Method of applying a safety/maneuver enhancing fin to a surfboard

A method of attaching at least one fin to a surfboard having top and bottom surfaces, the fin having a rigid body element with leading and trailing edges, and flexible material disposed on the leading and trailing edges spaced from a base portion of the fin, comprising the steps of substantially sequentially:

• (a) placing a protective material on the fin so that it substantially completely covers the flexible material of the fin, but only a small portion of the rigid body element;
• (b) applying resin impregnated fiberglass rope or roving to the base of the fin, spaced from the flexible material, and the bottom of the surfboard;
• (c) applying resin impregnated fiberglass cloth to the fin and the bottom surface of the surfboard so that the cloth substantially covers the fin;
• (d) cutting away most of the fiberglass cloth exterior of the fin;
• (e) abrading the fiberglass cloth off of the fin at areas thereof covering the flexible material and portions thereof covering the rigid body element where it is undesired, the protective material protecting the flexible material from significant damage during the abrading action;
• and
• (f) removing the protective material from the fin so that the flexible material is exposed.

A surfboard having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end;

• at least one fin extending downwardly from said bottom surface adjacent said rear end, said fin comprising:
• a rigid body element having a leading edge, a base, side faces, and a trailing edge;
• a flexible material selected from the group consisting essentially of rubbers, silicone, and urethanes disposed on said leading and trailing edges, spaced from said base, the thickness on said leading edge being about 0.2-0.4 inches, and the thickness on said trailing edge being about 0.2-0.4 inches;
• and a substantially continuous ridge extending outwardly from each of said side faces between said base and said flexible material;
• and
• resin impregnated fiberglass holding base and said side faces within the perimeter of said ridges to said bottom surface of said surfboard, to thereby rigidly hold said fin in position with respect to said surfboard.