, without moving the piece of paper (very important), do a rubbing of the holes you have drilled on the bottom side of the board. This way, before you commit to drilling for the three other fins, you can make sure your holes have been placed consistently.
Step 6: Repeat the above steps for the other three fins.
Step 7: To fill the old fin holes, you have two options. You can either take the easy way and cover them with a few stickers, or go the high quality route and fill the holes with plastic wood.
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