Aloha, Making a 6’ 6" X 3’ & 1/4 thick 23’ wide fish. And wonder what size fins I need . I have 5&3/4 High 5&1/2 wide fins on my 6’4" “Thinner” fish and they seem OK ? But think I want bigger ones on this board . Wanted to use the Edge Adjustable fin system as I think it would be good to be able to adjust toe in …But the biggest fin they have is 4&1/2 wide X 5&1/2 tall that seems too small to me . Any help will be much appreciated . oh yea , There’s no way I can make fins myself . shaping and glassing the board is enough for me … Thanks Don J.
Hotcoat,
I put 9x5’s on my 6’6" fish and it works great. I don’t know how your smaller fins will work. But, I’m here to tell you that you can make fins. If I can. So can you. I am a complete novice and have made several for myself and friends. All work well. There fun to make, too. If you enjoy foiling surfboards you will probably enjot foiling fins. Use good cabinet grade plywood.PM me and I’ll mail you a template. Mike
Thanks for the offer I did PM you … Hope someone can give me some ideas on this … is’nt there another fin company who has fins that are adjustable for toe in ??? Has anyone had any experience with them?? I know that Greg Loher has used the Edge Fin System and has the special install tool here in Fla. Wonder if I could adapt another fin to go on the Edge Fin part which goes in the fin box… Maybe I could post a picture and see if anyone has any ideas … I just feel the fins they sent me are too small for the fish I’m making… Mahalo Don
At 150 lbs., the smallest twins I’d ever choose to use would be around 6" tall x 5.75 chord.
I’m not sure about toe-in. Had plenty of twins without any, and a current tri fin dead straight with the stringer. Works fine, no tracking, no tendency to do anything except go fast.
If you need extra hold, a box trailer and fins from 3" to 5" would do the trick, then you can have your Edge system and run a small trailer.
Making glass-on fins is really easy, but much harder are fins for boxes.
Thanks Lee … I’ve watched your posts a lot and respect your opinion … I’m 200 lbs which is why I’m going for the larger fish and the waves here in Fla. usually aren’t as powerful (harder to catch) … I allready have plans to use a futures box to have the option of a trailer fin . But I really wonder about the side fins … Bigger board and rider = Bigger fins??? or Smaller waves = less need for bigger fins ??? who knows?? I also like the Idea of being able to adjust the toe … toe in turns better ? but drags no toe goes faster but turns harder?? Fish are inherently <sp? looser allready maybe you don’t need toe in???
Any more help / suggestions will be appreciated .. Don J.
You can make up for “too small” side fins with softer rails, blockier, and more tail rocker.
You can make dead straight side fins turn well with more rocker, and curvier tail template.
Most “retro fish” have straight side templates and dead straight fins…and turn OK.
For small, slow waves, why slow yourself down with MORE toe-in, more fins, or bigger fins?
Of course, you have to strike a balance between low drag speed and spinout in the curves, or sideslipping along the face.
OK Lee thanks … I’m gonna go with the fins that edge sent me … The board has some of the things that you talked about soft rails pretty much thruout and pretty blocky too… The blank 6’ 9" A suprised me with the rocker it had in it for a Fish blank . I left most of it in it so that will help also to do the “make up” you spoke of … The fins will be edge fins and can be changed if I need too … I really want to experiment with toe some … Thanks and happy Holidays to all… Don J.
Quote:
is’nt there another fin company who has fins that are adjustable for toe in ???
www.4wfs.com regards, Håvard
Thanks I looked at their web site and the fin system looks kinda complicated … The Edge fin system is easy . They just don’t have much choice in fin templates … But then neither does the 4wfs system… Mahalo Don
why not take the thruster sized fins and arrange them in a quad shape? plenty of hold and you will be able to experiment wiht toe-in times 4. the quad fish i have works as good as any other ive tried, and for small waves it cant be beat, except maybe by my fish with 6" twins.
I don’t see how much more complicated it really can be. Both have to be a disc mounted in a plug of some sort if you are supposed to be able to rotate them. Couldn’t quite figure out how the edge plug look like into the board from their website. Two screws on each, one to lock the disc, one to lock the the fin in place. Diffrences: The 4wfs slot for the fin is oversized a la lokbox so you can slide the fin back and forth. The disc on the 4wfs is interchangeble for other discs with different ‘splay’ or tilt or whatever you call it.
The fin rage is very limited though unless you want fibreglass fins which were quite expensive…
I’m about to order a set, will let swaylocks crew know how it turns out
regards,
Håvard
Not meaning to throw a spanner in the works here Hotcoat, but if your board is that thick, would you consider using a ‘fins unlimited’ back fin box, [10 " or so], so that you could ride your ‘fish’ as a single fin ? Mine goes GREAT as a single…
…just a thought…
regards !
ben
Aloha , The idea of using a full size center box is a good on i never thought of .thanks … I can put any size fin in that although I was planing on this being a twin fin fish…
The 4way fin system “box” sounded difficult to install but thats just me …I didn’t understand the instructions… I will try to post a picture of the Edge fins "box " it’s just the same as a regular box but smaller and round… Happy Holidays Don J.