I jut shaped a 6’1" small wave shortboard. I’ve ridden it twice and overall I’m happy with it. It’s fast down the line, does great open face carving turns and cutbacks and gets into waves early. The only issue is that the board track down the line when you try to come off the bottom to set up a more verticle top turn. Coming off the bottom for a big carving turn or a cutback is fine…as long as you’re trying to project out on to the shoulder. It resists coming off the bottom when you’re trying to square up the lip. Weird. The board is single concave, thruster. I tried changing fins, didn’t help. I’m using the CI template True Ames fins. Any help on the matter would be awesome so hopefully I can correct this issue on the next one! The outline of the board in the pic makes the board look lopsided…it’s not. Haha .
Slower carving turns are ok, but faster tighter ones hang up? What are your rails like up front? Sounds like that’s where it may be sticky.
I dont think it’s the rails. Same rails I’ve used before.
Your template looks fine. Without seeing more angles in pics… or better yet, the acutal board, my first thoughts would be - sticky rails in front, not enough tail rocker, or fins that are too big.
What fins are you running? A swap to smaller ones may be a simple fix.
yes I think sticky rails up front too- too rounded from the bottom of the board, and/ or you started your concave too late from the nose
Fins are True Ames CI template. I don’t know about using a much smaller set…I’m 6’2" 195. I’ve always liked the CI template. Rails eh? Huh… May be worth looking harder at them. I’ll compare to other boards and see. Doesn’t feel like a sticky rail though.
Wide curvy tail, wide point back. Curve might be the problem, you can't hold the rail down on your bottom turn.
How much V did you add? That wide a tail needs V to stay banked over on head high waves.
how much toe-in on the fins?
There’s 1/8" of toe on the fins. This was one of the things I thought could be causing it to track.
And there’s no V in the board. It’s single the whole way. I was under the impression that V in a small wave board slowed the board down by causing drag?
I think that's the problem. No v, but a single concave that can dig the tail rails too much for the template to handle. I think most CI's and the Flyer series, has V from front foot thru the tail, with rocker.
too much concave too far back, the board doesnt release water at the fin area causing the problem, v in the tail is your friend and a much needed friend to so many people, sometimes you don’t appreciate a really good friend is untill its gone.
I doubt you want to reshape the board at this point. since they are removable, if the fins you have are flat on the inside I would suggest you try some fins with inside camber.
hi dwf, i dont know how much rocker your are running and what kind of rocker . my 2c.i think 1/8 tow on your fins is fairly straight and fast but position will be importend …if you can´t change this try more fin cant Fcs H2´s or i think tc 5fin set has increased angle.
saludos
uzzi
FCS? Other? Some systems (Probox, 4-Way) allow more than just position adjustments.
Your center fin might be too far back or too big. Depending on the type of sytem you might be able to find (or fabricate) a new center fin... maybe go with a fatter foil and try to move the insert tabs back relative to the fin outline? The fatter foil might free up the aft end and the newly positioned tabs will effectively move the fin itself farther forward when it is inserted.
Other than fin tweaks, you're pretty well stuck with it for now but on your next one you might boost the tail rocker along with the already mentioned vee.
At 6'2" and 195 you might be able to just change your surfing technique slightly to compensate for any apparent board issues. A big guy can often learn to muscle a little board like that with some extra body english, different foot placement, or whatever. It's a rare surfer that can figure out a board after only two sessions.
Your description makes it sound like a good solid board and I suspect you'll eventually find a permanent spot for it in your quiver.
PS - a center fin with a bit of added flex might help too.
Tried to post 3 times, no success...
You are overpowering such a small, curvy tailed board. You need a light touch when turning such a sensitive board, or just add bigger sidefins, or bigger, juicier waves.
…you have there a short action outline (hot dog) and seems you put the fins for projection…
well, the board is done so the only change is in the fins.
If they are fcs, put H2s L on the sides and a smaller template non H2s, so more swept back on the rear.
If you have glass ons, put bigger on the sides with less rake (more vertical), less base and more cant (tilt). Rear one smaller and with different cutaway so you still grab that very tail.
An important aspect is that you need the set up to act as a cluster, not as separated fins.
Thanks for the advice guys!
Think we missed the most obvious reason for tracking - not enough fin toe-in. 1/4" is typical for a thruster. If you’re daring route out those boxes, fill in with q-cell, and reinstall new boxes with 1/4" toe-in. See how it affects the way the board surfs. Bet it’s much better for more vertical surfing but of course you’ll trade off some of that cutback speed you’re experiencing now. No sense in having a board you’re not totally stoked with when you have the ability to improve it and learn at the same time!
~Brian
Basic review:
Fins:
More toe in = looser Less toe in=tighter…general standard toe in =1/4"
Cant aka tilt More tilt/cant=looser less=drivier
Fin spread, farther apart =more leverage, longer turns…closer=looser tighter radius
Bottom:
V at tail raises rail line rocker = looser
R-o-c-k-e-r-
Less curve in tail = what you are experiencing. If the tail rocker curve is too straight, the other changes can help or hinder but won’t cure the ultimate cause…
I still can't figure out why more folks don't use the 4 Way system. The built in flexability is most useful.
No offense to Probox or FCS or other manufacturers. Those are clean systems as well.