Just playing with the idea, I’m not one to change the intended design of a board, but has anyone ever thought about making a single fin into a 2+1 setup? I usually longboard and switch between 2+1 and single fin boards on days I want more drive and manueverability. I aquired a used but in near erfect shape MG2. Its a beautiful board, but wondering if its a good idea to add sidebite fin boxes to make it more versatile. I know its possible, but would it be worth it, and would it weaken the board? I wouldnt do it myself i would take it to a well known shaper in the area.
edit: this is a CI MG2 single fin short board 6’10"
What you’ve described, is how the whole side bite/tri fin thing got started. If you do it, use the smallest possible sides, with no toe-in, and no cant.
Toe-in will slow the board down. Think of the ‘‘snow plow’’ in skiing. Cant will partially offset the effect of toe-in. If there is no toe-in, cant will slightly ‘‘loosen’’ the board in turning. It will turn more easy than un canted sides, but slightly stiffer (more hold) than a single fin only. In summary, with no toe-in and no cant, the board will trim better and be faster on all points. The closer a side fin is to the rail, the smaller it can, and MUST be. Otherwise the side fins fight you in the turn. Is this helpful to you?
Bill, thanks for explaining that to me. Fin dynamics is very complicated, and I want the best advice and I think you the one to offer it. At this point I’m playing with the idea, but i want your opinion. Is this a good idea? Or should I leave it as a single fin and use my thruster if I’m after that performance edge? I don’t want to piss blasphemy over this single fin, but I really like the idea of the versatility this might add.
It is a good idea IMO, because you will learn quite a bit, as you try different configurations. Play around with it. Don’t overlook using just one side fin, on an exclusivly left or right break, and compare the ride to single fin only. Removable side fins, and fore/aft adjustment of the main fin, will give you a variety of setups to explore.
I have a 6’5" CI MSF with a 7" fin. It’s very sensitive to forward/aft fin placement. Don’t see any need to ‘widow maker’ the setup with more fins, works great as is.
I’m a backyard repair guy and I’d be more than happy to convert your board into a Quad or Thruster / 2+1 set up for a small price. I’m no expert fin guy. One guy already questioned your fin choice. That’s where I would start. Try different fins first…here’s a little fin story from a recent surf trip to Ventura Ca…C Street up near the point and drifting down past the free lot.
Built a new 7’9" small longboard. Funky. Drove to Ventura and surfed on Friday afternoon in 2-3 foot fun stuff with some afternoon wind. Used a 7" flex fin and side bites. Told my friend that the board turned great but lacked drive and was hard to beat sections backside. Surfed Sat morning in 4-6 foot surf.Light rain big crowd. Used a 8" Yater fin with side bites. Way more drive and no problem beating sections backside. Harder to turn but faster down the line. Good stuff. The following weekend I surfed the board at my home break in Carlsbad. Used a 7.5" Paul Gross fin. The board changes with each fin. And I haven’t had time to mess with fin placement…It’s hard to grasp but the Yater fin is slightly thicker than the flex fin. All my comments are backside surfing. I don’t surf as much as I use to. The reef I like to surf at home is frontside but tides and work schedules are conflicting right now. I learned to surf with glass ons. Change your fin or move it around. and then call me and we will make your board into a Quad !!!
That’s a nice board. Sidebites will surely make it more versatile. But, I think Greg is correct about the fin and Bill T could advise if he chooses. I use a much thicker single fin of Bill’s design and noticed much more drive and earlier engagement in the waves energy. More ‘thruster-like’ for lack of a better term. Mike
thanks for all of the replies. This is a really interesting conversation. I have not had the opportunity to even ride this board yet, so the sidebite idea is certainly just an exploratory question. However, since the fin is under scrutiny, what fin type would you all recommend?
On an Eaton (so glad to hear he’s improved somewhat) longboard ‘fun gun’ I had with a single box and and side bites I stuck with the original O’Fish’l sidebites. The center fin sizes I had ranged from a 4 3/4" wide base to an 8" standard fin. The 4 3/4" base had a little ‘cutaway’ so the tab could be moved farther back with trailing edge overhanging the back of the box - more to a thruster position. Much smaller than the 4 3/4" and tail drift/spin outs became a reality. Much bigger than the 8" and it was pretty stiff. On rare occasions I removed the sidebites and rode it with a bigger single. I even tried one of those old ‘Switchblade’ singles (w/o sidebites) that kind of ‘flopped over’ under spring tension. That actually worked pretty good. In any case, between the 4 3/4" center fin and the 8" center fin I was able to ride surf from 2’ to 2.5XOH - 15’ faces. The board itself was a 9’5" X almost 23"X about 3" thick. A key element was the steep long panel vee that extended right off the tail. In certain light, it looked like a swallow tail. That was a magic board… one of my all time favorites ever.
If you go with sidebites, you could easily experiment with a center fin 6" or less and have a lot of fun figuring out where it’s limits might be found in the fore and aft positions.
