F.P.T Future Prepreg Technology

We manufacture fins from laminated polyester or epoxy panels (G10, G11, and G12) and the performances are incredible; the only drawback with this construction is that we are not able to have a total flex control due to the fact that we have to change the foil section to modify the flexibility of the fins. For instance: to have a flexier fin we have to make the fin thinner in the profile, and to have a stiffer fin we have to increase the thickness on it: the result is that all our fins are very good, but we have a limit on our development due to this reason. Last year we started to develop this new concept of fin construction already used from other companies in collaboration with Cobra International LTD, a leader composites manufacture. We put together a development team trying to reach the best collaboration and communication between "fin makers" and a manufacture. The advantage of this construction is the accuracy of the profile with tolerances of +0.1-0.1, and the total control of the fin stiffness keeping the same foil section. The accuracy is due to the metal mold designed by us with a CAD/CAM computer program and manufactured by a CNC machine (Computer Numeric Control), so all the fins will be made by the same metal mold. The stiffness will be controlled by the amount of pre-impregnated cloth put inside the mold; we can modify the stiffness and the position of the flex changing the material or just changing angle of position of it. We use Excel S-glass, E-glass, carbon, Unidirectional carbon, and different others materials and all in different weight (80,100,120,150,gr..etc.etc.). Right now we are at stage 1 of our development; infact with this new technology we will have no limits, we can try different foil section keeping the same stiffness, different outlines with different foil sections. At the moment all our Maui Fin Company fins are already 1.5mm thinner in the profile than last year models due to the reason that we can have thin fins, stiff, and with a constant flex controlled by us; this is something we could not have before; the thinner profile will give you more acceleration and top speed in combination with the right outline. Another advantage of the prepreg construction is the durability. The fins are stronger than before because of the way they are manufactured. All the fins are made in a metal mold with a heating press @ 140degrees, and with the best materials on the market. All the pieces in aerospace, transportation, car industry, are made with this technology that is a guarantee to quality and accuracy.

As a fin maker, I feel we are breaking some barrier of development and this for me is an incredible step through the future of fin design.