Anyone ever use this fin…a plastic fin with flexy characteristics. I have a Liddle Hull with flexy volan cloth fins but was wondering how good these plastic fins were…especially on a hull where a flexy fin is necessary.
Hey Alex, Are you sure that the fin you’re refering to is constructed of plastic? If it is…I would avoid it. Especially for a design that relies so heavily on a specific fin design & function. I remember the early - probably predates you - WAVE fins. Tried several Greemough designs but way too much flex! Good concept for the time though but the plastics used were just not up to the job. Contact Liddle or perhaps Paul Gross up in Ventura. The Rusty flex fin from…Rainbow(?)…looks interesting but its a bit different outline from what you’re looking at. Good luck! Aloha, Mitch
Hey Alex,>>> Are you sure that the fin you’re refering to is constructed of plastic? If > it is…I would avoid it. Especially for a design that relies so heavily > on a specific fin design & function.>>> I remember the early - probably predates you - WAVE fins. Tried several > Greemough designs but way too much flex! Good concept for the time though > but the plastics used were just not up to the job.>>> Contact Liddle or perhaps Paul Gross up in Ventura. The Rusty flex fin > from…Rainbow(?)…looks interesting but its a bit different outline from > what you’re looking at. Good luck! Aloha, Mitch I don’t know if you’re refering to the Liddle L-flex (I don’t know about the other (G) reference letter)template on the True Ames sight or not. But if you are I just make a set of 6" rail fins of that template for my 8’8". I’m gonna try them out tommorow. They came out real nice with a little twang but not much flex at all. I made them with 6oz glass & aluzine epoxy lamination. The material was up to the task. I’m very pleased with the out come. Mahalo, Rich
I have used the True Ames L-Flex as well as a Volan flex fin from G.Liddle. The L-flex is made of standard fiberglass, low volume, sanded finish. The L-flex is not quite as snappy as Greg’s volan, but still a good fin for a specific type of board.
I did a fin exchance with Greg…He sent me a 9" Volan flex fin…After a few surfs, the fin had stress cracks in the glass…I talked with Greg about it…He thought that maybe the cold water that I surf in, was the cause…Colder = Stiffer = Less Flex = Cracking…The fin worked fine, the cracks were more of an apperance thing… I have a True Ames Flex fin…No cracks…???.. Paul
I did a fin exchance with Greg…He sent me a 9" Volan flex > fin…After a few surfs, the fin had stress cracks in the glass…I talked > with Greg about it…He thought that maybe the cold water that I surf in, > was the cause…Colder = Stiffer = Less Flex = Cracking…The fin worked > fine, the cracks were more of an apperance thing…>>> I have a True Ames Flex fin…No cracks…???..>>> Paul Paul, Do you surf that L-Flex with one of his hull shapes?
Anyone ever use this fin…a plastic fin with flexy characteristics. I > have a Liddle Hull with flexy volan cloth fins but was wondering how good > these plastic fins were…especially on a hull where a flexy fin is > necessary. The true ames l-flex is a good substitute for an original Liddle fin, but it is slightly thicker than a Liddle and does not have all the flex characteristics of one either.Better to get the l-flex in material designated g-10-much better flex properties, perhaps better than volan!One thing is g-10 fins cost much more than standard glass ones.As for the rusty flex fin-yes they have a real nice flex to them (layed up with 4oz, more layers, as opposed to 6 oz.)In fact, I just bought a 10" one and handed it over to Paul Gross who 2 hours later handed it back to me as a 9’Greenough stage 4.So far it has proven to be a very fast and powerful fin.
The true ames l-flex is a good substitute for an original Liddle fin, but > it is slightly thicker than a Liddle and does not have all the flex > characteristics of one either.Better to get the l-flex in material > designated g-10-much better flex properties, perhaps better than volan!One > thing is g-10 fins cost much more than standard glass ones.As for the > rusty flex fin-yes they have a real nice flex to them (layed up with 4oz, > more layers, as opposed to 6 oz.)In fact, I just bought a 10" one and > handed it over to Paul Gross who 2 hours later handed it back to me as a > 9’Greenough stage 4.So far it has proven to be a very fast and powerful > fin. G-10 Fins? I assume you get them from Paul. How can I contacts him?
G-10 Fins? I assume you get them from Paul. How can I contacts him? Alex- g-10 is a type of glass that true ames uses for fins upon request.I have seen some g-10 true ames fins(L-flex and WILDERNESS template)on the shelf at the Brach House in Santa Barbara, or you could just order whatever template you want, made with g-10.
Paul,>>> Do you surf that L-Flex with one of his hull shapes? …A 7’10" “egg” of my hands…So far the best fin has been a fat foil fin of the identical template…FAST and LOOSE and HOLDING POWER… Paul
Alex G10 is a different material,more layers a lot more but the flex is great. the foil on these is thicker at the base and thinner at the tip. I love these in Liddles 9’’ and wilderneess 9’‘and 9.5’‘. also I got run over and the guys board went and bent the fin in the middle in half I was pissed ,by the time i paddeled in it came back to the shape and had no stress cracks and is still my go to fin .Chuck Ames makes a lot of wakeboard fins in G10. Call him.805 685 8341 or for g 10 fins.
Kirk, May I ask how much more the G10 fins cost? I’ve seen the standard 9" Liddle fin selling for around $45. How much would the same fin cost is G10 material? Thanks.