I’m looking for some feedback and input re a single fin shortboard I am planning to design, especially re fin(s). I’m thinking about a flexible fin but don’t know what size (the board will be in the 7’2" range, designed for use in overhead to double overhead waves.) The board shape will be about 19.5 wide, straight outline, pintail (maybe with wings) built for speed and paddle-ability with turning being a secondary feature to the first two. 2.75" to maybe 3" thick. I’ve had great luck using upright C5 canard fins and am thinking of installing fcs plugs to accomodate the C5’s. I’d enjoy hearing what you all have to say re fins, fin drag, multiple fin efficiency or deficiency, would the C5’s enhance the ability of the board to GO FAST which is what I really want it to do and/or anything else you can think of. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
I’d enjoy hearing what you all have to say re fins, fin drag, multiple fin > efficiency or deficiency, would the C5’s enhance the ability of the board > to GO FAST which is what I really want it to do and/or anything else you > can think of. So are you thinking of a 2 + 1 setup? Personally I don’t think that the small fins will enhance the speed of the board (they may even slow it down a bit) but they will enhace the turning charactersitics and possibly the holding qualitites on a steep wall…Nothing beats the down the line speed of a single fin.
So are you thinking of a 2 + 1 setup?>>> Personally I don’t think that the small fins will enhance the speed of the > board (they may even slow it down a bit) but they will enhace the turning > charactersitics and possibly the holding qualitites on a steep > wall…Nothing beats the down the line speed of a single fin. !!!AMEN!!! …Try a good thick base foiled fin with plenty of rake…
Paul: Saw your latest yellow egg on the “boards” section. Looks like a nice board. Could you give me some tips on using PPG Paints? Assuming I can apply over sanded (taken to 600?) polyester hotcoat? Thanks Tom Sterne>>> !!!AMEN!!! …Try a good thick base foiled fin with plenty of rake… 
So are you thinking of a 2 + 1 setup? Yes. Since I have a set of upright C5 canards I would have my shaper install a set of fcs plugs, at least that’s the thinking right now, although I quite agree with your thoughts re drag and slowing the board down.>>> Personally I don’t think that the small fins will enhance the speed of the > board (they may even slow it down a bit) but they will enhace the turning > charactersitics and possibly the holding qualitites on a steep > wall… I want the board to have the ability to release easily from the upward flow of a larger or steeper wave. One concern I have re additional fins is that they would inhibit, rather than enhance this ability to release. But since they are small, canard type fins, the size might not be that much of a issue. Therefore I can do some expereimentation with the fcs plugs. I can use the canards or not use them, measuring the difference by riding the different configurations. This is really one of the most fun aspects of board design and surfing. I read a quote in one of the posts on this board that said this, “Terry Fitzgerald said in an interview that he could make any board ride good by moving the fins around. That’s no lie!” (Thank you Professor Phillips.) Having experimented around with a lot of fins on my fish, I have been totally amazed at what a difference re performance, different fins can make.>>>Nothing beats the down the line speed of a single fin. What about the fin itself? What ideas do you have re fin foil, height, rake, flex, etc? Many thanks in advance. PS - I’m not a person who has a lot of experience with design and theory. I rely HEAVILY on the knowledge, skill and expertise of my shaper, John Mel, Freeline Design in Santa Cruz (over 11,000 boards shaped). Having gotten back into surfing and shortboarding after a too long layoff I can honestly say that I’m having more fun now than I’ve had in my whole surfing life, trying to understand design, applying what I’ve learned through experience, others and this website, and above all, surfing! In a word I’m STOKED and I wish the same for everyone else!
!!!AMEN!!! …Try a good thick base foiled fin with plenty of rake… Paul, how thick, how much foil (leading edge measurement vs. trailing edge measurement?), how tall (height), how much rake and where could I get one like you’re thinking of? And, what would be the difference in performance between a fin like you are suggesting and say another larger fin? smaller fin? thin foil? thick foil? less rake? Tx
Paul:>>> Saw your latest yellow egg on the “boards” section. Looks like a > nice board. Could you give me some tips on using PPG Paints? Assuming I > can apply over sanded (taken to 600?) polyester hotcoat? Thanks>>> Tom Sterne …What I use is something like PPG ‘Delstar’ or Du Pont ‘Imron’…I buy it at an automotive paint store…The components are: the paint and it’s reducer (kind of like resin & catalyst)…it’s available in clear & colors (check out some of the color shift paints,WOW!!!)…it’s a super fast drying automotive paint…it adheres well to fiberglass(they paint Corvettes with it)…is durable and chemical resistant…I sometimes use gasoline to remove wax from the deck of my board(after I scrape it),and the finish is not affected whatsoever…I’ve used it over both polyester and epoxy resin. To apply you only need to wetsand to 220 maybe 320…tack rag…To spray I use a HVLP system…A respirator is a must!!!..lay on the paint so that it looks “wet”…wait 20 minutes flip the board…repeat process…DuPont also makes a super fine polishing compound. The only drawback is it’s fumes & to some, it’s cost… Paul
how thick:At the base 1.125" how much foil (leading edge measurement vs. trailing edge measurement:foil starts at the leading edge>maximum about 1.5" from front>trailing edge=something less than ginsu knife… how tall (height):I like a 9 > 9.5" how much rake:10.5>12" where could I get one like you’re thinking of:I make my own… what would be the difference in performance between a fin like you are suggesting and say another larger fin/smaller fin:Here the real question…What’s the difference between a thick foil fin & a stock Fin?:…To make a thick foil fin out of fiberglass would be really heavy and would be detrimental to performance…I use 9 ply 1/2" baltic birch plywood for the core… They float!! .In PURE STOKE by John Grissim >>> Re: Greenough >>>“…he had perfected the high-aspect, laminar flow fin, a development which made him litterally the fastest man in the water.The key lay in constructing a fin which could harness the wave’s energy without generating drag-inducing turbulence along the trailing edge of the fin as it moved through the water…Laminar flow basically is over a very narrow range. Water only goes back an inch and a quarter or so before breaking into turbulent flow. So the fin must be very narrow. Look at any high-performance fish and you’ll see my fin is basically the same - it’s the same plan and foil shape as a large tuna…you’ll notice their tail is very narrow and quite high. With that kind of fin by the time the turbulence shows up in the water the fin has already left it behind. Hence no turbulence to affect performance.” thick foil:The smoothness with which the water flows along the fin… less rake:less drive …The board I ride the most is a 7’10" x 23 x 18n x 16t round tail…bevel forward rail…neutral mid…semi-hard tail…Nose concave…mid rolled flat…tail medium heavy rolled vee… Works fine up to 2x OH… Pacific Northwest beach breaks & occasional frontside point breaks… Paul http://http://216.15.61.234/swaylocks/boards/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&Validated=Yes&Category=other&view_records=1
Got it, thank you. I used a similar process once when restoring a small sailboat. Gelcoat was nicked and scarred badly but the boat was solid. I used an automotive 2 part epoxy (PPG brand) and got great results. Tom>>> …What I use is something like PPG ‘Delstar’ or Du Pont ‘Imron’…I buy > it at an automotive paint store…The components are: the paint and it’s > reducer (kind of like resin & catalyst)…it’s available in clear > & colors (check out some of the color shift paints,WOW!!!)…it’s a > super fast drying automotive paint…it adheres well to fiberglass(they > paint Corvettes with it)…is durable and chemical resistant…I sometimes > use gasoline to remove wax from the deck of my board(after I scrape > it),and the finish is not affected whatsoever…I’ve used it over both > polyester and epoxy resin.>>> To apply you only need to wetsand to 220 maybe 320…tack rag…To spray I > use a HVLP system…A respirator is a must!!!..lay on the paint so that > it looks “wet”…wait 20 minutes flip the board…repeat > process…DuPont also makes a super fine polishing compound.>>> The only drawback is it’s fumes & to some, it’s cost…>>> Paul
Would you consider selling me one of your homemade fins? nib
Would you consider selling me one of your homemade fins?>>> nib ...Yeah...e-mail:goofyfoot@thurston.com http://http://216.15.61.234/swaylocks/boards/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&Validated=Yes&Category=other&view_records=1