Hi everyone,
I am getting ready to start a retro style fish project for my next board. I have some questions. The board is going to be loosely based on the Hobie circa 71. First question. Fin position? The fins will be hand foiled twins, keel style. The length I’m planning will be 6’-2". Should I use a double foil or single? Should I can’t and toe, or go straight up? Also what size fin would you guys reccomend? Height and base cord? Where would be the proper position for the trailing edge of the fin? I have never done a twin and want to get it right.
Next, I’m in Florida and the waves are all beach break mush burgers . I’m planning for a flat bottom with vee out the tail. What do you think? I like the idea of a fast down the line board. Thank you everyone. I would have done a search but the search option seems to be gone
search “swaylocks lis fish” on google. there is a .pdf with a ton of info on the retro fish.
6’2" is big, how tall and heavy are you?, my first was 6’2" home made, and was really too big for me (5’9" 185lbs), but it was glassed heavily, so it balanced out. It had slight toe and can’t, and 80/20 foiled fibreglass keels ( they twang nicely when glassed on ). It wasn’t snappy, but drivy swoopy carvy. I just used a kneeboarding blank, didn’t touch the rocker, and gave it a flat bottom ( I’m a backyarder ). Was such a fun board, and I surfed it in small Aussie beach breaks for a few years, on a few occasions in overhead ( can you say faaaaaasssssttttt!???).
I now have a vac bagged one ( my avatar ), which is much smaller ( my height ), but still nice n wide. Much more manoeuvrable, and so much fun. Twin fin fish have a few quirks, such as backhand can be tricky sometimes, but I love them. I may need to make myself a heavy old school one, just so I have both covered !?.
Keep it simple and I think you’ll fine, and post pics please!?
Thanks beer fan! I’m 6’-3" and 185 pounds. I’m planning to have a thickness of 2 1/2". This is my first twin fin so I definitely need some guidance as all of my other shapes are thrusters quads or singles. You’re right though about keeping it simple. I’ve been checking out a lot of “retro” designed twins but all of them here over been able to put my hands on aren’t fish. Still cool though. They all have flatter bottom shapes or vee to one degree or another.
6’2" should be fine for you!. Make sure the rails from in front of the fins to the tail have a hard edge, this will help with manoeuvrability and release, especially off the top. Go for it!
I like the single foiled fins, with slight toe and cant, placed 7" up from the tips, and 1 1/2" in from the rail at the trailing edge, 5 1/4" high, 7 1/4" base.
I actually like a slight single to double out the back for added lift and drive. In mushy waves you need all the help you can get.