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Philosophy #5
Design your board starting at the fins
Fins and fin placement are the most underappreciated aspect of surfboard design.
Before you start mowing foam, in the design process, it is best to ask yourself "How do I want this board to surf, and in what waves do I want to ride this board?" Loose and skatey for small mushburgers? Super fast and drivey for surviving monster barrels (or more likely closeout sections)? Boosting airs?
Fin position, toe-in, and cant, as well as fin template, foil, rake, and material all combine to produce a specific hydrodynamic output.
************We've been kind of brainwashed as boardbuilders with the standard 1 1/8" - 1 1/4" in from the rail, 1/4" toe-in, blah blah blah. ['Safety positions' for standard copy-cat oulines.]
....Do those positions even work best? *************
Or do they just satisfy the need to put fins somewhere on the board?
************ Ever try placing your fins 1" from the rail, less toe-in and using a smaller surface area fin? Guess what, blazing speed and great hold in steep faces. Bigger fins placed 2" from the rail? Looser feel without sacrificing drive for smaller waves...
There are an infinte combination of fin setups to use, just know there are possiblities out there if you look out of the box. **************
At some point in the near future I will write a new Design Guide newsletter providing more detailed info on fins and fin positions...
In closing here's a post-session text message from a buddy I was surfing with yesterday:
"Never would of thought that the wrong fin created so much havoc. what a difference just changing that 1 trailer made..... "
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YES !!!
....these are some good reminders , right here !
I sure hope he DOES follow through on writing a new design guide newsletter .... because I , for one , would like to READ it , and put some of this into practice !!
and ,
as [ / if / when ] swaylocks continues to remains an open-minded forum about surfboards and fin designs and placements and such , hopefully lots more knowledge , 'breakthroughs' , experience , [and better surfing , as a result?] will be shared ....
..... and ...our enjoyment of this wonderful life will increase daily !
keep surfing !
cheers
ben
".... you're missing out on a valuable education on the affects of fin placement. If you're serious about improving your surfing and board designs you should have at least one board (or borrow a friend's) with an adjustable system to play with.