Review: EZ Fin Tool

jhughes's picture
Friday, October 16, 2009

I love simple solutions to complex problems, adventurous waterski entrepreneurship, and dislike measuring the fin on my slalom ski. That's why I love the EZ Fin Tool so much. This basic, inexpensive device allows you to measure your fin consistently and easily.

Here's how it works: Fin length is measured in a traditional fashion using jaws or tips of a caliper. It's tough to improve on that measurement so this tool leaves that one alone. The next two measurements, DFT (distance from tail) and Depth are owned by this tool. Since the tool fits on your ski and fin in such a consistent fashion, you can measure and re-measure DFT all day with it and get repeatable numbers. Personally I find the DFT measurement essentially impossible to repeat consistently using traditional methods. This tool makes it "EZ" by giving you a fixed reference to measure from time and time again, rather than the multi-radius/tapered end of your ski. All you have to do is subtract one good DFT measurement using traditional methods from a DFT measurement using the tool. This gives you your DFT offset number. I'd write mine right on the tool with a Sharpie™. Then you subtract that offset from your measurement and you get your traditional DFT. If your ski manufacturer provides a "true" DFT measurement, even better! The point is getting repeatable, consistent measurements. You can actually move the fin 1/1000th forward and measure it easily with this tool.

As the late, great, Billy Mays would say- "And that's not all": This tool allows you to measure fin depth without removing your fin. Since the tool is 2" tall, just measure between the bottom of your fin and the top of the tool and add 2" to it. Easy. As an extra bonus, you won't be damaging the bottom of your ski with your caliper when you measure fin depth. I personally drag the head of the caliper on the base of the ski while trying to get to the "deepest" point of the fin using traditional measuring methods, scratching the base of the ski lightly in the process. No more. My ski will thank me, and your ski will thank you for using the EZ Fin Tool.

Customer service has been great from my experience with this tool . Terry Bandel was quick to answer my questions about the product and was really excited to share it with our Fifteenoff.com members. Definitely check this tool out- it takes a lot of frustration out of the fin measuring process.

That's enough from me. Here's the actual video from their site,  below.

FTC Disclosure: this product was provided to me for free.

See video

Stick around and read more!

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