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Re: Surfboard fins

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 9:27 am
by drroc
Sandman_510 wrote:the size and shape of fin is huge in determining how turny or pointy your ride will be.

For bigger fins you need better construction to handle the load

Don't believe me, just look at the fins the formula guys ride and compare to the fins on a kite surfboard...

I'm surprised there aren't more fin sizes available for kite surfboards. I'd like to have a 6" fin to swap for my 4" center fin when the wind is light
Yeah, I was also thinking along the lines of changing the shape to make the board more drifty depending on the wave size and wind speed.

Re: Surfboard fins

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:02 am
by NCKite_Ryder
I was riding at Stinson and did an upwind tack on the inside, when I stomped the turn the center fin on my tri hit the sand and snapped off... I kept riding and it loosened up my board dramatically... made it feel really skatey and fast, not good for big bottom turns but was awesome for being on the wave, surfing, lip smashing, and barrel riding (by this I mean riding on top of the barrel). It didn't seem to change the upwind efficiency either, just had to ride the edge a little more and keep it pointed in the right direction.

I've heard of people removing the center fin on purpose to get this effect. I slapped on a cheapo future and can't feel a difference between that and the high quality stock fins... anyone that wants to feel a major difference should remove that fin and try it. Not good for OB or big surf but awesome for knee-slappers.

Surfboard fins

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:57 am
by sc-surfer
Yep....changing fin size or configuration will change performance. fiberglass vs. plastic...not so much in the sizes we ride.

As for the race guys, yep, they ride super stiff glass fins, but consider for a minute that they are like 16+ inches long but not all that wide. A plastic fin would deform in that configuration enough to matter to a racer.



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Surfboard fins

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 11:59 am
by sc-surfer
p.s. NCK, riding the 'top' of the barrel is called a floater. Super fun when you have the speed!!




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Re: Surfboard fins

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:08 pm
by drroc
sc-surfer wrote: As for the race guys, yep, they ride super stiff glass fins, but consider for a minute that they are like 16+ inches long but not all that wide.
That reminds me of a story I heared while kiting in Belmot. I talked to a dude who had a race board, and people commented on the size of his fins. The guy then proceeded to tell a story how his friend jumped a race board and then landed on the fin with his ass. The guy almost died from loosing too much blood...

Re: Surfboard fins

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:15 pm
by Nxnwsurfer
Grew up surfing. Fins particularly glass on fins can make a huge difference. Look at pros who travel with glassed fin boards. I have a pair of bamboo fins from 101fin and really like the feel when surfing. Kiting I tend to notice fins less but surfing definitely makes a difference.

Surfboard fins

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 9:57 am
by sc-surfer
Nxnwsurfer wrote:Grew up surfing. Fins particularly glass on fins can make a huge difference. Look at pros who travel with glassed fin boards. I have a pair of bamboo fins from 101fin and really like the feel when surfing. Kiting I tend to notice fins less but surfing definitely makes a difference.

That's totally counterintuitive. As speed increases the effect of the foil increases (I believe it's an exponential increase). At the low speeds of surfing, 'most' of the effect you will feel is based on total fin area and location. The fin cluster has a number of variables we can play with:

Center fin distance from the tail,
Side fins distance from tail
Side fins TE distance from rail
Side fin cant angle
Side fin toe in angle
Fin size and shape, base area vs tip etc...
Fin rake
Fin foil

That's a lot of variables. They al have WAY more impact than plastic vs. glass vs. glass on.

Same board, same fin locations, same fin profile will feel the same in a glass on or cheapo plastic.

...just say'n...

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Re: Surfboard fins

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:07 am
by sloughslut
I have a few old sets of plastic fins i will trade for $100 dollar fiberglass fins :::)

Re: Surfboard fins

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 6:53 am
by Nxnwsurfer
Rusty breakdown on different fins (shaped enough boards to know):

http://www.surfline.com/blogs/talking-d ... fin_39665/

@ sc-surfer: Agreed the science would dictate that but given my avg ability kiting waves relative to years surfing personally just tend to notice more on cutback. Kiting for me in waves is more down the line and harder to tell flex/stiffness of the fin. My 2 cents. I'm sure caution crew pushing turns enough to notice plenty.