Been dealing with Cheyne for the last 8 years. I usually have keel fins available. I order them form Cheyne about 50 at a time. If you want them they are $49.00 plus shipping. They work really good in Longboards without alot of tail rocker and I think they are as manuverable as many thrusters. They work really good on wide tailed shortboards, but they catch leashes.The key to shaping the wide tailed boards is Mccoys round bottom and soft almost gun-like rails almost through the tail. I have 3 nuggets 6’8’‘, 7’2’’ and 8’0’’ all singles. The gull fin is more versitile than the keel and does not catch your leash.One thing about Mccoys is they love the pocket and really come alive the hollower the wave gets. I think Surftech is putting out 3 models as well. The best is to get a real Mccoy. He is very honest to deal with and will get your board to you in about 8 weeks. Shipping from OZ is a BEYATCH! There are a couple of shapers in Florida that have done nugget replicas for awhile and have them down really good, but like Geoff says “If it does not have a Mccoy logo on it, it’s not a nugget.”
I won a bunch of slalom sailboard races with those. They would point 20º higher than the standard fins at the time. I’d be half way to the mark and have it nailed while everyone else was pinching to make it. Do I owe Cheyne a cut of the winnings?
Nah, He got help with it from Ben Lexen. Designer of the Australia II that won the America’s Cup back in the early eighties. Those things turn much quicker on Longboards than do the raked fins. You should see Cheyne ride the things in 70’ tow in. He is in Africa at the moment for the Red Bull Big wave contest, he said they have seen white pointers every other day since they have been there.
Hey Atom, Frankly I doubt that Cheyne rides a star fin on his tow in boards. I’ve discussed the merits of the starfin with McCoy a little. And he claims that it’s more for waves up to double overhead and isn’t very effective in larger surf. (McCoy Surftechs? Hmmm.) I’ve ridden it and it’s great on a long board and a mid-length with a wide tail as you say but forget it if you surfing around kelp. Turns better? That’s a matter of opinion. Prevents yaw? Yes. Fast? Yes! Wicked Fast! It holds and drives extremely well in rough water. It’s a great addition to any single fin quiver. I’d like to see what was under Cheyne’s tow-in board this past winter at Jaws. (a McCoy gull wing fins is more likely, though he might have a thruster cluster under him like the rest of the boys. Was anyone there who knows for sure?) The guy is one of the finest surfers in the world and has been for 20 years or more IMHO. Good-on-ya, Rich
so atom, are you personally selling them?if so how can we get one from ya??thanks…
Cheyne sells his fins for $45 Aus. (or about $33 US w/ postage). He can be a bit slow to sending them off. If you need one quick this guy’s premium may be worth it. I’ve seen upwards of $60 US for them in various shops. Rob Olliges http://www.cheynehoran.com.au/starfin.html
So Atom…how do we contact you? Plus, I’ve got a question for the rest of you Star Fin riders. I’ve been interested in this fin for a long time and would like to use it on a 7’ 10" Double Ender. Question 1. What’s the tail rocker need to be like? If there’s any significant tail rocker wouldn’t the wings be plowing downward = thus creating drag? Question 2. Can anyone recommend a shaper here in the So. Cal area that might be into Cheyne’s trip? Your guys input would be appreciated! Mahalo.
Halcyon, I talk to Cheyne and Geoff at least once or twice a month. Last time I spoke with Cheyne he told me he mostly used keels. He even had his quiver pictured in that one movie Monster Jaws or whatever. You know Cheyne, you can never tell what he will be on next. He did ride a thruster nugget to beat Tom Carrol in the masters in 99. I think he only rides them in contest because the judging is so bias against single fins or anything new that is not status quo. Yes Cheyne has been one of the Best in the world for the last 20 years. I would say when you consider his experience, versitility,style, and conditioning he is THE best. Not to mention an all around good guy. I have a Keel on one longboard but I have Mccoy’s gull wings on my nuggets. The leash catching thing is too much of a pain. Matt if you want a keel just E me on my personal e mail address and we will exchange phone numbers. Most of the shops that have the keels on the E coast got them from me. Cheyne has probably sold a few on his own. There are two shops in Florida that have them and they get close to $60.00 for them. Cheyne personally wants to keep them on the affordable side. You can get them from Cheyne but he is constantly on the go and hard to keep up with. He usually shows up with everyone else in Hawaii around Nov or Dec and can bring them over then. Shipping from OZ is a BEYATCH! as I said before. The Mccoy nugget I think is as valid a design as you get for the all around surfer because it’s based on float. Mccoy is one of those shapers who can make thick wide boards that are loose and hold in very well. I have talked with Geoff about Greg’s epoxy and he liked the idea, but said no one in Byron will do epoxy. When Geoff quits building boards the surfing world is going to miss his inovation. He is one of the last true craftsmen purist. Many might not though because the majority of younger surfers and younger shapers are like sheep and follow whichever goat has the loudest bell. Nothing the pros ride makes any sense for the average surfer,unless your keep your weight around 120-150. and live where the surf has some push. If you look at the modern thruster it is for the most part all tail, kind of like the old zap without the floatation. Go figure.
The fin should work on your double ender just fine and as long as you stay on the tail(like it was originally designed) Rocker will not matter as much. I had one on a ten footer with alot of tail rocker and when you moved forward of center you could feel it drag a bit. I think they work better with less rocker in the tail and with a wider tail. My E mail address is in my profile, if not I will post it here. I am new here so I don’t want to break any rules or anything with the sight. In southern California I would call Greg Pautsh he shapes the Mccoy label still, he is a very very very skilled shaper and a another great guy. his number is 949-361-1264 Greg and Mccoy worked together in the late seventies and early eighties. Greg still has all the old zap templates and has done many for me over the last 17 years. In Florida There are two really good shapers that have templates as well. You can get the real Mccoys easy by going on his websight. Expect to spend around $200.00 just on shipping. My last board cost me $600.00.
Thanks Atom. I’ll check on the possibility of getting a shape from Greg. Is he still in the Newport beach area? I wouldn’t mind getting your e-mail address too if you’re comfortable with it. Is the Gull fin a production or custom number? I faintly remember seeing a peek of it in a British surf mag 'bout 2 years back - wish they had a longer interview with Cheyne + more pictures of his boards. Do you guys push the fin forward in smaller surf?Thanks in advance!
I have ridden my nugget in up to double overhead and had no problem with them being wobbley. Mccoys wide tails don’t spin out, in fact the more top to bottom the better they work. I am talking single fins here. Thrusters ride like thrusters. Geoff said he has even done a couple of twins. Yes Greg is still in costa Mesa. If he does not want to do them, let me know we can get you hooked up with the right shaper. Greg takes awhile to get boards out because he has another business, but they are worth the wait. You can probably get a real Mccoy in the same amount of time, but for alot more cash.
Thanks again Atom. Alternative avenues to get a board for the keel fin would help out alot. But, I still need a way to contact you (i.e., e-mail). What about the other question. Do you personally move your star fin up in the box in smaller surf? If so…are we talking forward like Bertleman and the other guys on Stings used to ride 'em back in the 70’s? Mitch
Mitch, I put the fin right in the middle.I never use a screw or a jam and I have never lost one. Hooking you up with alternative shaper is no problem. Are you opposed to epoxy? I sent Cheyne an epoxy nugget shaped from one of his personal templates and he loved it. Epoxy blanks are wider so it’s easy to get the wide tail. You have to be more picky with clark foam.
Cool. I recall hearing Cheyne mention the same thing concerning the placement of his own fin - “Scream In Blue” - was younger then and thought he was joking. Saw another guy in Hawaii named John Orr with one of his fins…same thing. Guess I was wrong. Epoxy’s fine. I rode an epoxy longboard (Patagonia) for quite a while. Still have it. Fun. Don’t know of anyone doing epoxy in So. Cal outside of Point Blanks in Ventura. Heard of someone in Oceanside but can’t confirm it. Originally from Hawaii so I’m not familiar with the industry here… I take it that all your keel fins are molded - do they stand up to daily use? Rocks and reefs aside! I take it that if I go through with this 7’ 10" Double Ender + keel that I don’t have to place the box far back on the tail? You had also mentioned that Cheyne’s still fit as ever - what is he, fourty-something? Is he still a vegetarian? Lift weights? Etc. Thanks again, this is really helping. There’s really no place I can go to get a straight answer about these keel fins. Mitch
I’ve been riding my star fin for about a week now. Surfing it on my 6’3" single fin egg the biggest difference is the holding power. It’s really solid off the bottom and seems to work best high in the face. I see why the Australian’s won the America’s cup. Driving in the soup behind sections your planted like a redwood tree. To me it is not as snappy in the turns as my standard flex fin but on my next session I’m going to move it way up and see what happens. There also seems to be a bit of drag depending on where you are on the wave. Keeping your board on rail and your turns flowing is when the fin comes alive. Keeping your board way high in the pocket and camping out is what makes this fin worth having. Overall not as hot doggy as my flex fin but I’m still testing for the sweet spot. I’ve got about 3" of fin box left to explore. Using a floating leash from DA Kine solves the leash drag problem. SR over and out. http://www.boardfishing.com
Mitch, Keels are real tough. Made out of stuff that not as brittle as first ones. Why 7’10’’ double ender. You should try a 7’10’’ nugget. I spoke with Johnny Orr today. He shapes boards himself. He shaped a couple of the boards in Scream in Blue. Cheyne is not as into the veggie thing, probably still 80%. Not on tour and married, but still fit as anyone on tour. He really got ripped the first year of the Billibong XXL and I thought is was close this year as well. If you want a Cheyne type board out of epoxy I would recommend Steve Forstall, he has shaped a few of them and is one of the best egg shapers in the business. Him and Greg have mastered epoxy. He is in Melborne Fl. Mccoy surftech nuggets should be ready by August. I think Randy will make them available in U.S.
I see people down around Byron Bay riding those nuggets all the time. If you want one go to Byron and get the real one there and ride with the hippies.
Notce I said Cheyne type boards. If it does not say Mccoy on it it’s not a nugget. There is much more to that design than outline. I always say go to the sorce.
Atom, Is John still shaping? I tried to contact him once about the possibility of getting a board but he was busy taking care of an orchard somewhere up in the country. Checked out the McCoy website and thought the Nuggets were interesting. Shipping one from Australia would be so expensive! Does Greg Pautsch still have contact with McCoy - design wise? Maybe the Surftech thing is a viable option. Does Cheyne still sell his Rainbow Rock clothing? And stickers? Used to see them 'round the North Shore but haven’t lately. Can you get these items besides keel fins? Mahalo.
John still shapes, hard to get. His boards are called liquid. Mostly to freinds and such. Next to Mccoy Forstall’s look really good. Pautsh and Mccoy on so so terms. Greg could do one from the picture because nuggets are really just lazor zaps with more nose and more parallel rails. Rails need to be real soft almost through the tail. I have some Rainbow Rock stickers, but Cheyne does not do that much any longer. He is sponsored by Cult. Even Jeff Bushman could probably do one, if you could talk him into it. Bushy is pretty versatile.