The trackiness of the old school Lis fish was more a function of a complete lack of tail rocker or v pannel matched with huge keels. Given that the tail block (pod) on your board looks fairly pulled in you could go with the fins further up and a bit wider. If you want a board that runs (trims out and flies) then skip the toe-in. If you want it to turn better, toe them in. I’ve had quite a few fish that did both by using a single foil with no toe-in.
That’s why I’m a real proponent of using fin boxes. After you finish the board and ride it a few times, you can always knock them off and move them around a bit. Or knock them out and install some boxes with adjustable features (cant, for-aft) like Probox.
Woah first board and you’re making your own fins? That’s awesome, that’s a step I dont think I would ever take.
Wouldn’t you want something more modern than 0 toe 0 cant? I just picture something based on a more modern twin feeling looser, because its already going to be really fast. I think of the traditional keel setup better for taking longboard lines on a shorter board.
Also found this for ya if you havn’t read it, I think some people that posted in there have jumped in here too
first: that is not a fish; there s no way you can do a fish and performs like a fish bigger than 6.
-you still can refoil more your lam fin;put a 36 grit disc on the sander and foil again, then re lam.
then you need a concept (before you shape the board mainly)
after that you decide what planshape to follow and what fin/s follow better that design, intentions.
ok, in this case you have the shaped blank waiting for the fins; sothink what you want to enhance in that board; short arcs (not the best planshape to do that), down the line speed; turnability, etc
what the waves you ll ride and back foot placement
good surfer or average one, et
many questions you have to resolve previously.
But let me tell ya that “2 in 4” type of fin designs are far better that the old big based fins; designs like the Pavel speed dialer, etc.
Reverb: Thanks for the advice, maybe on the next board I will know to plan out the whole concept. It gives a new appreciation to what surfboard builders do everyday. Next time, the fins will get more attention. I just need to get this first board done and learn from what I do on this first one to apply to the next. I picked up the cloth and resin today and while waiting, Carl Ekstrom walked in and I was able to pick his brain a bit. What a wonderful man, he was real friendly and approachable and was happy to share his knowledge with me. So when the So. Cal. weather clears up, I’ll have a go at laminating. I picked up a gallon of Solarez, so hopefully I can get it glassed in one day. Back in the late 60’s I worked for Petrillo Surfboards in Costa Mesa as the “assistant laminator” which meant doing all the nasty chores the glasser didn’t want to do, but after helping glass hundreds of boards (ok, mixing resin, flipping boards, cutting laps and a lot of clean up) I should get through this next stage pretty easy. I do appreciate everyones input & I do read everything that is suggested to me…
Here’s the new fins, a much better effort than the first try. They’re laminated with 4oz. cloth & Solarez. They were glassed and sanded in 30 minutes, that stuff is amazing, it was really cloudy and it still went off in 3 minutes.
Nice job on the board and fins! You may consider placing your fins 7 1/2" - 5 1/2" from the end of the board depending on how much drive vs. turnability you want and how powerful of a surfer you are. They will work fin in that range. Old school practice was parrallel to the stringer and thus no toe and no cant. Modern day practice is 1/8" toe and 3-6 degrees of cant depending how easy you want to turn the board. I just came away from a local surf shop here in Newport where a reputable shaper had a 6’ fish with tons of toe like 1/2’ per fin on a template just like yours with a pulled in tail with double foiled fins and cant. He is a respected local shaper and does great work. This board will turn really easy and should be able to attack the lip with ease. It may have some drag but in round waves should work really well. It may hinder top speed down the line but will be super fun in the pocket. Hope this helps you figure out what you want based on your intentions. Good luck!
