Latest thoughts on fixed fins vs. removable fins

With all the retro shapes resurfacing in the shaper world, what are some thoughts on a move back to fixed fins on hand shaped boards?  Is the future a balance between the two, imporved removable systems or forget the fixed fin altogether for modern convenience?

 

 

Fixed are better contoured to the board because the rovings and fiberglass provide smooth transition to the bottom of the board.

Is virtually no or inmeasurable movement with a fixed glased on fin, if you’re over 85 kilograms and you’re even an intermediate Surfer and if you had the same fins glass on you would notice a big difference between it and a plugin fin. 

There is benefit to plug in fins and Fin boxes travelling with multiple boards makes it easier also you can change fins and try out different stuff it’s good for fine tuning purposes. But if you already know what you want and you already know what works with the board that you’re getting built or building your self glass on fins will outshine any plugin fin even if they are exactly the same template brand.Plug in fins of all varieties are away overused .

Plugin fins FCS futures fin boxes have always been peddled to the masses because it takes a little bit less time to glass a board therefore it’s more profitable with production.

Almost every professional surfer has a sponsorship with a plugin fin company because they pay them money not because it improved there surfing. Things have become in some ways merchandise. you could pretty much right off all of plastic ones and you would use the fiberglass ones if you had no option .The fibreglass ones are just as good as any hand made fins but it’s the mounting their is still movement . If I go on an aeroplane and i get a damedged fin ( never has hapend )then ill just get it repaired and wait a day to surf when I get there.

A bit like a fold up bike they are handy because you can put it in the boot of your car but if you’ve got a car why would you bother owning the bike in the first place but I suppose with the professional side of things there’s not many riders in the Tour de France with fold up bikes because they arnt as good as a real one .

 

 

It’s accepted widely that the right fin ,glassed on in the right position , outperforms removeables hands down…glass-ons are logistically more difficult for o/s travel and freight…and the surfing public generally , has been conditioned to play with their fins , and buy more fins , with some pretty slick marketing techniques, and some high profile , well paid sponsorships…(lol)

Greg Griffin, one of the few (only?) shapers that custom makes fins specifically for EVERY board he builds would disagree with some of the comments above.

It was a bit harsh about the fold up bikes they do work ok i suppose ill give you that point

I know a few shapers who shape & glass their own boards , and also make the fins themselves…true , not too many do these days…although , there’s still quite a few who make their own single fins for the 10" slide boxes in longboards…and Huie , who makes all manner of fins for any board , to suit any fin system or glass-ons…the bulk of the fins here in Aus come from China… I just prefer the locally made stuff.

I remember an interview with Kelly years back where he said the increased performance of glass-ons was plainly noticeable.

I was at bells back a while when the fcs were starting to get a bit of a reputation .
I was in the tent talking to a bloke I told him “ive got his new fcs fins " im not to sure about wether they go that well yet”
He said " i only use them in advertising for my sponsor’s the shape and size is the same as my small wave boards but i wouldnt use them for real " all my boards i like to ride have glass on fins".

Kayu, I would prefer the locally made stuff too if it looked like that. Flippin gorgeous.

Sometimes people aren’t aware of what’s around there own local area…not sure why that is…anywhere there’s still boards being made , there will be people doing good work.

http://www.surffcs.com.au/fin-systems/fcs-origin 

dont see many guys using this system, but good halfway point 

 

I am having a hard time seeing this as a performance issue, sounds like an aesthetic preference.

You are exactly right.       The more roving/buildup, the more drag you have.       That’s why I went to all cloth, for glass on fins, in 1960 !

A hard edge might work for you so keep doing what you belive.

I love glass ons but I hate all the hand sanding… I am getting lazy in mu old age.

Thrailkill & Huck are right from a hydrodynamic perspective.

Fillets only create drag, if you don’t believe that, go and study some hydrodynamics.

Smooth transitions are only needed following the streamlines, not parallel to the streamlines (like the fillet is). And that is only true when fully submerged, it does not apply to the surboard tail, as that is on the intersection between water and air.

(BTW: All the statements above are made with the assumption of subsonic flow. You aren’t surfing supersonic right?)

 

…why is drag always regarded in a negative way ?..without it , a surfboard won’t work at all…a drag/lift equation without the drag would be a nightmare.

When you glass your board, you want to reduce resin usage for an optimal fibre/resin ratio that gives the strongest laminate.

Does that mean resin is bad?

We’re looking for the optimal lift/drag ratio.

I guess it boils down to WHERE you want the drag.

Not only where, but what kind !