While I was thinking about the asymmetrical surfboard and maybe making one I started to think why not have an asymmetrical fin set up on a normal shape. Has anyone out there done that? Couldn’t I shape a fish or a mini Simmons with a keel on my front hand and a quad on my back? Or even a normal thruster or quad short board with just different side fin placements?
Billy,
I’ve thought the exact same thing. I’ve been thinking about making an asym, but I think I’m going to start with fins first, not necessarily twin vs. quad, but even changing the fore/aft (with Fusion or ProBox) or outline of fins from toeside to heelside.
By the way, I would love to get out your way, being a goofyfoot. Dream trip.
I’ve given some thought about giving the board an asymmetrical hard edge at the tail,maybe one side “sharper” than the other or starting further back on the rail.One of my recent builds was a 6’6 quad with a 60/40 rail all the way out the tail.It rode well but was kinda stickey on the drive.I rode it that way for about a month and got the quads dialed in.I then decided to pour the hard edge on the tail it changed the board drastically.Lots of speed when driving the line now.But I kinda liked the way it rode backhand before I added the edge…
Maybe I should paddle out with a little sanding block and some 220 wet and fine tune it in the water between sets,ha.
Well back in the early 1970 everything I shaped was asymmetrical and fins often asymetrical and sometimes I would get withing a few inches of the length I was shooting for!! Mostly I got the fins on facing the right dirrection except for those reverse D fins, never did figure out what was the front on them. The asm shape or fin dirrection didn't make any difference, they all surfed the same, mostly I would fall off on the take off sometime I'd make a turn or two if lucky !! If I got a couple turns in I would do a flyaway kick out just to be cool !!! Used to glue sheets of 80 grit sandpaper to the deck,was much cooler than slip check or wax !!! I was a Kook in those days, and now I am just and old Kook. Sure is Kool to be a Kook !!!
80 grit sand paper? Thats gona cause some gnarly nipple rash.
I have lok-box fins on my 6'8''. Even though the boxes are glassed in symetrical, I ride it sorta asymetrical. The backhand side fin is a bit further from the tail, and consequently further from the rail as compared to the frontside fin. So I get lots of drive on the frontside and more drawn out turns while its a bit more forgiving with less drive on the backhand.
I dont have the exact dims right now, get em later when i get home.
If you define "normal" as a symmetrically shaped surfboard, then yes, I've done it. Both boards I tried it on worked well, but not enough to make me swear by the setup. I put a large twinfin on the frontside and a fairly standard quad setup on the backside.
I’ve been doing this for years. I use to do, both asym board and fin, now I’m mostly about the fins, as my experience, and some “test rider” feedback, suggests the fin confiuration plays far more of a part in adjusting the ride characteristics than outline/foil asymetry.
I’ve gotten to the point the fin boxes I rounted yesterday are off set by half an inch fore/aft, and, using RedX, I use different distances between my toe/heel sides.
Esp. w/quads… This is the best thing to happen for me for surfing in years.
i think i have seen this on a board from kelly… backside fins are 1/4 more up in front… maybe for better turning…
check out kellys board for lower trestles: http://blog.cisurfboards.com/2010/09/18/kelly-slaters-winning-board-at-the-hurley-lowers-pro-2010/
