LB Quad conversion to Single fin - doable? functional?

General Discussion
1

So here’s the deal - I have this beautifully built Long (quad) Fish ala Frye via CC. Ive had this board for a little while now - I dont surf it all that often- kind of a special day board. when i first got it I surfed some chest to hh swell at Swami’s. insane down the line speed. seemed like a good wave for this shape. I brought it back to Rhode Island for good size clean hurricane surf - thus the “i dont surf it all that often” comment. so here is the deal because of its speed I find myself out running the wave. cutting back is real a chore - the quads make it super tracky. what I have been thinking of is converting it to a single (flex fin) to make it more responsive.

So -

  1. is this a stoooopid idea?

  2. How difficult is this sort of job? and will it f’up the resin work removing the quads?

  3. Are the bottom contours which are intended for a quad set up, single into dble -moderate V suitable for a single?

what else should I consider - 3 fin?

thanks

danny[img_assist|nid=1041948|title=cc quad glider|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=75]

2

I would leave the quad set-up as is and add a FU box with your choice of fin and start experimenting before grinding away those fins…

3

not sure how an good an experiment it would be with the quads still attached - adding another fin to the mix seems like it will only exacerbate the situation.

so grinding off the fins is a big job?

4

IMHO, adding a center fin will provide the drag you need to reduce speed (which might be your problem with cutbacks).

Grinding off fins isn’t very difficult if you have some experience fixing dings but I think you would be doing a mistake.

5

Hi Danny - I agree with Balsa - cutting off the fins would be a mistake. Another fine tuning option might be to reduce the fin size by grinding away the trailing edges. Bit by bit this would eventually:

  1. Reduce fin area

  2. Reposition the fin area slightly forward.

I would start by grinding off perhaps 1/8"-1/4" from the rear fins first. Focus on reducing the rake in the tips. Ride it and see if you notice any difference. Maybe another 1/8" from the fronts and test ride. Another 1/8" from the rear, etc.

I’m of the opinion that it is likely better a little stiff than too loose so you maybe shouldn’t get carried away.

It looks like an almost new board. I wouldn’t tear in to it right away. Maybe save it in the quiver for those days it might work as designed?

Cutting off the fins would make it difficult to restore to a like-new finish. It would also be pretty easy to really F*** it up but it is your board after all.

6

thanks John and Balsa,

more days for what the board is design for would indeed be nice.

i kind of like the idea of retooling the fins a little. or just letting it be and changing my approach

7

Danny,

What’s wrong with making another board for the specific waves? Either see a local shaper, or make a new one.

Surfboards are like golf clubs, you need a bunch of them. Sure you can play a round of golf with a 5 iron, but it won’t be a good round.

8

word. every time I get a new one I use that golf analogy on my wife. btw - how many clubs in a bag?

I have lots of other boards. I will just leave it be and use this on those special days.

9

“I have lots of other boards. I will just leave it be and use this on those special days.”

I’d be more than happy to hack off all those fins and install a box… Ha Ha…You made a good choice to not mess with the board.

What I don’t understand is why you don’t spell out the shapers full name and why you don’t give deminsions…I think CC deserves a litle more credit than just CC. Maybe a bigger photo…Give the glasser credit too!

10

stingray - my bad Chris Christenson 9’2" Quad Glider–other dims are approx. about 2 3/4" thick, nose 17, wide point 22, tail 16. Chris is an awesome craftsman. I meant no disrespect. I have owned a few of his shapes. they surf great in SD waves but then when I get them home to our weaker (and inconsistent) surf in Rhode Island its a different story. duh, I guess i could just leave em at my moms and surf them when I’m out there. I’m not sure who glassed it I think it was done at Global - do you know?

here is some board porn

450×600 97.1 KB

11

+1

450×600 90.1 KB

12

+2

728×600 52.9 KB

13

Thanks for the porn! I clicked the props button to get you some points :slight_smile:

In the first micro photo I thought the board was around 7 feet long…

Havea great day

Ray

14

Hi Cuda,

              problem with your quad is that the back fins are too far apart (too close to the rail). This makes the board grab and bite.

With the back fins closer to each other the board will act with a better re-centring effect, will stop biting and will still have speed and security. It will also pivot well. Leave the same size fins in.

For reference here’s a back fin spread table.

Also a less exacting but helpful fin position guide for longboards.

More photos and info found here

http://www.mckeesurf.com/brucemckee/longboards.htm

Shown is a test board from over 10 years ago which showed instantly the differences.

Cheers.

 

15

Cuda,

         Here’s your board after a photoshop-fin-redo.

 Should have ironed out the bugs…

 

 

728×600 94.2 KB

16

That's a relatively wide tail, I'm guessing 8 inches between the tips of that swallow? In Rhode Island, where do you find yourself, as in your position on the board, surfing it most of the time? (That's one suggestive wax job.) It would be nice if you stated the conditions too. I'd be interested in a comparison with your experiences at Swami's -i.e. conditions, and where on the board you tended to be.

I have seen such chimera designs, and more often than not, I'm at a loss as to what the designer had in mind. In this specific case, -i.e. longboard with fish characteristics. My questions are usually along the lines of , “So, it's long because?”

I'm sure it's not the case here, but occasionally, the 'compensation argument', that is “you want this, so you compensate with that” just gets out of hand. (Hence, the chimera reference.) If you're inclined, running through the logic that gave rise to such a design would be interesting -i.e. what the designer and buyer had in mind.

Given the dimensions, you're position on the board isn't going to change the planing surface much. It's no straight edged plank, but it's closer than most. Also, it doesn't look like it's got much rocker, forward or back. Or maybe I'm wrong?

As to finding a way to make it work, well that's kind of what I was getting at with the reference to “compensation argument”. If you're lucky, you might find the (next?) magic bullet (the design element that will bring it all together), and if you do, please post the solution.

But I wouldn't suggest you start hacking away at the poor gryphon. To continue a comment made in one of the above posts, I'd put a sock on it and keep in the bag, in fact, maybe in the trunk of the car, and just wait for that “Swami” day to reappear.

kc

17

Thanks Bruce(?) I think your diagnosis and suggestions are spot on.  the technical stuff is super helpful. 

have a good one

Danny

18

My pleasure Danny.

Cheers,
Bruce.

 

19

kc, thanks for your comments

I’m in an area (RI) that has some pretty decent point surf when its on. the most significant difference between here and west coast breaks is the regularity of good surf. we get lots of weeeak wind windswell but our solid ground swell is very dependant on hurricanes and Noreasters.

I bought the board for a number of reasons, I like to surf a fairly broad range of boards from 6’ - 10’ I grew up in PB CA and like many the surfing of Skip Frye has left an indelible impression on me.

I have always wanted to try one of Skip’s Gliders. Since they are fairly hard to come by this seemed like a very adequate substitute.  Chris Christenson is an outstanding shaper who has worked with Skip and I felt that his version would have many of the same characteristics. Essentially, the plan shape, rails and bottom contours are all very similiar though on CC’s the single into spiral v appears more pronounced. the most significant difference is that Skip’s swallow tail glider’s are tri-fin.  Having surfed a number of smaller quads I liked there “feel” and thought that this should translate over to this shape nicely. However, I while this set up has plenty of speed and projection it lacks release (tracky) and doesnt and that is what I was hoping to  get some advice on.

not sure what my wax job suggests- its a longboard (?) although it is not a noserider per se i do “walk the board” to keep it in trim.

I am not sure I buy your Chimera argument because it presupposes that we all agree that there are a given number of plan shapes (that work) and the rest are derivatives.  its all evolution. This board isnt suppose to be a “long fish” my long fish is 6’8"  I got this board with thinking its for those decent size chest - oh+ days when paddling my 6’11" 1/4 mile out to the line up after each wave in makes for a very short session.

 

Danny

 

20

I guess chimera could be interpreted as a bit rough. As for the wax job, given the design of the board, there seems to be a lot of tail that isn’t waxed,  that I probably want to step on. But that’s me. I do believe I understand your point though.  Still, I would be cautious about mods. These creatures, once glassed and out the door, whether functional or not (on any given day), do seem to have a certain rare beauty, even if it’s something only a mother could love.   

kc