I’m not sure if this is the place to ask but does anyone know what is the best fin configuration and bottom for a kite surfing board? Ive been a shaper for 7 years but I dont know anything about kitebordings special needs. Any feedback is apreciated.
I’m not sure if this is the place to ask but does anyone know what is the > best fin configuration and bottom for a kite surfing board? Ive been a > shaper for 7 years but I dont know anything about kitebordings special > needs. Any feedback is apreciated. I just started kiteboarding a couple months ago while living on Maui. I don’t know a whole lot about shaping boards, so excuse me if my terminology is off. I did pay attention to the trends I was seeing on the beach at Kanaha where Pete Cabrina and the dudes at Naish were testing all their gear. A lot of the guys are riding wakeboard type decks in which because of the thin rails, fins don’t become so much of an issue. Jimmy Lewis would be the man to contact about that. Fins were definitely important on the directional shapes because the rails are thicker and don’t bite into the water as well when cutting into the wind. Cabrina’s boards had a finbox in the center, with a regular thruster type of set up of FCS fins on either side. He also had another set of stubby FCS’s that were further forward and close to the rails. The other popular fin set up was two finboxes set maybe five inches apart with twin skegs that were long but relatively skinny at the base. Since the sport is so young, there aren’t any standards and know one really knows what the “best” configuration is. It basically comes down to trying different stuff on the water. If I were still on Maui I probably wouldn’t even be looking at directional surfboad type shapes instead going for a wakeboard style of board. But with the lighter winds here on the mainland and all the windsurfing cross-overs, the directional shapes will probably be more popular.
The previous message was not posted by . It was posted by me, Swaylock.
Fletch: I mentioned that I would do some research. Well I found it. On p. 106 of this months Surfer mag there is a picture of some dude popping air on a kite surfer…taken from beneath! Here’s what I could make out from the photo: fin setup looked like a typical longboard 2+1 setup. Center fin (in a traditional fin box) looked 6"-8" tall, side fins 3"-4" tall. Normal rake. Looked like ordinary placement that you’d find on a surfboard. check it out. Swaylock
Swaylock I love the fact that there is less hardcore equipment than >windsurfing. Im going to have to give it a try. I need something to do when its >blown out. You know, I was thinking about a five-fin Bonzer. Lots of fin in the >water and the side fins could perhaps provide enough edge control to go up wind >without an enormous center fin. What do you think? Bonzers are really nice for their ability to hold a line and accelerate (I’ve been experimenting with a (1985?) 6’3" Campbell Brothers bonzer at my local beach and point breaks around San Francisco). For this quality I think one might be fine for tracking on a kite surfer. The more I think about the more I think some sore of center skeg would be the prefered deal.>>>You can still mess with the center fin design too. I think that a winged keel >might stay in the water when you wouldnt want it to. Prob. dislocate both arms >or something. Im thinking something pretty upright though, not a ton of rake. >The thing that has me puzled is whether you would want a long single concave >get lift and just rely on a deep fin or, to go like, rolled to flat to panel vee >solely to handle the speed. I mean these guys are going 50kts over whitecaps. That’s not exacly softcore! Due to our ignorance I think we may have to defer to the maniacs in Hawaii. You’d think a guy like Dick Brewer could answer a question like that…if he ever checked his e-mail. Richard…are you out there? Seriously though I heard Surfers Journal has shows on ESPN and someone mentioned that they featured kitesurfing in one episode.
What about the shape of the fins? Do you reckon they are fins with a > traditional rake or something else like a winged keel. I keep picturing > people getting lifted out of the water and not having much control > (probably kind of fun it its own way though).>>> I wonder what the advantages/improvements kite surfing would have over > traditional windsurfing?>>> Swaylock I love the fact that there is less hardcore equipment than windsurfing. Im going to have to give it a try. I need something to do when its blown out. You know, I was thinking about a five-fin Bonzer. Lots of fin in the water and the side fins could perhaps provide enough edge control to go up wind without an enormous center fin. What do you think? You can still mess with the center fin design too. I think that a winged keel might stay in the water when you wouldnt want it to. Prob. dislocate both arms or something. Im thinking something pretty upright though, not a ton of rake. The thing that has me puzled is whether you would want a long single concave to get lift and just rely on a deep fin or, to go like, rolled to flat to panel vee solely to handle the speed. I mean these guys are going 50kts over whitecaps.
kite boarding is pretty new and the few people I know building them in > Hawaii are still experimenting with exact placement. As for what that > placement is I do not have the slightest idea. I suggest contacting some > of the sail board shops in Hawaii, maybe they can help. What about the shape of the fins? Do you reckon they are fins with a traditional rake or something else like a winged keel. I keep picturing people getting lifted out of the water and not having much control (probably kind of fun it its own way though). I wonder what the advantages/improvements kite surfing would have over traditional windsurfing? Swaylock
I’m not sure if this is the place to ask but does anyone know what is the > best fin configuration and bottom for a kite surfing board? Ive been a > shaper for 7 years but I dont know anything about kitebordings special > needs. Any feedback is apreciated. kite boarding is pretty new and the few people I know building them in Hawaii are still experimenting with exact placement. As for what that placement is I do not have the slightest idea. I suggest contacting some of the sail board shops in Hawaii, maybe they can help.
Fletch: Good question. My first insticts would that it would be some sort of extreme winged keel and I’m not sure if you can get that over the counter. The folks a rainbow fins and o’fishl fins and tunnel fins should see this should see your post. In the mean time I’ll see if I cant do a little research. Swaylock