What difference does a fin make

Andy - agreed, those computer aliens are everywhere... Where's my tinfoil.

I was keen on the Volan pivot. Looks the goods...

Mac - Ride report and photos on your new log would be sweet.

www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=seabreeze%20longbpoard%3A%20fin

www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=seabreeze.com.au+longboard:+what++fin

The first few are interesting.

And this has been posted before but pretty much nails it.


A simple beginners guide to longboard fins. (as you get more involved with your fin choice you will begin to agree/disagree with a lot of the following? it's meant as a 'primer' see how you get on, and remember there are no rules!) So, the question will arise sooner or later, 'what fin shall i get' More often than not the question is prompted by the realisation that the cheap plastic wonder the board shop 'gave' you isn't really what the aspiring Joel Tudor should have on his board. First off let's ask the question what does a Fin actually 'do'? Might be easier to answer that by trying to ride your board without a fin in the box, good luck with that!. Failing that watch the likes of 'The Present' and carefully study what happens when you ride an Alaia (one of those fashionable wooden finless retro jobbies). What you should immediately notice is how the board will slide around the face of the wave, almost at times falling out back'ass'wards, fine if you have infinite control like Mr Machado, but for mere mortals like you and I, not so awesome. A fin, much like the tail on a plane, provides some lateral stability, just like a keel on a yacht it stops you slipping sideways. Unlike the Alaia, your back end won't break away and slide out behind you. Unlike a keel on a yacht, which is placed in the middle of the hull, a surfboard fin is placed at the rear of the board. That way you are able to control the front of your board to turn. The fin acts much like a pivot in this sense as well as a keel. As a general rule, move a fin forward to loosen things up and backwards to gain more stability. So a fin will help keep you on the straight and narrow, but that is a very simplistic explanation obviously. Your fin works in conjunction with the board it is bolted to, obvious really, but a fin that works on one board may not work quite so well on another. The complex relationship between the boards rails, bottom contours and the riders weight and style, the waves height, speed and profile will all affect the way a fin helps or hinders your riding. To complicate matters further the position of the fin in the fin box will also change the way your fin works, there is often a 'sweet spot' like a cricket bat when the fin works well for your board. A good rule of thumb is to measure about 8 and a half inches from the tail edge to trailing edge of the fin as a good start when positioning your fin, box and fin allowing. Start with that and then try moving the fin around and see how that affects the ride. You might even find a better position and not even need that new fin you think you want. A fin is after all the cheapest way to improve or destroy the performance of your board. An adjustable fin bolt is a God send when fiddling with fin position, we might even sell these, I can't remember? So a few observations? (pinch of salt and all that)

1. A fin of around the same length in inches as your board is a good starting point. i.e. a 9 inch fin for a 9 foot board. For tri fin boards you can go that bit smaller, it's a balancing act between the relative sizes of your side bites and main fin.

2. Fin colour and fancy graphics make all the difference to performance? really, they do.

3. The bigger, or weirder shape of fin makes you not a better surfer, but however may attract more of the opposite sex, this is also true.

4. Flex, the big fin buzz word, get used to the feeling of your fin, try flexing the tip, some won't budge, others will be pretty springy, a flexible fin will be easier to turn, but you may prefer it stiffer when you get better, decide if you can tell the difference and what you prefer.

5. Make a point of looking at what the best surfers at your break are riding board wise, see what fins they have, you can learn a lot like this, try to look at the whole package, height, weight, board, fin, don't stare too hard now.

6. Just like a sanded/matt bottom on a board a sanded fin will offer less water resistance, if you notice this difference, kudos. Seriously though all part of fine tuning.

7. One of the biggest fins you will see is on the back of a 747, check them out next time your jetting off to Indo, aero dynamics are very similar to fluid ones. Big fins for big guys, smaller ones for lighter folks, as a general rule.

8. Cavitation, a great word to bandy about when your discussing fins with your mates, look it up before you spout forth though, let me know what it's about though won't you.

9. The 8 and a half inch rule, position your fin in the box with it's trailing edge 8 and a half inches from tail edge as a good starting point for position, no sniggering.


10. Best to have a spare fin in your board bag, just in case you loose one, maybe forgetting to tighten up that adjustable bolt, **** DOES happen. In fact have two, order them now.

11. A rub of candle wax will let you slide a tight fitting fin in the box more easily? see how all your favourite pasttimes are related?

So, what fin to buy?

You'll have to click the link for the rest.

http://www.finshack.com/finsbuyersguide.html

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Cobra said...
^^ a lot of tongue in cheek, mostly good advice

Yeah it's a good place to start. Nice basic understanding
Also
Some good advice in the top two links if you can be bothered looking few them.

Some of it has even been copied in here and passed off as knowledge

It's a question that been asked a thousand times But never answered properly.
fins on a lb are a black art.

What works for one person on one board won't work for another.

I say buy them and try them.

& looking at a few older thread reminds me that Billboard needs to come back. He knew his ****..
He had a really good post on nose riding that I tried to find but couldn't.
Something about the first movement should always be to move your front foot back slightly.

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SP said..

Cobra said...
^^ a lot of tongue in cheek, mostly good advice

Some good advice in the top two links. Some of it has even been copied in here

It's a question that been asked a thousand times But never answered properly.
fins on a lb are a black art.

What works for one person on one board won't work for another.

I say buy them and try them.

& looking at a few older thread reminds me that Billboard needs to come back. He knew his ****..
He had a really good post on nose riding that I tried to find but couldn't.
Something about the first movement should always be to move your front foot back slightly.

yep good point about, buying and trying.

i also think,one fin may not work for one board may work in another.

a mate of mine dropped the hatchet fin for a fin with a lot of rake..now his board is the drive machine

That is one seriously good looking board.

How do you rate the Thomas fin? and board for that matter?i just ordered that fin yesterday.

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Macaha said..
That is one seriously good looking board.

How do you rate the Thomas fin? and board for that matter?i just ordered that fin yesterday.

Macaha - the board is certainly unique with Jake doing a great job of glassing the board. I have not had a log since I surfed in the 60s so I am still getting used to it but it is very forgiving and stable when closer to the nose. I have found that I can be near the nose even in broken waves which has surprised me. The 10.5" fin is probably the best compromise depending on what surf presents itself on the day. As I said in my initial post, I probably not helping my surfing by changing fins as it would be best to stick with one fin and get used to it. At my standard it probably does not make much difference.
Steve

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leashless said..
That Thomas board looks unreal - more photos please.

+1

Here's the fin on the log I once owned plenty of hold there.

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laceys lane said..
the feel of a machine made fins. how good are they


you just can't beat precision compared to some old salt with failing eyesight making fins for guys who want to believe it will make them better surfers


the thunk of the fcs fins as it goes in. the way the key feels.


can't beat the old school retro thruster style.

single fin hipsters- ppfffff. whats next years trend

I hope thats not your rego plate in that photo,because I'll track you down

What fin came with your board obct and what length is it?

Big board = big motor/fin

wrong- how could I be so wrong.

to think I thought hipsters got their gollies over handmade fins.


I know- your a pseudo hipster.






mac you don't havr to track me down- just give my a ring

is radiate pine or plywood




you guys crack me you

haha, I know nothing. just poking the bears with a pointy stick mate.




geez bag some ones board, car or wife , that's ok .


bag some ones fin and its like murder

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thePup said..

laceys lane said..
haha, I know nothing. just poking the bears with a pointy stick mate.




geez bag some ones board, car or wife , that's ok .


bag some ones fin and its like murder

hahaha no bagging I'm just telling you to get some hand made magic up you champion

actually I have a aussie made beau young fin. I think is hand made

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Macaha said..
That is one seriously good looking board.

How do you rate the Thomas fin? and board for that matter?i just ordered that fin yesterday.

+1