Question: Fin Setup for big fish

General Discussion
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I couldn’t take it anymore and figured I needed to try my hand at making an old style fish board.

A little background to set the stage: I have never had any luck riding a short board so I figured I would go for a larger fish. I weigh about 190 lbs. and my paddle ability is not what it use to be (bum shoulders). I used a Clarke 6’9"A blank and the dimensions of the board are 6’7" N17 W22.5 T16. Mid section length is 3". Distence between pins is 10 inches and the pin depth is 6.5 inches. Rails are low 70/30 and the bottom is flat.

I want to make some old-style wood fins and am not sure of the dimensions. I have looked back at the old posts and most of what I could find delt with boards that are smaller in size (sub six-foot).

With a fish with the dimensions that I have, what would people recommend for fin size, toe-in and cant. I am looking for something that will turn without too much tracking but still want it to not spin out too easily. I generally ride a 9’6" single fin and prefer a laid-back cruising style.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

Rick

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OK, you’re set on wooden keels.

About 8" chord, 5.5" height, start with a 1/2" thick wood, you will foil it down a hair and thicken it back up with at least 3 layers, preferably 5 layers of cloth.

I go by the simple toe -in of 1/2 the distance to the nose.

Cant can get tricky, so for first board, KISS, don’t cant.

I’d go double side foil, but single sided works well also.

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RandR,

I have a fish about that size. Made from the same blank I use 9x5 keel fins made from plywood. I’d be happy to send you a template for the fins. Mike

4

LeeDD,

Thanks for the recommendation. It doesn’t really have to be wooden fins. If you have an alternate suggestion I am open to any other ideas if a more modern fin setup would work better. I am more interested in function over form.

Thanks,

Rick

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RandR,

A novice’s opinion. I used future twin fins in some of my earlier fishes. I found they spun out too easily,although my cousin loves his. I think the big keels might work better on the old wide tailed fishes with the big butt crack. Wood keels are easy to make, work good, and look bitchen. Why put a more modern set-up on an old school fish? Mike

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I’ve used futures on a similar board (6’8"x16.5"x21.5"x16.5") also and altough I like the board, I don’t think the fins give it enough drive. I’m adding a set of boxes to make it a quad, but I really think it deserves a set of large keel fins

regards,

Håvard

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Here’s a keel fin template from the Surfboard Design and Construction PDF that was posted a few weeks ago.

If you print it out it is roughly 9" x 5" and you can just scale it up or down on a copier. Hope that helps.

http://www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=401;

edit: issues with attachment

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the wood fins work better coz you get a thicker foil …thus they handle higher angles of attack before they spin out ,thin fins especially ones with finer leading edges spin out way easier …in comparison to red x and fcs ,futures definatly have the worst foils of the 3 …coz the camber or thickest part of the foil is to far back…

regards

BERT

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Quote:

the wood fins work better coz you get a thicker foil …thus they handle higher angles of attack before they spin out ,thin fins especially ones with finer leading edges spin out way easier regards

BERT

These Rainbow fins have a very nice foil. I spent many evenings playing with them. Thick at the leading edge and thickness is carried through to almost everywhere except the lower crescent of the trailing edge which has, by the way, a nice taper and look combined with the 6 degree cant.

The Lokbox is beefed up with about 12 oz of glass around the tail area. Strong.

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