The archives have some information on this subject, but I'd appreciate some fresh thought and insights.
I have a new single fin shortboard in the que from friend and mentor Greg Eavey. Greg makes high quality boards in Wilmington, NC. Check him out at www.eaveyrider.com.
No pics of the board yet but it breaks down like so:
6'0'' x 20'' x 2.5'' round pin
15'' tail
14.5'' nose
Nose rocker 4''
Tail rocker 1.25''
Rocker profile is continous with little or no flats.
Rails are down and foiled out.
Bottom is slight belly in nose to flat to vee.
The idea on is this one is working on fundamentals: carving and getting barrelled. I need to smooth out my thruster surfing a bit.
I am 6' x 175 lbs and average ability. I will be surfing in North Carolina beach break; knee to slightly overhead waves.
Please give me some suggestions on a good fin(s) for such a board. I'd like some thoughts on sizing the fin as well.
I remember reading or hearing some where(probably on swaylocks) that taking your fin and laying it on its side with the base lined up on the stringer with 25% ish of the fin hanging over the rail of the board is good fin placement and will prevent spin out. try this with the fins know aloha recommended, or you could even make your own : ) just a thought.
I picked up the board yesterday. It looks great. I'll try to get a good pic up.
I'm going to start borrowing and assembling fins for this guy to get a frame of reference.
G. Eavey let me borrow a 6.75'' takayama he had laying around, but he wasn't overly optimistic about that one. Very basey and with alot of tip area as well. He thinks I'll end up wanting something over from 7'' to 8''. Jeez 8'' seems like alot of fin on a 6' board. Of course, I had a fibre glass fin co. 8'' in a seven footer that worked great, so we'll see.
The Tak will get me started anyway. Should slide it this pm.
I'll try as many fins as I can and report findings for whatever it is worth.
depends how you want the board to go really, as well as the shape and all the variables within the boards design....I like this template on mine, it is a bit more upright and allows a bit extra pivot and manouverability, suits the shape I use em on and how I wanna surf em.....
6.75'' Takayama: fin has alot of base and a full tip, pretty upright. This was my first test fin. Kind of unremarkable, worked passably but a little stiff. Might try it again later with more perspective.
7'' Futures cutaway fin: I liked this one OK. Board was pretty fast and smooth with this fin. Not much rake. Finer tip and cutaway base. Pretty good drive when I lay into it. Downsides: Sometimes stiff when I want loose and loose when I want stiff--weird. Also,some quirky, 'what just happened?' moments I attribute to the cutaway. All in all this was an OK ride, but it's not the one.
6'' Futures: full base with a very fine tip. Moderate rake. Pushed all the way back (leading edge at about 11''). In the board it looks all wrong--way small. In larger waves (over chest high) it is rather squirrely. In under chest high: whoa.. this little fin is a blast. Fast, smooth with some release right when you want it. This fin makes it easy to put the tail out the back. Surprisingly, the best roundies have come on this fin (the best waves too though!) This is defintely the goods in small stuff.
I borrowed all the above stuff... I wanted to get some ideas before I spent any $$$$ you know, so...
I've got a halcyon mental on the way... stoked!
I'll also probably pick up one of the Fibre Glas Fin Co. pivot flex fins pictured above. I hear that's the best 4a type out there.
And I'm gonna hang onto that little 6'' as long as possible.
I’m significantly smaller than you, 5’5" and 120lbs, but I have a 6’4"x22"x really thick single fin and I love the 7.5" 4a in it. I had a 7" fcs dolphin fin in it and it just didn’t seem to have enough drive or hold through turns. The 4a feels much more energetic.
I think I’ve seen a few people on here say the 4a template is a good place to start.
