Fin/Tail reinforcement patch - really necessary?

General Discussion
1

I am doing a 6’ 1" shortboard. Is a tail patch (bottom side, for fin area reinforcement) really necessary? Do shortboards generally have them, or not?

thanks

2

Not necessary, but can add strength.

3

Installing fin boxes, I find that area gets a little extra sanding.  Its nice to have a little more cloth to burn thu before you hit foam.

4

Fin system install failures are more commonly due to the supporting foam and glassing moving around too much.   

5

Most pu/pe shortboard don’t have and they leak from boxes… I repair many, sometimes with fcs 2 guys pull out plugs when they try to pull out fins… even worth with those ultra light epoxy.   More glass not over sand is not a bad thing for tail durability.