Finally been getting some waves on my 6’10" Spence vee bottom hull. Very fun ride but feels stiff due to my light weight and lightweight style perhaps as well. Just seem to have gotten the fin in the right place or very very close. Now thinking of modifying fin and have two suggestions from respected hullish people so I am trolling for votes and or other suggestions:
a) current fin is based on 9" L-Flex. Just get an 8" L-Flex (volan of course) from Ames
b) get another identical fin so have one for reference and shave thin slices out of entire trailing edge (and refoil) until feels right.
I can think my way into good reasons and negatives for either choice. Halp? Thank you
Quick question/thought for ya’… Is the current L-flex you’re riding made by Ames? If so, you might consider ordering one of the handfoiled fins directly from Greg Liddle. They seem to be slightly narrower all the way through (from the base to the tip) and once you sand the gloss off of it, they get really flexy (but in a good, lively sort-of-way).
I’ve tried a bunch of different l-flex fins from True Ames and some L-flex-esqe fins from other fin makers, but I keep going back to the fins made by Greg as my favorites for the singlefin hulls. They seem to give the board the most life from what I can tell.
Otherwise, I say try option B but spring for the volan variety over the standard fin material. It has better flex characteristics.
With regards to option A., I seem to recall the L-flex fins getting a little stiffer as you go down in size and maybe the base width increasing somewhat. It might just be my eyes/mind playing tricks on me though.
Good info, thank you. Fin on there now is the one I got from Spencer, maker unkown by me but in Ventura area. It is Volan, actual depth is 9 3/8" I just measured to be sure. So yeah, likely best bet is getting a 9 incher from Greg which I imagine will be a true 9" so slightly smaller. Or maybe better still, describe the board and ride to Greg and let him send me whatever he thinks best. If that doesn’t nail it, I can use it as reference and cut on the present one.
i’m guessing it is based on a fin that i took to scott, who in turn had some made…if so, it was made with a slightl thicker foil-in addition, they are a little more verticle than a liddle fin. what ya might want to try first is take some material out of the base plate so it sits at same angle as a liddle…i’t might be all you have to do to get it tuned in…if that doesn’t work get one from greg. he now has three base widths available-i’d go with narrow based one…
Matt, any suggestions how I know when I get the right angle? No Liddle fin to compare to. More angle would make it a bit shallower but also more raked?
Was going to re-set angle of fin per Matt’s suggestion but just got emailed base cord length, depth and rake by a friend w/ a True Ames L-Flex. Seems mine is same base and rake just a bit deeper so thinking I’ll shave the 3/16 off the top first and blend in the foil and after riding it a bit start some thin strips off the trail edge. Worst cast scenario I’ll get a new fin from Ames or GL (and some glass itch)
Site won’t let my computer post in line. I had these. Rocker is standard hull, belly, rails etc.
Doubt wider base would help as I’m already feeling over finned. Unless compensated by less depth/tip which could be problematic on wide tail.
Here’s some board dims:
Spencer Kellogg shape (July ’07) 6’10” X 17.75” X 21.75” X 15.5”
Current fin base depth=9 1/4 base chord=5 1/8 rake=5
L-Flex as given to me by a friend d=9 b=5 1/8 r=5
Pin is at rear of fin so it would also be easy to move pin and change angle of fin set so it is 9" deep. Then if needed trim tip back so rake=5 (estimate that would remove about 1/8 inch off the end)
Moved the pin and changed the angle fin sits in box. Bad news is after trimming bottom of base to fit there is so little base left at that end that even after fattening it up w/ resin for tight fit there is a least an 1/8 inch of wiggle. Just not enough vert dimension to the base to hold the fin solid.
At least I can get some idea of overall effect and monkey w/ template a bit until I get new one from Ames or GL
