Hi everyone, It’s ANOTHER thread posted by aquafiend. Hey you wouldn’t want me to get “bad” advice somewhere else would you? O.k. the stand-up paddle board is shaped, I’ve started the glassing and need to start thinking about the fin(s). The board is 13’x28"x5". The nose is 20" with about 6" rocker. The tail is 18.75" with about 2.5" stringer rocker and bottom “V” that give the tail rails about 4-4.5" rocker. the rails are roughly 50/50 but maybe closer to 60/40. There is a swallow tail that cuts back into the board 12". I am not sure of the measurements of the tips of the swallow tail but would guess them to be around 15"-16". So then what kind of fin set up would you all recommend and where should I place it?
Hey Aquafiend65,
The bigger//longer based center fin you put on the board the more rail to rail stability the board will have. Because the board is a stand-up affair it will be easier to balance on with long based rather shallow fin. This will make the board harder to turn. You’ll have to decide how you want it to act. It will turn very nicely if you put oversized double foiled twin keel fins on it with a minimal amount of toe-in. They would offer little drag and make the board quite responsive. Boards this size really don’t need a lot of fin under them because the rails are so long and parallel the board will tend to want to hold a line quite well without much fin under it. I don’t think a massive fin will really serve it very well.
Mahalo, Rich
Could you be more specific? I really don’t have a clue about fin size or placement. I was wanting to go twin fin but really just want the board to perform. By perform I mean catch waves and ride’em. (how much performance can you get out of a 13’ board?) If you were to put a fin set up on a 13’ swallowtailed, “V” bottom board, what and where would you put them?
Hey Aquafiend65,
A good series of board photos would probably get us over the hump. If you want me to be specific you’ll have to do the same. I can’t plug you into details unless I have them myself. Without pictures and lots of specks it’s a shot in the dark. Hands on would be the best of course but that may not be possible. If you can take all the numbers off the board discribe the foil, rocker and all the other details I can make some adequate suggestions.
As a matter of reference, I have a 12 foot Lance Carson that I got from Bagman. The rocker rails and bottom configuration allow the board to surf very nicely with a 7.5" traditionally shaped single fin. The board has very traditional longboard foil and lovely rocker. It turns amazingly well for such a big stick. However, your board sounds completely different from this one.
The amount of performance you can get from the board is all ready in it. The fin or fins will bring it out and you may not get if perfect the first time. If you want to go single putting a center fin box or even marrying two of them together end to end might be a good place to start. Twin fins could be put in the same way if you have the beef in the rails to put a box in either side. In the end it’s your call how you approach setting the QE2 up.
Mahalo, Rich
If you elect to go with a single, a long (15") box might be the call. With the deep split tail though, I’d be going twinnie. Maybe two standard 10.5" boxes would allow you to sort it all out?
Howzit John, I've ordered Two 15" boxes recently and when you go to their website and click the 15" box nothing happens so you need to call them to order one, phone number is on the website. They only cost about $7.50 plus shipping. Aloha,Kokua
Hi Mike - You have to go to the “Online Store” before you can access the order page. Or just call - I received excellent service after I ordered from them directly. I couldn’t find any retailers that carried the 15" box.
Not sure why my link didn’t work as planned. It was supposed to be a one click deal rather than cut/paste.
Edit - OK now, must have been Firefox.
Howzit John, I agree when I ordered by phone they were really good about getting me the boxes to me quick. Aloha,Kokua