5 fins

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Neil001 said..
Has anyone tried 5 small fins on a SUP. In small waves I put 3 in the back 3 slots and was great.
cheers

5 fins work well for very wide tailed boards.
Basically, if you feel that the board as a quad handles like a supermarket trolley (there is some yaw when the board is flat between turns), add a 5th fin, big enough to stabilize the trajectory. It can be a nubster to a full central fin.

But the bigger the central fin, the bigger the drag. Compromises...

In my experience 5-fins is only useful in very short boards. Otherwise the longer rail line is enough for directional stability.

Here is a 6'10" fish I rode often in 5 fins:




In action:



A longer board (7'11") with a central nubster:



Note that the late Greg Griffin has been advocating 5 fins or 3-fins-in-the-rear setups for years:

www.griffinsurfboards.com/product/modfish/
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057262636965&sk=photos

If it's good enough for the GOAT, then it's good enough for the rest of us

stabmag.com/hardware/watch-kelly-slater-on-a-5-fin-board-then-read-greg-webber-explain-it/

5 fin set ups can work for any width tail, if the fins are sized and placed appropriately. Generally, the wider the tail, the more fin is needed.

NVS was kind enough to make a LB box center of their Album Apex quad rears for me. Now I have a five fin set up with the three rear fins all the same template and size, and in line (Greg Griffin inspired set up) on my 7'7 Destroyer. Plenty of drive and pivot. Fast and loose.

I like them in the Destroyer. Have also used, and liked, them in a Stun Gun. I think the Riptides pair well with board that has a curvy outline (i.e., boards that don't need a fin with a lot of cant to break it loose/turn it, but wouldn't mind a little more speed).

I also have a bunch of Greg Griffin 5 fin boards. I am a big believer in his designs.