changing swell, changing fin sizes ....

General Discussion
1

hi crew !!

…okay ,

so i’ve broached / hinted at this topic , once or twice before here [eg : ’ total fin areas’ , ‘smallest fins used ?’] . this time , i’m coming from a slightly different angle , so here goes : -

Test board …

17 1/2" x 9’ x 21 1/2 " x 14" x 3 " [squaretailed] mal [my blue , homemade one ]…

day 1

[head high , hollow , mostly rights …]

fins used …

7 3/4 " deep , 5 3/4" base back fin. 1 3/4" rake . side fins … 4 1/2 depth , 4 1/4" base , 1 1/2 rake

day 2

[waist to chest high sets , fast and fairly hollow , at times . lefts and rights this day …]

same back fin

switched the side fins to smaller , more upright green pigment swirl fins … 3 3/4" depth , 3" base , 1/4" rake

day 3

knee to waist high , max …

[slightly higher tide , less hollow …slower waves …]

same sideys …

but this time , the back fin was the 3 7/8" deep , 4" base , 1 1/2" rake winged tip fin , moved back in the fin box from 9" up to 6" up from tail.

Q :

do YOU guys [and ra ra raRaaach !!] often scale down your fin sizes , as the surf gets smaller ? *

cheers

ben

  • … and if not , why not ?!
2
Quote:

Q :

do YOU guys [and ra ra raRaaach !!] often scale down your fin sizes , as the surf gets smaller ? *

  • … and if not , why not ?!

I scale down/up my fins as the surf gest hollower or fatter and the type of break (point/reef/beachie). If the surf gets considerably bigger/smaller i tend to get a different board.

Niegà

3

G’day Ben,

As you know I also don’t change my fins very often, Always tend to change boards.

I ride the M3 fins in all my boards from my 6’0 to my 6’8".

I’ll only put different fins in my 6’0 If it gets a little bit hollower or not quite big enough for my 6’3".

My quad and Twinny have the same fins in them as when I built them.

Running a 9" glass on my 9’2 that I think i’ll replace with a box.

Don’t know whether its because I’m lazy or just too busy to go trying out different fins in these boards.

Or is it because they work and I dont feel the need to change them? I dont know.

Maybe I need to start playing around with them.

Regards

Daren

4
Quote:

do YOU guys [and ra ra raRaaach !!] often scale down your fin sizes , as the surf gets smaller ? *

Yes…

The main problem is I have too many boards due to Swaylock’s…

Back to your first question…Yes, fins make a big difference…

I’ve read so many Chipfish threads I’m actually making my own fins now.

The 8’ magic board works best as a single in waves under 5’. I throw some small side bites in when it gets bigger…

I still don’t know the answer…And just when I thought I was good…The center fin in the “magic” board is off center and leans slightly to one side…maybe hand shapes are better…maybe not…

Surfing is fun…Go surfing

Ray