Moving single-fin forward = speed? Best single-fin for speed?

I’ve read that moving a longboard single fin forward in the finbox can increase trim speed–can anyone confirm this or possibly explain it? I love my 10’2" tanker but I’m trying squeeze a little more speed from it. Right now I have a 10" wide-based fairly standard fin template. My board is on the flat and heavy side, soft down rails, 16" tail, 3.5" thick. I’ve read all the archived discussions of single-fins here at Swaylocks, but I’d appreciate any further opinions. There’s more discussion in the archives of fins for turning and fins for noseriding–but what fins are best for speed?

I’ve read that moving a longboard single fin forward in the finbox can > increase trim speed–can anyone confirm this or possibly explain it?>>> I love my 10’2" tanker but I’m trying squeeze a little more speed > from it. Right now I have a 10" wide-based fairly standard fin > template. My board is on the flat and heavy side, soft down rails, > 16" tail, 3.5" thick.>>> I’ve read all the archived discussions of single-fins here at Swaylocks, > but I’d appreciate any further opinions. There’s more discussion in the > archives of fins for turning and fins for noseriding–but what fins are > best for speed? the only thing i can offer about this (from personal experience) is that if you move the fin up, the board will be looser and turn quicker but be less drivier. if you move it back you lose maneuverability and that loose feeling but gain a little more holding power. “speed” with no further specification is very difficult to explain in surfing, because it comes from so many things. so, depending on your style of surfing (do you just set a line into a trim run across the wave, or generally set it off the bottom and turn more), and what kinda waves you ride (generally in smaller waves push the fin up and bigger waves move it back), that determines what you want to do with it. i found that the “sweet spot” for the single fin on my 9’1 longboard (which i only ride once in a while these days) is about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way up, closer to the front. for me, i like it because its looser on small days and if i do ever happen to be on my longboard in bigger surf (overhead) for any reason, i like it to be looser and easier to turn. just find whatever works for you and the waves. good luck and have fun!!

I’ve read that moving a longboard single fin forward in the finbox can > increase trim speed–can anyone confirm this or possibly explain it?>>> I love my 10’2" tanker but I’m trying squeeze a little more speed > from it. Right now I have a 10" wide-based fairly standard fin > template. My board is on the flat and heavy side, soft down rails, > 16" tail, 3.5" thick.>>> I’ve read all the archived discussions of single-fins here at Swaylocks, > but I’d appreciate any further opinions. There’s more discussion in the > archives of fins for turning and fins for noseriding–but what fins are > best for speed? Long board riding is more about trim than anything else. Fin location affect how loose the board is and depending on the surf condition one placement will give you better performance than another. Fins have a huge affect on how a given surfboard performs. If it’s too loose or to stiff it’s hard to get your self in the wave where the juice is. Large heavy boards don’t accelerate well but you can get them going faster getting a little ahead of the trim point on the way down the face of the wave and then stepping back to the trim point as you turn. You have to be very quick to pull it off but I’ve seen some of the locals here do it to great effect. You need enough fin to hold you in well and be able to drive off of.Wayne Rich http://www.trueames.com/waynerich.htm (Wayne Rich)and Greenough http://www.trueames.com/greenough.htm (4A) have some great templates.Either of these would be good choices. A board this size needs 9" to 10" of fin to drive it. Just remember More Fin = More Drag. I haven’t surfed a star fin on a board that big but I have a 10’0" x 23 1/4" I’m gonna try it on. The fin is very fast and positive on my 9’0" and 8’0". I have template that I like allot as a speed single on long boards. I can send you it in an attachment if you’re interested. Just remember the board your talking about is more of a cruzer than a speed demon. Some horses can just run faster than others. I hope this is of some help. Better Surfin’, Rich

I’ve read that moving a longboard single fin forward in the finbox can > increase trim speed–can anyone confirm this or possibly explain it?>>> I love my 10’2" tanker but I’m trying squeeze a little more speed > from it. Right now I have a 10" wide-based fairly standard fin > template. My board is on the flat and heavy side, soft down rails, > 16" tail, 3.5" thick.>>> I’ve read all the archived discussions of single-fins here at Swaylocks, > but I’d appreciate any further opinions. There’s more discussion in the > archives of fins for turning and fins for noseriding–but what fins are > best for speed? yes and no.so much depends on the fin itself, ie, template,thickness, foil,rake,etc.some fins placed forward will provide more lift and drive while another in the same position may either push the nose down or drive it up.placing a fin forward does not necessarily loosen a board up, in fact it may become too stiff.another thing is it may become too squirrely, or when you cut back the nose will “wheelie” around.you can obtain speed by placing a smaller fin further back in the box.this too will loosen it up a bit but to the possible sacrifice of nose riding.best thing is to have 2-3 fins of different size but similar template, etc. and start experimenting.just a note:my longboard fins are 9.5" with similar templates but different foils/thickness.they end up being placed about 7.25" to 7.75" up as measured from tailblock to trailing edge of fin.a rule of thumb when placing fins forward is to get it at the point where you are just about pearling on take off, and if need be start backing it off from threr about an 1/8" at a time,until you feel satisfied with it’s performance.have fun!

yes and no.so much depends on the fin itself, ie, template,thickness, > foil,rake,etc.some fins placed forward will provide more lift and drive > while another in the same position may either push the nose down or drive > it up.placing a fin forward does not necessarily loosen a board up, in > fact it may become too stiff.another thing is it may become too squirrely, > or when you cut back the nose will “wheelie” around.you can > obtain speed by placing a smaller fin further back in the box.this too > will loosen it up a bit but to the possible sacrifice of nose riding.best > thing is to have 2-3 fins of different size but similar template, etc. and > start experimenting.just a note:my longboard fins are 9.5" with > similar templates but different foils/thickness.they end up being placed > about 7.25" to 7.75" up as measured from tailblock to trailing > edge of fin.a rule of thumb when placing fins forward is to get it at the > point where you are just about pearling on take off, and if need be start > backing it off from threr about an 1/8" at a time,until you feel > satisfied with it’s performance.have fun! Hi Matt, The is merit in some of the things you say and everything you say may be right-- but seriously-- I don’t think so. You may be a great surfer and know more about surfcraft performance than I dom, but I still have trouble believing all of your theories. This is not to be argumentative just to say that my experiences tell me some very different things. Never the less you are welcome to you opinions and I will support you eternally in you right to share them. So let’s start with just one statement: “(A fin) in the same position may either push the nose down or drive it up.” It’s always been my experience that it’s the surfer that does this unless of course you talking about a fin with a horizontally placed with that will create some kind of lift or pull that will affect board trim, that is pitch, front to rear. Anyway one thing’s sure fins make a big difference. How you place them is just as important as which one you use. Good Surfin’, Rich

Hi Matt,>>> The is merit in some of the things you say and everything you say may be > right-- but seriously-- I don’t think so. You may be a great surfer and > know more about surfcraft performance than I dom, but I still have trouble > believing all of your theories. This is not to be argumentative just to > say that my experiences tell me some very different things. Never the less > you are welcome to you opinions and I will support you eternally in you > right to share them. So let’s start with just one statement: “(A fin) > in the same position may either push the nose down or drive>>> it up.” It’s always been my experience that it’s the surfer that does > this unless of course you talking about a fin with a horizontally placed > with that will create some kind of lift or pull that will affect board > trim, that is pitch, front to rear. Anyway one thing’s sure fins make a > big difference. How you place them is just as important as which one you > use.>>> Good Surfin’, Rich right on! what i was trying to say is for example, take a 9" fin at x" up, when paddling into a wave it might be too far up, thereby pushing the nose down.put a 10" fin in that smae position, it may(or may not)be way too much fin at that position and push the nose up, rather than down.in each case it is detracting from the boards’ performance, which may be solved by moving each fin a bit to see if it is going to work the way one wants it to, or one might have to try another fin, say something in between the two(size wise)and take it from there. regardless , tunig fins/board can be such a love hate thing-fun working it around trying to find the sweet spot,yet at times can be frustrating because you know your close, but no matter what you do, ya gotta go to a different fin and start all over again-bummer!i know there have been times when it’s frustrated the shit out of me,then i tell myself to just glass the damn thing on and ride it as it is.after all that’s what we had to do with the old longboards-anyway, keep it smooth!

yes and no.so much depends on the fin itself, ie, template,thickness, > foil,rake,etc.some fins placed forward will provide more lift and drive > while another in the same position may either push the nose down or drive > it up.placing a fin forward does not necessarily loosen a board up, in > fact it may become too stiff.another thing is it may become too squirrely, > or when you cut back the nose will “wheelie” around.you can > obtain speed by placing a smaller fin further back in the box.this too > will loosen it up a bit but to the possible sacrifice of nose riding.best > thing is to have 2-3 fins of different size but similar template, etc. and > start experimenting.just a note:my longboard fins are 9.5" with > similar templates but different foils/thickness.they end up being placed > about 7.25" to 7.75" up as measured from tailblock to trailing > edge of fin.a rule of thumb when placing fins forward is to get it at the > point where you are just about pearling on take off, and if need be start > backing it off from threr about an 1/8" at a time,until you feel > satisfied with it’s performance.have fun! Pardon my ignorance but how does fin position have any affect on pearling on take off? How much lift does a vertical single fin create? m

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Lots of good suggestions. I guess it’s time for me to try out some different things.

I went through a lot of fin changes on my 10 foot noserider. It’s a classic shape. 3.25 inches thick, 23.5 wide, volan glassing, the works. It is heavy (much better for catching waves that way. I don’t care what anyone says about it). I had a nine inch cutaway that the shaper gave me for the board. It turned great, but I couldn’t get to the nose. Then I bought one of those Turbo fins. LAME. It totally destroyed my control of the board. I ate it on almost every wave for three days. Finally, I bought a fin called the Wingnut Bid Daddy. Dang thing has a ton of rake, ton of base, and literally takes up every single inch of my fin box. When my board is upside down on the beach, the board looks like an eight footer because the fin is so big. People say, “That’s a ten foot board?” The fin is a monster. But here’s the real kicker. I am making more sections than ever, the turns feel sooooooo smoooooth and wide, and I can finally put toes on the nose (not all ten yet) with confindence. The board is slower, true, but it’s faster now. What? Did you hear that correctly? Yes. It is faster because it holds in the pocket better and can get that burst of speed at the right time instead of early. Boards with small fins get ahead of the wave, then bog down. But with the big daddy, that isn’t the case. Of course, if you are riding a narrow, thin, nine footer with a lot of rocker, then forget everything I said and just keep it a thruster, because with that little of a longboard, it’s more like shortboarding a big shortboard. There’s nothing wrong with that of course (hear that, Tudor?), but it’s a different game. Good luck, and get the Big Daddy by, I think, Fins Unlimited.

Pardon my ignorance but how does fin position have any affect on pearling > on take off? How much lift does a vertical single fin create?>>> m if a fin is placed too far forward it may drive the nose down while paddling into a wave, causing the board to pearl,even slightly, which will generally mess up your take off.a bigger fin or one with more base in that same position may actually have the opposite effect and drive the nose up-feels like you’re doing a wheelie, which is no good either.lift depends on thickness/foil base size of fin in conjunction with tail width.eg-15.5" tail with 9" flex fin at 137/8" up feels pretty good but you sense that something is missing.at 14" up it literally jumps into the waves(great!) due to increased lift and drive at that position, yet turning control and other factors are sacrificed.what to do?move that fin slowly in between the two points until satisfied with performance or try a smaller fin,8.5" a bit further back, say at 13" up.it could solve all problems for that particular board.