Hey, all: I have a 10’ Starboard Noserider and don’t really like the cutaway fin / small sidebite combo that it comes with: 
.It’s a little unstable for me and it wants to pop out when I get noseward. So, given the shape you see, what fin and length do you think I ought to try next – one that’ll help me on the nose but not make it so i’ve got to totally lead-foot the tail to get the board to turn? Thanks!
Hi Jasperson,
We have an expression here in NZ about something going down like a cup of cold sick, which is how your question will be regarded on this forum. Probabaly get a lot more friendly replies on SUP and in fact on Starboards own forum. Have you tried a bigger fin?
MrT
Welllll, near as I can tell, you guys here are the true brains of all things surfy, so I thought I’d brave the waters and toss out the question. Meanwhile, starboard’s own forum is moribund and the other big sup forums are mainly concerned with short-is-better, with not a lot of thought given to tip time. Hey, ya’ll are open minded … aren’t you?
No doubt bigger is the answer but I was hoping to give my wallet a break by narrowing down the likely choices a bit, hence my arrival here.
Dang, where is that paddleboard and chainsaw ad when I need it?
I don’t think its the fin(s) I believe its the way your stabbing the wave while you are oaring to gain maxium glide to hang the toes over the nose. Try stabbing the wave like you mean it like a seriall killer or like captain stabbin’ does the ladies aboard his ship!!
COAST GUARD Compass
Official Blog of the U.S. Coast Guard
Top 10 tips for stand-up paddleboarding
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Posted by: LT Stephanie Young
Wear your life jacket!
Stand-up paddleboarding has burst onto the beach scene in recent years and is the fastest growing water sport in the world.
With
the rise in popularity, many paddleboarders often forget that being on a
paddleboard requires the same safety precautions and vigilance as any
other activity on the water. With National Safe Boating Week underway,
now is a perfect time to brush up on some paddleboarding tips and most
importantly, water safety practices.
The first thing to know
about stand-up paddleboarding is that a paddleboard is a vessel when
used “beyond the narrow limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area.”
If a paddleboard is used within a designated “swimming, surfing or
bathing area,” the Coast Guard does not consider it to be a vessel.
What
does this mean for you? When using a paddleboard beyond the limits of
the swimming, surfing or bathing area, you need to be as prepared as you
would be when using what is considered a traditional vessel, which
includes wearing a life jacket.
Whether you are a seasoned
paddleboarder or new to the activity, here are some other tips when it
comes to using stand-up paddleboards.
And remember… have fun and be safe
http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2012/05/top-10-tips-for-stand-up-paddleboarding/
Observing the hypocrites…
I don’t think its the fin(s) I believe its the way your stabbing the wave while you are oaring to gain maxium glide to hang the toes over the nose. Try stabbing the wave like you mean it like a seriall killer or like captain stabbin’ does the ladies aboard his ship!!
COAST GUARD Compass
Official Blog of the U.S. Coast Guard
Top 10 tips for stand-up paddleboarding
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Posted by: LT Stephanie Young
Wear your life jacket!
Stand-up paddleboarding has burst onto the beach scene in recent years and is the fastest growing water sport in the world.
With
the rise in popularity, many paddleboarders often forget that being on a
paddleboard requires the same safety precautions and vigilance as any
other activity on the water. With National Safe Boating Week underway,
now is a perfect time to brush up on some paddleboarding tips and most
importantly, water safety practices.
The first thing to know
about stand-up paddleboarding is that a paddleboard is a vessel when
used “beyond the narrow limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area.”
If a paddleboard is used within a designated “swimming, surfing or
bathing area,” the Coast Guard does not consider it to be a vessel.
What
does this mean for you? When using a paddleboard beyond the limits of
the swimming, surfing or bathing area, you need to be as prepared as you
would be when using what is considered a traditional vessel, which
includes wearing a life jacket.
Whether you are a seasoned
paddleboarder or new to the activity, here are some other tips when it
comes to using stand-up paddleboards.
And remember… have fun and be safe
http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2012/05/top-10-tips-for-stand-up-paddleboarding/
Observing the hypocrites…
rumph. i guess that leads to my next question. forget the fin. what size paddle blade would be optimum to achieve suitable stabbing whilst attempting the following? tia!
I would use this Fin I designed for Guy Takayama called a GT Moray Surf Sup. Get rid of the side fins the Toe is all wrong and stay with a Single fin like this one you will have alot more fun. Mahalo, Larry
Good call jasperson, we were all witness to one of the more succesful social marketing processes in the history of the interweb and we all soaked up Carvenalu’s pictures and prose and in the process supported the next wave. One that will ensure that we will all still be riding waves when we are seventy. Just as well because in our little country in 2025, for every child there will be two over 65s, so we will need all these new toys to keep ourselves occupied while the young ones have to work twice as hard as we had to. My first comment was purely an icebreaker and an attempt to soften the hue and cry. Now that you have the attention of those whom you seek, I thought I might ask Probox Larry what size fin he might suggest to minimise the tippyness of a SUP for a learner.
regards
MrT
Mr T, Please feel free to ask anything my friend. What type of board are you riding and how big: Surf,Stock , Touring, 12’6" 14’ or bigger. All my stand up fins are unique in shape for multiple reason, which is how you can tell when other companies are copying me. They still are not getting it right by Flex, Thickness, Structure lay-up and Foil. I created my SUP foils foils with are the eliments listed, way different than surfing or windsurfing. Look forward to your questions. Mahalo, Larry
Great post my friend. You would be surprised how many Standup Paddle Instructors don’t know this or even teach it. Thanks for sharing. Mahalo,Larry
PS: Yes it is the FIN more times than NOT (-:
mrT: no worries!
larry: those are some beautiful fins. man o man! thanks for weighing in!
Thanks jasperson, Larry I have a 10ft by 36" Starboard and am finding it very tippy in chop. No problem with glassy conditions. I realise that the thickness, 5", is the reason for the increased unstableness combined with being a learner. I am starting to think that there must be a fin design that might reduce that tippyness feeling, possibly one similar to those longer windurfing fins from the late eighties/nineties. i am also thinking that a small fin placed where an old fashioned centreboard might go should be the norm for sup paddleboards, as it would ensure that all the energy created is chanelled into forward movement. In fact one of those old retractable centreboards/daggerboards would be ideal on my board to increase the lateral stability, would you agree?
MrT
Concept of front fin correct but not in the same place as a windsurfer. If you did that the board would do donuts completely out of control. No straigt up and down windsurf fins on a standup board, would feel like you are towing a anchor. All my standup fins except the Ninja are 9 1/4" or smaller.
I have created a dual fin concept called a Ventral Sup Fin setup(used to call this a Sup Dagger). This will take a yaw out created by the paddle and allow for a smaller rear fin for stablity. Or you can get a fin I call a Gladiator Hybrid by itself as a rear fin which would also give you stabilty on your board.
Mr T if you click here at this review explaining the Ventral Sup Fin (Sup Dagger Fin) concept of mine http://distressedmullet.com/mhl-customs-unlimited-176-race-board-review. The front box is located 20" forward of the balance point (NOT center of the board) of any board to the back of a 10" fin box, NOTE: Only 10" box not smaller, the fin I designed for this is 10" long and 3 1/2" tall (front Ventral Sup Fin). Below is a pic of the Ventral Sup Fin on a Unlimited Race Board.
Feel free to follow more of my Standup stuff on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sup.fins my facebook wall is open for public viewing. Feel free to ask me anything my friend.
Mahalo,Larry
Larry: Are those fins you mention above for surfing or flatwater? if i’m not mistaken, i think mrT is talking about the starboard whopper extra, which is mainly used for surfing, i think, though maybe he is using it for both.
gonna be at the factory later? i’ll give you a shout!
Fins above are mainly Flatwater, for sure the Center fin would be used in Touring(flatwater) and not surf. The Gladiator Hybrid on that 36" wide would work to aid Mr T in having some fun until he was ready to move to a looser fin like the GT Moray you and I were talking about. Will be at the fin factory is 2 hours. Mahalo,Larry
For noseriding my 9’-11" SUP, I like the Greenough Stage 6. A great all around fin that works really well for noseriding, but still lets you have lots of fun turning the board. Go with the 9" or 9.75". Note: this is not a kelp friendly fin and it will stop you dead in thick weeds.
