First of all thank you ProBox Larry and everyone else who has given so much info on this site. I am wondering if there are any printable fin templates that are available. I am temporarily, living about 600 miles from my permanent home and dont have the tools or space to make (or eventually travel with) boards with the current situation. But I have been making some fins just to keep the skills alive and am loving it. There are really a lot of surfers that I know around here so I was wondering if there are any online resources for fin templates that I could print out in actual size? If not would any of you be willing to post some outline templates in actual size for download? Anyway, thanks again to PB Larry and everyone else.
I meant there ARE NOT many surfers that I know. Sorry.
Fins are so cheep and fast to make. go for it!
I’ve looked through the archives and have found PLENTY of fin templates.
I just copy and save the pic or graph to my computer then print it out the size I want.
Works GREAT! Best so far for me has been Halcyon’s (?) cut away fin. I make them with
glass/balsa/colored paper/balsa/colored paper/fiberglass/balsa/colored paper/balsa/glass
They end up about 5/8" thick and work MUCH better than 1/4" glass only fins.
So… as it’s been said MANY times befor check the archives and let us know which works best for you.
Les
Howzit 588, Try making your own templates and fins. You may just come up with something different instead of just copying someone else’s ideas. I have made many fins in the past and almost every one was original as it could be. I would lend them out to get feed back and the guys really liked them. Aloha,Kokua
Look in the archives for some “fin template” related posts, usually by Chipfish61, alternatively you could try PMing him. He’s a top bloke and I’m sure he’ll oblige with a link to a specific thread. He mailed me some templates recently, which I’m just getting round to playing with now.
Peace!
Hey 588kings,
I have a small collection of fin templates i’ve been playing around with on illustrator. Let me know what size/shape/type of board and i can send you something printable. Let me know…offer stands for anyone.
just some samples of me messing around…
Thanks everyone. I know, I’m checking the archives and don’t want to repost something. Just really couldn’t find what I was looking for. I have been designing my own, and it makes my 2 board quivere so much more. I am interested in some classic or experimental fins that some of you have tried. Thanks again. I’m printing out some photos like you described above as we speak.
"Best so far for me has been Halcyon’s (?) cut away fin. I make them with
glass/balsa/colored paper/balsa/colored paper/fiberglass/balsa/colored paper/balsa/glass
They end up about 5/8" thick and work MUCH better than 1/4" glass only fins."
^^^^Any pictures of one of these fins finished or in the process of making one. It sounds pretty cool, would like to see it.
588 kings, I have done some archive digging on the same subject, you may try searching for fin theory as well as templates. That is the main interest for me, not only making a fin, but being able to adjust the design for a specific effect. Good luck, when you get something in the works, post up some pictures of your project.
Here’s some pics for ya…
Fin on left is carbon (center), balsa, black paper, balsa then glass on top. It’s 8 1/2" tall and 5/8" thick.
Middle fin is glass in the middle, then balsa, glass, balsa. I decorated it with a Zig pin. It’s 10" tall, 5/8" thick.
Right fin is typical glass fin you can buy. It’s 3/8" thick.
This is a pic of the left and right fin on edge. Not as good a pic as I’d hoped. You can see that I taper the middle glass (carbon) from 1/4" at the base to nothing at the top. No broken fins in hard turns now!
The waves were small and mushy last week so thought I’d test some combination and see what worked. My board is
10’x24"x2 1/2". In this surf a small center fin only worked best (center fin that’s on pic below). Today I went out in 4-5’ waves with good energy in them (ie. not much but not curling either). The combo in this pic worked the best! I was surprised! I usually use a larger center fin, either the left or middle fin in the top pic.
This combo held in, was fast (!), and allowed easy rail to rail turns.
The side fins sre single foiled and 3 1/2", the center fin is 5 3/4" and 5/8" thick.
HOpe this helps! Make some and let me know how you like them.
Les
