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Hey guys, what do you think would be a good size fin for my Mistral Equipe LCS. It has the std one which is 34cms ( its a Power Box) but it keeps losing the tail and spinning out. I have been suggested a 38 but would a 40 or longer slow down the board too much. What size do the new Phantom 377 have? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Regards Steve
If you have a powerbox, you have the Equipe II or a modified Equipe I (to my knowledge)
My Equipe I is a U.S./Euro box and about 30 cm fin is max
With the PB you can go larger - you can start with 40 if you are worried ... what size sail and your weight are factors
i never heard of a fin size slowing you down
too much lift perhaps, but slowing you down ??
btw you can look the SB Phantom 377 up on-line 
http://www.star-board-windsurfing.com/2015/products/boards/phantom-377#specs
it seems to suggest 40 - 48 cm fins and comes with a 52 = odd
good luck and let us know ...
I treat it like a slalom board, today I had a 6.7 Severne Code Red in 20 knots, I weigh 70kgs - that's how I roll. Yep it's a II possibly an XR in disguise as it only weighs 12.5 kg. I think I'll try a 40 to start with and go from there, thanks.
If you're light, 38 would be enough. There is no much use for a bigger fin as you use the center board to go upwind any way.
A fin too big might make the board harder to control and slow you down because of that.
The phantom have a wide tail so it is easier to use a bigger fin with them.
As Joe said, match the fin depending of your weight, sail size (I guess a 9.5) but also the range of wind you want to use it in.
Hello, Steve,
While I was preparing this reply, others have replied to you.
The Phantom 377 uses a 50cm fin. http://www.star-board-windsurfing.com/2015/products/boards/phantom-377. Totally different design to the Equipe in the fin area of the board.
“(The Equipe) has the std one which is 34cms (it’s a Power Box)…………..” My Mistral brochures indicate that the Powerbox began to be used during 1993. I have a brochure which says that the fin size for a 1995 Equipe 2 XR/CHS is 38cm. Personally, I wouldn’t go past 38/40 cm fins, as the durability of the fin box in these vintage boards would be suspect, particularly if you are using a bigger sail than a 7.5, which was about the maximum sail size at that time.
“ but it keeps losing the tail and spinning out”. Could be a lot of reasons for this. Fin damage over the years, too big a sail being used (see above), non-genuine Mistral fin, poor design of the 1993 Mistral fin compared to today’s fins. Select fins offer the V Max 3 in a good range of sizes, with a shape similar to the old Mistral fin, so you might care to contact Sunshine Coast Sailboards about Select fins.
“I have been suggested a 38 but would a 40 or longer slow down the board too much”. If you are sailing in a group of long boarders, you might be able to borrow a fin, otherwise it’s a question of Net research, a GPS and (gulp) buying a fin to see how it goes. Also, 38 and 40 cm fins are pretty common in slalom boards these days, so borrowing a fin from a friend who uses one of these boards may also be a possibility
Suggest you do a Google search using Mistral Equipe Specs and also Longboard Windsurfing, to see if they help you.
Hope this helps.
Thanks WindmanV, the board and fin is in mint condition. I think you're onto something as sails these days are way more powerful than back in the day. Unfortunately I seem to be the only long boarder on Lake Macquarie as Formula is the craze. I'll try a 38 fin first it should be enough for what I need.
Regards Steve
If it's any help at all, and not to detract from anything said: I didn't once lose the back end on that board with that fin.
Back in the day that those boards were designed, the max fin size allowed was 38cm. Pretty much everyone raced with the max size fin, typically with the most powerful 38cm you could find for light (marginal planing conditions) with a high wind 38cm for full on planing conditions. Today I still have a Mega Cat, which I use with a 42cm and 9.5m sail - I only use it in very light wind though
Haha Mikey, you didn't get it up to full speed then. Just too much sail in the conditions. Thanks all for your feedback I'll go bigger......
why do people think longer fins are slower ??
from what i have seen, tried and read about ... thinner fins are faster
"fatter" fins may slow you down
but length ???
for me length is about lift and reducing spin out - always within reason
a 66 cm slalom fin on my JP SLW92 does NOT slow me down
Big difference between equipe II (actually the third equipe) and equipe I; with 34cm standard fin sounds like equipe I (is it the yellow one with blue footpads, 235L?)
For equipe I, a 38-40 upright fin will be good as your large fin, can go down a bit in high winds (>20 kts)
For equipe II (258L from memory) a ~45 fin is good (I use a 44) with a 38 for higher winds.
Apart from a really bad fin, or a much too small fin, the main thing with spinning out is technique, ie don't drive too hard if you're not fully powered up.
All the best, I hope you get a good combo going.
Listen to what jdemol says. I don't want to blow his cover but I think he's been top 3 in the nats a few times.
Heres my fin for the Mistral Equipe LCS-XR with US box. circa 1988.
Windsurfing Hawaii US-box Carbon 14.5 in. Area 177.2in Depth 14in.
I picked it up on ebay and its on its way from Germany.
The board is undergoing a restoration and I hope to have a working mast track with US cup style chinook attachment for full functionality with modern rigs.
I am getting some excellent help in this regard from Mark Taylor at Surf and Sail.
On the mast track itself I have taken the mast track apart and it should be back together in a few weeks after some hobbyist attention.
See board below:
I managed to obtain two brand new red "mast track" buttons..last in Perth from Ian Sampson-thanks Ian-still "wrapped in plastic"
If anyone needs one of these ed "mast track" buttons used from 1983-1989 the good news is contact Windpower Windsurfing and Kite as they are manufacturing these parts in the US. They also sell pivot pins (for daggers ) and a range of other parts for Mistral.
"2 October 2015-Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center <news@windpowerwindsurfing.com> wrote:
Hi Richard,
We are currently working on getting that part made. Give us a couple weeks
and send us an e-mail to see where we are at with the manufacture of it.
Good Winds
Kevin
Thanks,
Kevin Gratton - WindPowerWindsurfing.com
Wind Power Windsurfing & Kiting Center
N7351 Winnebago Drive
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
920-922-2550
920-251-1002 mobile"
^^^^yep windpower is a pretty cool shop.
i was in the area a couple of years ago, Kevin had a large shed full of stuff, some new old stock, even had some original mistral superlights that looked new.
I managed to borrow a 40cm on the weekend and it was a completely different board, had more lift and control. It was a straight up and down style, if anyone has one for sale please message me as they don't come up very often.
Kind Regards
Hey Steve, that was my fin that you borrowed. It was a Curtis 42 in G10 construction. It's quite a thin fin compared to some others that I have used, not as vertical as some of the dedicated slalom race fins (like an S1) but more race than freeride.
its not for sale, but I thought the info might help!
Oh yes thanks again, I know yours is off limits but thanks for the exact info.......
This is the fin that came with my 1994 Mistral One Design. 340mm.
Doesn't spin out unless conditions are pretty extreme.
Clarence
@childsplay
pics are US type box
the Curtis 42 was it US or PB/powerbox ??
has not been clarified ..
