Going Single Fin

General Discussion
1

Hi Guys,

 

I’m relativelly new to surf (2 years now) and suffering for a big handicap: fear of a tri-fin thruster setup.

Long story short, while surfing my longboard (9.1’), wiped-out and while under water, hit a board’s thruster with my left leg.

The fin broke my skin, twisted inside, blood, hospital, stiches and me limping through three months of fisiotherapy.

I’ve recovered well and went immediatelly back to the sea.

Bought me another board (7’0’') but every now and then, especially with bigger waves (>2m) I get real disconfort and afraid of hurting myself again, not risking anything at all and not having much fun.

This has been becoming a big handicap and I’m getting a bit frustrated :confused:

So I thought, I’d like to change the setup on my 7’0’’ board to a single fin in hope of being less afraid of hitting bigger waves. (no thrusters to hit me :slight_smile: just a big fin)

The board was built by a local shaper (photos attached):

Currently I have a tri-fin setup composed of 2x"FCS G-X" thrusters with a “FCS 6’’ Single” fin.

[img_assist|nid=1065017|title=7'0'' tri-fin: 0|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=32][img_assist|nid=1065018|title=7'0'' tri-fin: 1|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=42]

 

 

 

I was wondering what was the best choice of fin to turn this board in a single fin.

Could you guys post some advices?

Let me know if you need more details/photos :slight_smile:

 

Best regards to all and thanks in advance,

 J.

2

Joseph,even a single fin is  dangerous.always be aware of where it’s at.I love Proteck fins,they surf really good(I am 57,been surfing all along since i was 10) they work in all kinds of waves; a friend of mine who is a pro longboarder  now and used to be a pro shortboarder on tour even uses a real floppy one at Pipe( I don’t like that  floppy fin,but then again he is a pro) Proteck are available for center fins,side fins,thrusters.they have good release,probably because of that edge at the back that flexes,like a fish’s fin.I don’t have them on all my boards,since they don’t have them for Bonzers,and one of my longboards has glassed on side fins,and they are too pretty to take off(candy apple red),that’s probably the one that’s gonna get me one of these days,but like everyone else said,you gotta pay to play!Aloha and hope you find your thing.

3

Hi Joseph, I love single fins, I find them to be smooth, style oriented surf craft. My big wave pintail is a single fin and I wouldn’t surf a multi fin log… That said, surfing is dangerous, there’s fin cuts, eye gets poked with the tip of the board, reef scrapes, drowning inside an underwater rock ledge, fracturing your left eye socket and cheek bone while attempting a backside air off the backwash impact on a gnarly overhead beach break (happened to me, now I have a plate in my skull)… Point is, a single fin wont give you much safety… My advice is to get a pair of flippers, a bodyboard and a helmet and go big!!! Don’t listen to what others say about being a sponger or dick dragger, I ride a bodyboard sometimes on waves many wouldn’t dare try on a surfboard and I also use my single fin longboard on double overhead waves too. Have had 2 of my best friends die surfing, one dissapeared at Pipeline and the other drowned at Playa Negra. I also love surfing pointbreaks on a mat, which in my opinion is the safest surf craft. No matter what you ride, there’s still other peoples’ boards, the risk of becoming paralyzed after landing headfirst on a sand bar, ohh and of course sharks! Another thing, become a very very good swimmer cause leashes are dangerous… Ping pong is safer although you could choke on the ball.

4

If you’re paranoid about fins you could try safety fins.  I wouldn’t do it, but, different strokes.  

 

http://www.surfcohawaii.com/category-s/76.htm

5

Hey Joseph,

sounds like you got tagged good…as has every surfer on this forum…goes with the territory.  As does bouncing off reefs, getting hit by someones else’s board, cutting your foot while running over the sand to the surf…

The more you surf,  the better you get at instinctively doing the right thing during a wipeout to get away from your board to minimize your chance of getting hurt.  I’d suggest trying to free your mind from worries of another injury, ride your current set-up, and have some grins…

6

Hey Joseph,

I understand where you’re coming from, I’ve had some less than friendly run ins with fins. I agree with TonyLion, it’s just part of the game - surfing is inherently dangerous, but to a certain (sane) extent I think that’s part of the appeal, so don’t get discouraged! That said, I can vouch for gdaddy’s suggestion, Pro Tecks aren’t the sexiest fins on the market but I’ve seen people get absolutely decked by them without suffering more than a moderate bruise. They don’t ride half bad either.

Aloha!

7

I've had stitches in my mouth and foot from fins. It wasn't their fault, wasn't mine, just bad luck. If its stopping you only in big waves, the big waves are probably the issue?. One single fin could do more damage than one thruster fin for sure, especially if they are the crappy plastic fcs ones.

I think an 8'' dolphing fin would work well on that.

 

i just got a 10'' dolphin fin for my longboard. It is massive, but feels so smooth.

8

That looks like a fun board, just my size!  Bummer about the accident, I think your reaction is completely understandable, that fin setup there looks pretty safe to me 'tho.  Can you believe Bethany Hamilton goes out there and rips, after a shark took her arm!  She's my hero!  Hang in there, I think your anxiety will pass with time.  When you start feeling stressed, just get out and relax, don't try to push yourself when you feel the anxiety rise.  Or like someone said, ride a boogie board!  Keep it fun!

9

Pro Teck fins come in different stiffnesses.

10

Guys, THANKS A LOT for all your comments and support on this! :slight_smile:

Will try and go for an 8’’ and let you guys know after the weekend!

 

Best regards to all,

J.

11

Hi again,

Well, tried single fin :slight_smile:

 

Went for the only 8’’ available fin, a FCS Fatboy (attached photo).

FUN!, with meter waves, somewhat less stable than previous setup.

 

It seemed that I needed to paddle somewhat stronger that with the tri-fin setup. Is this expected?

Should I move the fin more towards the end or center of the board?

Can I use this board setup for bigger waves? (2m+)

 [img_assist|nid=1065427|title=FCS Fatboy 8''|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]
[img_assist|nid=1065426|title=Single Fin - 7'0'', 21 3/4'', 2 1/2''|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=33]

 

 

 

Board measurements: 7’0’‘, 21 3/4’‘, 2 1/2’’

 

Finally, between my friends there are two unused fins, a 6.5’’ FCS Soulflex and a 7’’ FCS Single.

Does it make sense to use any of these in my board?

[img_assist|nid=1065428|title=FCS Soulflex|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=100][img_assist|nid=1065429|title=FCS Single|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=100]

 

 

 

 

Best regards 2 all,

 

  J.