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Traction Pad 

What if I make a big mistake and have to pull it off?

Applying your Gordon and Smith Traction Pad

SurfBoards

Installing your surfboard fins

Attaching Your Gordon & Smith Surfboard Leash

Gordon and Smith Traction Pad

What if I make a big mistake and have to pull it off?
Depending on how hard you have pressed and how much of the 24 hour bonding period has passed, most of the time you can pull it up right after you've just applied it. It's usually a nightmare, though. It all depends on how long you let it sit before you want to change it. If you leave it on overnight, it's on there for good—and it’s not coming off – at least not in one piece! If you have to take it off after 24 hours, you could use an adhesive remover like Goo Gone to clean all remaining adhesive residue off, but you wouldn't be able to reapply your pad because the backing has been compromised.  Our glue has a two-layer membrane—a double adhesive that's sticky to both sides. Sometimes the membrane will stay on the board and the pad itself will peel up.

Applying your Gordon and Smith Traction Pad 

Step One: The first thing to do is wet a paper towel—get it damp. The reason for this is because there's still film and dust on your new board, so wipe off all the traces left behind.  Then take a dry paper towel and wipe it off. Let the tail area air-dry for about 30 seconds—you want it to be perfectly dry.  {Insert Pic}

Step Two: Get the pad in the desired position on your board, which depends on different tastes. The positioning of the pad depends on where you put your foot on the board. For more advanced surfers who like to surf on the tail, you should put the pad as far back as possible towards the leash cup. It's all just personal preference when it comes to how far up or down you want it.  Typically it is going to be placed between ½” - 2” forward of the leash cup. {Insert Pic}

Step Three: Grab a pencil. Once you've figured out where you want your pad, line it up. Then draw an outline where it's lined up. That way you know exactly where it goes. Peel off the adhesive after you've drawn you pencil marks. Find your mark, and line it up. If your traction pad grid is even, then you can match it up with the stringer so you're centered. Then plop the pad down and match it up with your top pencil line—make sure it's centered. {Insert Pic}

Step Four: Once you are sure you're all lined and centered up peel the backing off the bottom or the pad.  Beginning with the kick tail on the back edge center and line it up and lay the rest down by holding the forward middle point and centering it on the stringer as you lay it down.  Once down, push on it so it becomes nice and snug. Make sure you push the kick tail down really well.  {Insert Pic}

Step Five: Lastly be patient.  You really need to let the newly applied traction pad sit anywhere from twelve to 24 hours, but most people go out immediately after application. I don't know anyone who's going to wait for 24 hours, so I'd suggest people to buy their surfboards at night or put on the pad the night before. Using blow dryers to speed up the drying process is a big misconception—it doesn't do anything. I'd wait at least five to twelve hours minimum before surfing so the pad really bonds to the board. {Insert Pic}

SurfBoards 

Installing your surfboard fins 

This is very basic – Your board includes one left side fin, one right side fin and a center rear fin.  The center fin is easy to identify because it has the foil (curvature) on both sides.

To identify the left fin the flat side faces the center of the board when mounted.  With the right fin the flat side faces the center of the board when mounted.

Step One:  Using the enclosed allen wrench back off on the set screws in each fin plug just enough so they are clear of the inside hole of each fin plug hole.  Do not back the screw(s) all the way out as they are small and hard to re-thread and if you are not careful re-threading you can strip the threads trying to get them back in.

Step Two:  Slip the fins into the holes and hand tighten each set screw until snug.  Pull upwards on the fin to check tightness and make sure it is snug.  Do not over tighten!  You are done!

Attaching Your Gordon & Smith Surfboard Leash
For surfers who have done this once then stop reading now - you know how to do it. It is not rocket science and this easy how to attach a surfboard leash tutorial will show you how.

Step one: Unpack your leash and make sure the cord is present (it's the string bit that is at the opposite end from the soft Velcro ankle cuff).

Step Two:Tying the Leash String - There are lots of knots that you can use to attach the leash cord - we'll be showing you just one that works (Consult your local Cub Scout or friendly fisherman for the full list). The first step is to tie the leash string ends together to create a loop. This has to be done leaving enough room to pass the leash through when attached to the leash plug on the board.
Fold the cord in half and hold both ends.
 
Create a loop in the cord and pass the unfastened ends through the loop.
 
Pulling towards the untied ends, close the loop tightly. Leave a little of the open ends sticking out so the knot will not pull free when it tightens in the water.
 

So that's the knot. As mentioned, there are other knots that you can use - just make sure you tie them tight.
Attaching Leash to Surfboard
Once the knot is tied you then need to thread the cord through the leash plug on your board. Straighten the cord out pinch the end opposite the knot together
Thread the unknotted end through the plug and out.
 
If you have problems threading through then use some fishing line to help.  Also a small screwdriver to help push it through works well.  Thread the line through the plug then through the tied cord and back through the loop. You can then use the fishing line to pull the cord loop through the plug.

Step Three: Now you need to attach the leash to the cord.
The velcro leash needs to be threaded through both the loops of the cord. This ensures the strongest attachment and keeps the knot within the velcro part and out of the way. Once threaded through close the velcro tight and you are done!
 
   
Tips: Pull the knot as tight as possible to start with, it will save problems later
Check your cord for wear regularly and replace it when it has started to fray
Don't make the loop too large. If the cord reaches the rail of your surfboard it will damage it while surfing. The loop should be a length that sees the leash railsaver resting on the board rail.