I’m making a 8’0" mini longboard. I want to put a 7" center longboard fin with side bites. I’m going to buy FCS fins. I can choose from the standard, the cutaway, or the boomerang styles. I want to know what the difference is between the three, performance wise. I surf beach breaks and small waves, but I’m going out to California in late October and will probably surf mostly Redondo, Huntington, and maybe somewhere in San Diego (Tourmaline?) Any help is appreciated!!
Side bites around 3 to 3.5" and something 7" wingnut cutaway or standard cutaway fin should work fine for you. The wingnut will help the nose from spinning out if you’re can get out on a little on stalling maneuvers. Fin choice is always a matter of surf styles, board configuration and wave conditions. Without details it’s all guess work. Mahalo, Rich
I’m planning on 18" nose, 21" mid, 14" tail. Rounded tail. Still deciding on bottom contour. I’m thinking about a slight nose concave with a vee in the tail. 60/40 rails. A hard edge in the tail until about 4 inches in front of the side bites. I definetly don’t want just a cruiser. I want to be able to turn with ease. 2.75" thick or even 3". I want this board mostly for super small summer surf in Miami. Thanks! I apperciate all input.
Hey Silva, Sounds like your planning a solid board for a variety of conditions. Consider another 1/4" to 1/2" in width and a 1/2" to 1.0" or more in the tail. Rounded pin would be my choice. You’ll get more lift and manueverablity out of the board and it’ll be easier to catch waves with a little more substance in the center and rear section of the board. The size and shape board is becoming very popular in the Santa Cruz area. Schoedel, Freeline and Haut each have they’re own version of it. Mine’s a Freeline 8’0"x17.0x21.125x15.5"x3". It’s great clean water board with relaxed rocker and a full-on single to double concaved bottom. It has speed to burn. If you’re using futures in the rails and a standard center fin box I could make you a fins set-up if you’re so incline and can send you some photos of fin combinations that have turned a similar board on in different conditions. Good luck with your project. There are lots of excellent people that frequent this forum. I trust they’ll share their thoughts on the board with you. Check in any time at Mahalo, Rich
Thanks for the input Halcyon. The reason I want to keep it at around 21" in the middle is that I cant get my arm around it to carry it down to the beach!! It’s a retarded reason, I know, but I got some short arms!!! [smile] I’m going to put in a regular fin box in the middle and FCS side bites. It’s the only thing I can get a hold of in Miami. I would love to see those different fins set-ups. Maybe I can do something with the FCS fins. Thanks. What would the wider tail do?
Hey Silvia, You can get any rail system you want for the board with a little effort. I stick with Futures because they’re solid (part of the board) and easy to get. Check the resources here at Swaylocks I’m pretty sure you can get them from fiberglass supply no problem – very reasonable too. They’re a cinch to put in. I prefer to aim them just barely across the center of the nose on a board like yours but it all depends on how much grab you want your fins to have. Most of the best shapers here in Santa Cruz use the system. RedX is a great choice too if you don’t mind the system going all the way through the board. I do but lots of people sware by the system. FCS is at the bottom of my list FYI --more problems than any other system. Anyway, that’s enough about fin systems. Just go with what you think is best for you. A 21" width is fine but I think you have too much nose on the board – 16.75" to 17.5" would me more appropriate IMHO. A moderate increase in tail width to apprx. 14.5" will give the board a more lift make it ride higher in the water. It’ll catch waves a little more easily too. Read McCoy’s website – http://www.mccoysurfboards.com/ – Look at his boards and see what you think about his ideas. A board will work across the flats better and you be able to carve around on the face of small beach breaks better with a full rounded pintail IMHO. It’s a very versital, smooth and functional tail configuration. I don’t know how much you weight but as you thin the board down the 60/40 rails become more effective and perform better. Probably 2.75" to 2.875" thickness would be fine. A very subtle vee in the final 1/3 of the board is a fine idea. Keep you rocker relaxed at both ends. You’ll be glad you did. Email me if you want to or just put me on MSN instant mssngr. If you want to chat about things. When it comes to fins – first the board then the fins. Talk to some shapers in your area and see what they say. Remember, everyone will tell you something different but asking questions is the only way to learn. Good luck with your project. No Worries, Rich
Thanks Rich, I appreciate all the input. I’ll check out those sites and put you on messenger. I don’t know many shapers in Miami though. I met one guy out at south beach late week. He shapes for a living. His boards are called C Shapes. He’s got over 200 boards made. I told him I would love to visit his shop, but he didn’t really say “Sure, come on by!”, so I didn’t push the issue. I’m thinking of going upcoast in Florida to talk to some shapers. I’m also going to be out in California in late October and I was hoping to swing by a surfboard factory or something. I’m very eager to learn the details about surfboard performance.
Hey Sylvia, If you’re in Santa Cruz when your out in California look me up. I can introduce you to several shapers and I’m sure you can watch a couple of them work. Check in on mssngr or email me anytime if you want to ask any questions. I know what you mean about no pressing the issue. One day a surfer is all jazzed to get a set of fins from me and next they just look at me with a blank stare like we never had the conversation. I just smile and move on. Talk’s cheap and there are a lot of people that specialize in worthless words. Hope I can be of some help – No Worries, Rich