can anyone help me out with dimensions to locate fins in a thruster setup and what the advantages/disadvantages may be in their spacing, rake, etc?
thanks!
Two threads at once on this basic question! Just to throw out some #s (for rear of fin marks); 3''-3,75'' for trailer, 10.5''- 11.5'' for sides. Sides are 1''-1.5'' off rail. In the middle of those ''ranges'' is normal. I don't want to get into the diffs in feel cuz I don't have time for the ensuing argument....
Yeah, what Mike said…
(you really need to do some searches)
One other thing, better get a long flexable
stick (I use thin aluminum bar stock, but I
like tools) that is straight to set your toe. Toe
is important like cant. I would suggest that
you go with 7 degrees on everything you shape
for a least the first dozen boards or so and set
the toe to 2" off the nose, no matter what size
thruster you are making for a least the first dozen.
Later, after you are making boards that work in
a somewhat dependable manner, you can branch
out with changing the toe, placement, etc. With probox,
the cant is the easiest to adjust, so if you are buying
boxes, you might want to start there when you are buying jigs, routers, etc.
Why don’t you start by measuring up what you’ve been riding that has worked well for you. That way you have refrence to what the board will feel like. Everyone has a diff. opinion on where to place fins. Surfboard length, design all play a part on where to place fins. The advantages/disadvantages need to be wieghed out by yourself. My opinion would be if you want to truly learn about fins and fin
placement then glass the fins on a board you’ve made. Sand them off and
try setting them in another place then ride the board again. That way
you will take out the variable of the surfboard design and only feel
what the fin change was. With a box you may be able to move the back
fin but when you move the side fins forward you’ll be making the fins
trailing edge further from the rail. The straight edge that **surfteach **mentioned is a great and accurate way to mark the tow on your fins. The path of designing surfboards is a long and winding one that never ends. You need to start someplace and from there you can make changes. . =) There are no shortcuts. You may deprive yourself of learning what doesn’t work.
MW