Big gun fin?

Hey gents,

I need help trying to figure out what kind of fin to put on a 10’2" traditional HI. gun. Austin is making a wood one for me. I’m about to go with a 7" base, 10" tall slightly swept back but wanted to see if anyone from Sways had any input.

Cheers!

Ray B.

Ray,

The ‘‘traditional’’ dimensions are more like 10 inch base, 7 inch depth. I surfed a 10 1/2 inch base, 6 1/4th inch deep, ‘‘reverse’’ fin on both 10’ 5’’ and 10’ 7’’ guns, at Sunset and Waimea, up to 25 feet, without any equipment issues. Ten inches deep seems like way too much fin for NS larger waves.

yikes… I’ve never had a fin that big on any board… but that’s just me.

On a single fin gun, I’d use something around 8" with a 6" base max. I just got a 10’0" thruster for Mavericks. It’s set up with 4-3/4" fins. If it proves too squirrely (even for me) I may switch to some 5" fins.

Guns traditionally don’t turn that great anyway. Big fins just make that worse. Some folks like the stability of a straight-line rocket. I like to turn sometimes.

.

My bad, had it reversed. So more like 8 or 9" base and 6" tall. How about rake. Upright = squirrely so slightly raked for drive and stability? Placing the trail edge about 14" up?

14 inches is too far up, IMO. check your PM’s.

SurfDad,

Were the photos helpful? PM an address to me, and I’ll send you some Gun fin templates that I used from 1959 to the present. Most are thick foiled.

try a 5 1/2" to 6" base and 9" to 10" tall, that is plenty of holding power and will be loose. also put it at about 9" up from tip of tail.

                            it will work.  fredrick

Bill, the pics are definately helping me figure out the fin shape for this a traditional big gun. Templates would be awsome and greatly appreciated.

Fredrick, as I draw & draw & draw my fin seems to be morphing into almost those exact dims. Thanx. I’ll take a look at 9" up. Placement is crucial and I want to get it right. Especially after just watching “The sixth Element” (Ross Clark Jones)