I am shaping my first board, a 6’2" retro fish, and wanted to know if I had to go with the twin fin set-up or could I use a single fin box for it? Will it be squirelly with the single fin?
After about 2 years of the traditional fish’ popularity, single-finned versions started appearing. The most notable in our area was the “Summer Fish” by G&S. Featuring a long, high-aspect single fin instead of the twin keels. The tail tips gradually reduced in span over time. I’d say that was about 1973 or so… Just before the “country soul” period where the gunned-out 7’6" chine-railed hard winger/hard pin was the rage. Way too gunned but to be cool you had to have one. Just stand there with your finger in the face, nodding…
…thinking of all the waves back then that went to waste…
Fin config should depend mainly on rider STYLE and preference.
For sharp, quick, snappy turns, a twin or quad.
For smooth long, speed and flowing stylists, singles and bonzers…glide.
Tail shape doesn’t determine fin configuration.
A swallow tail can have anywhere’s from one to 7 fins.
A round pin tail can have above.
So can a squash or square tail.
Tails wider than 17" need some help with bigger fins, adjusted bottom shapes, rockers, templates, and/or rails.
If you want it to be a true fish, twin keels would be the way to go. Most fishes have tail measurements around 16" which is quite wide for a single fin. My suggestion would be to go with the twin keels, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
aint a fish with one fin –
LeeDD,
wouldn’t you need a VERY large single fin to hold in a 17" tail? Either that or add some other control element?
regards,
Håvard
Where would I find twin keel fins to put on the board?
newbee,
Check the archive search. Lots of discussion and keel fin talk. You can make your own from plywood. There pretty easy and fun to make, they work good, and they look bitchen. Send me a message if you want some templates.Mike
Single fin, 17" wide tail.
You can go McCoy route, with 10" fin or winged keels.
You can go homemade 11-13" sabres.
You can introduce double concave to the tail, thinning the rail lots and keep the template relatively straight between your feet…and use normal 8.5" fins.
You cannot have blocky rails, flat decks, hard rails, or dead flat across bottoms.
Everybody you talk to will have a little different definition of a fish. I’m not gonna touch that.
One thing is sure, if you put fin boxes in it you can surf it with an infinite number of fin combinations. Some guys are starting to put small Bahne boxes on the rails (there’s about 10 different choices for rail fin boxes)and a large one in the center. Don’t be afraid to go your own way. In the end that’s what surfing is about anyway.
If you want go traditional a glass keel fins on go for it. If you don’t like how the board surfs you can always retrofit boxes in it.
Mahalo, Rich
Yeah, please send me the template for the fin… thanx!