Hi everyone, i own a hand full (school?) of fish and have noticed recently that some shapers and a couple of fin companies have started putting a gap in the rear third of the keel closest to the bottom of the board as a way of loosening it up. Futures have this in their keels and i relize they have to do it because of the length of the base of the fin, so it has clearance in and out of the box. Is this worth doing or are you better looking at the shape of the keels themselves or tailshape (double bump etc.) Thanks
g’day Scott ! [good to have another rocket scientist here !]
here’s a link to the thread I mentioned in a private message [see the box to the left of the forum page , it might have a green ‘1 message’ written there]
Thanks guys, Was just on ebay and found this wild looking carbon fibre Dick Van Straalen fish with the fins I was talking about. sorry the pics not super quality but if you squint…
I have a small school,too. I’ve been thinking about some of those cutaways. Why not? I’ve used the Futures and it worked well. I dont know or think the little cut out effected it noticably. Mike
I dive a fair bit and am always looking at “fish design” (the critters, not the boards - though Im building a passion for them too) and I would say that about 8o% of fish have a cut away right where the fin joins the body. Its amazing to watch sharks swim past making slight adjustments to their fins as they turn, almost unpercievable but obviously so used to finding perfect trim in any water conditions.
I think the cut away will help in a similar fasion - helping the board to adjust ever so slightly to find the sweet spot in a trim or turn.
I like the idea of a board called a fish having fish properties/proportions included and considered too - that would be interesting actually - average fish length (say tuna) to average fin length to develop a board length to fin length ratio (starting to sound like greenough now… time to go)
as you live on the east coast , and if you can make it to the fish fry in Currumbin [lucky YOU !!] , you will no doubt get to see Dick Van Straalen , his fishes , and his funky fins , face to face . [And , who knows ? …Maybe ‘Rasta’ will make an appearance too, eh ? someone , PLEASE take photos and video …PLEEEEASE ?!]
And , hopefully , get to ride some of the cutaways , and let us know how they go eh ?
I’m thinking it would be fun to make a pair for my fishes , and see , too …
Chipper, I expect to see a “Cutaway Keels” thread from you sometime soon
Seawitch, the DVS Fish on eBay is a very sweet looking board. DVS is certainly doing some great things with the Fish shape at the moment… always innovating. Maybe you should shoot up to the Fish Fry and have a chat to him.
…the remaing base appears to be less than half the base length , would that be right ?
[I’m thinking , if I make a pair , I will most likely do wood or foam core ones , designed to break at the tabs , and not to rip out the fcs plugs …]
Although …
plan B …
At least , with that small a base , I “may” be able to modify my EXISTING [thin model] fibreglass keel set , into a two tab version , using that cutaway idea …hmmmm …THAT would certainly save time , money , and hassle on having to lay up and foil a NEW set !
[and maybe I could experiment , with a “mini set” like this , ?cut away ? for starters …
good luck getting them to work right(or for very long) in a fin box. it seems to me, after looking at this setup in person and watching it being ridden, that an fcs tab would snap right off as soon as you got it into some juice, or at least the fin would snap out of the box. i’d say figure out the setup and board you want to use it with and glass them on at the front 1/3, leaving the rear 2/3 to independently flex and twist.
Thanks all for your thoughts, I def want to try out the DVS fins. I like woodys idea about the cut out possibly reducing turbulence. What are peoples thoughts feelings on how the cutouts would go on the more traditional, ply,non flex keels?
Chipper, I expect to see a “Cutaway Keels” thread from you sometime soon
Seawitch, the DVS Fish on eBay is a very sweet looking board. DVS is certainly doing some great things with the Fish shape at the moment… always innovating. Maybe you should shoot up to the Fish Fry and have a chat to him.
-Cam
g’day Cam !
here ya go , then , mate !
[“and all because … YOU ASSSSKKKED FER ITTTT !!” ]
before …
after …
…these have not been surfed yet , as my body is still cactus for paddling boards …
here’s an email i received today from my brother …
" Howdy Ben, Howarya? I’m currently …surfing a right hander, sorta point reef setup. plenty of bottom to the wave, very wackable with tubes as well. The wave doesn’t handle much over 1 1/2 times head high, but that’s ok, neither do I ! When it gets big there are other waves you can surf that are a little more sheltered from the swell. I lost my single fin jumping off the rocks about a week ago, so I’ve been surfin the green machine as a thruster since. This morning I tried the cutaway keels for the first time , and they felt fine. Didn’t do a much in the way of turns, I was hunting tubes, with some success, and did a bit of racing down the line. Early days yet , but they didn’t put a foot wrong, my only complaint would be that they are quite loose in the plugs, I tightened the grub screws right down but one of them still has a little movement. Mayba a couple more layers in th next lot? By the way, have you tried using a file in the finish foiling, after you rough foil with the grinder? Very effective and controllable. Takes out the highs and lows and gives you a nice flat, even foil. OK, I’ll sign off. More feedback coming your way. I’m pleased, the fins will stay in until they do something wrong, which looks to be unlikely. Take care mate and stay warm. Hope your getting plenty of waves too ! simon
two pairs of hemp cutaway keels of different thicknesses ,
the light blue cutaway that i sent simon to try overseas [thanks , simon, for the report !] ,
and
the old triple-tabber tinted keel that i just cut down [but haven’t had a chance to surf yet …unfavourable weather and conditions for the last two weeks!],
i want to make some double foiled ones , some clear ones , perhaps a carbon fibre set , too…
…to be continued…
“consafos” kirk ,
please let us know how those ones of yours are going eh mate ?!
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