Normally when we set fins se follow a formula (Some just guess)
I made a down sized shortboard were we maintained the volume with a shorter thicker board however with a rail simular to his standard shortboard, Basically the volume was hidden in the center while maintaining his standard rail.
Since I went 4" shorter I set the front fins a 1/4" back.
We thought we had produced the magic carpet for those shoulder high glassy fall days we get in south orange county in the fall. It was a complete failure.
My rider came back and was very displease and said our experiement was a complete failure. So I check out the rocker, foil, outline. bottom contours and finally looked at the fin settings. Form there I asked about drive? The surfer said it had no drive and was a slug. Did I cave? No I did not!
We took the board to the sanding room and re-routered the fin boxes and set the 1/4" further up.
5 surf sessions later the rider told me he had 5 solid session and the board had so much more drive and speed. Also being shorter than his standard by 4" made his surf sessions very lively.
The funny thing for me was it was only 1/4" difference in the front fin placement.
Now keep in mind I don’t thing most surfers are this senitive? He has surfed the world over and as been sponsered by some big players in the industry.
The lesson I got from this is when downsizing a shortboard fin placement should not be drasically changed.
Here’s a photo of the cosmetics after the correction (Not pretty) however it works.
So know we will make the board in a space suit. (It will be documented)
4" shorter
Same rails
1/16" increased thickness
1/2" wider
Center Point 1" forward than standard.
Rocker constrained
Material XPS
Stringers Parabolic
Cloth (New Technology)
Resin EPOXY
Method: VACUUM
Projected weight: - 5 pounds
Core: Combo XPS + other
Glass: New Technology Space suit
Stark Industries: Ironman testing
Photo of mistake corrected: