I have been trauling through the archives, about fin placement and installation and i have a few queries.
where should i put the fins of a 6ft fish surfing 2-5ft waves,
how much of an inward angle to the stringer should i give these fins
and what is the best method of installing FCS’s the “H” technique or the column technique.
Thanks for all help
Tom
I use FCS in all my shorties, I’m not one of the haters around here. That said:
If you’re making a Fish, I think FCS would be one of my last choices of fin systems.
They’ve got a lousy selection of 5 1/2’s, and you have to buy the carbons ($$). You’d probably be better off going with a box of some sort, if you have to have them removable. If not, go grab some plywood and make yourself a set of keels.
G’day Mate,
It depends if you are talikng about a fish or a FISH, ill explain:
A true FISH has a deep, deep Swallow tail and is a Twin Fin but now days surfers just call a swallow tail board around 6ft a fish.
I know F.C.S make a Mark Richards Twin fin plus Trailler Set that might be worth checking out at www.fincontrol.com but if yours is a true fish (deep Swallow Twinnie) I recomend another System maybe Lokbox check 'em out at www.lokboxfins.com
Happy Surfing.
Josh.
my fish is a fish not a FISH. if that makes sence, hence using tri-fin setup. have bought FCS G5 due to budget, just wondering what setting them in at an angle towards the stringer does to the performance of the board?
Tom xx
The 5 1/2" FCS don’t come with the trailer, you have to buy their little mini-trailer, which, in my opinion, is too big. Plus the 5 1/2’s only come in carbon… or as I’ve seen anyway. I don’t know where you’re at, but in SoCal/Orange area there’s a shaper called Lance Collins who makes these LB’s with 5 1/2’s on the side and a custom, fiberglass, mini-trailer that’s tiny (maybe 2"). I finagled a couple into my possession, they’re awesome. A little extra bite, yet still feels like a twin… but rideable at Newport.
If you’re going to stick the G5’s on there, I’d just treat it like any ole shortboard, a wide shorty, with a swallow tail… because that’s what it’s gonna be. Toe-in 1/8" - 1/4"… though I can’t say I’ve ever done a full 1/4".
merci Beaucoup
Mate, have a look at www.4wfs.com as well, its an option, I’m sold on it, gives a fair bit of play to experiment with.
personally, i like Future fin systems. they hold as firm as a glass-on, and the fins come out with half the effort as FCS. the biggest difference is that as easy as it is to remove the fins on both FCS and Future, the fin BOX on the Futures actually stays in!!! those FCS plugs get ripped out all the time, and it’ll really put a damper on your session. if it isn’t too late, you might want to shop around for a better fin system.