ok so how did modern shortboard fins become the basic curved template we see today? No other watercraft use a design like this. reading about hydro and aero dynamics tell us curves dont flow as good and create more vortex than straight. why do we not use square fins? im sure there is an answer what do you guys think?
Designed off of dolphins pretty much. Square has been done … efficient but curved has a nice “feel.” Not as abrupt as straight lines. Straight lines are used in sailboards for race boards but on wave boards they still use curves like on surfboards.
As I saw in the film Crystal Voyager, George Greenough shaped a fin for his velo spoon modeling it from a tuna or marlin fin I think it was. He wanted a flexy fin that would help him project his kneeboard with speed and to blend it with the flex of the spoon in order to fit better inside the wave. If you watch old footage of him you will see how he was doing some crazy snaps and going vertical back then which was way ahead of his time.
Things that are inspired in nature are usually very neat because nature itself has gone through a very long time of trial and error testing called evolution by Darwin.
Form follows function. No other crafts operate in such a wide range of angle of attack. Thus the curves.
There are square fins. I've seen 'em on longboards(squared out D fins).
they pivot well, but a more curved fin allows for a stiffer fin base and a flexier fin tip. and the more swept fin outline helps turns to hold a bit better and not pivot too much
…its something like Obproud say
Surfboards fins are a compromise.
Surfboards need not so “efficient” fins because we as a surfers want those AOA every second and these not so aero - hydro dynamic fins provide just that, inefficiency in straight line, too much friction and that is good to turn and to draw the wave
we don t need to go much more faster than the wave
i just ask cause i got a few quads and started changing fins up noticed a big diff on speed dialers over g5 and g3's so i started making some fins bigger speed dialers got even better then 5 fin bonzers when i got the rear size rt amazing. now i have some huge canards to try in the morn fronts 6in. base 5in deep super stiff rears minus 1.5 rears 60 /40 foil each creation seems to be better than the last also gunna try a rear canard on the bonzer set up 6.base 7 deep well see whats up in the morn, info on rider 6.0' tall 205 been surfin before i could walk board 6'6'' firewire dominator. dad shaped boards while i was growing up ive shaped quite a few myself neither of us have in the last 6yrs. but im jumping back in luv the site amazing
Nothing in nature is a straight edge. They are all curves
Hmmm… How about the cell walls in plants, the linear arrangement of skeletal muscle bundles, crystals, Half Dome… ok sorry for being a dick. Please continue. Mike
this set up i made went well the other morn in fun surf the canard quads did not get finished