Fin Setup

[pico_train]

Hi there,

I've read the fin setup guide on the site and have done a bit research.

My longboard is a 9' 22" 2 3/4" performance board with 3 small fins. The fins, at least to me, seem a bit crappy. See pictures attached.

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top.jpg (142.78 KiB) Viewed 2112 times

I am 5'9 and weight 175lbs.

It moves well, turns well and in the right conditions is great fun. I can't really get the noseriding down as yet, close but no cigar, and do have a bit of trouble in bigger waves. So I'm not sure if it's me not fully committing or maybe if a change of fin setup might help me catch more waves when it's a bit bigger.

I'm an advanced intermediate standard foot, left foot forward. Let's call it that. Been surfing for about 8 years, 3-4 times per month on beach breaks but have surfed points and other types of waves here in South Africa and abroad.

So given the setup I have below, will a 6",7" or 8" center fin help me:

a) Trim better
b) Make noseriding easier
c) Catch more waves when it's bigger.
d) an other advantages?
e) Disadvantages?

I understand a larger fin will make it slightly harder to turn but will provide more stability when riding.

So what's your take on these ideas and thanks in advance!

Pico Train

[jaffa1949]

Hi Pico, a problem I see is there Is no ability to tune your centre fin back of forward, this indicates that this "performance" board is meant to be ridden shortboard style, even as a single fin, a slide fin box would be helpful, you could go the 8" fin and hit smaller side bites.

The bottom contours of the board could also be important, but and I'm guessing here that the maker of this board is a short board maker who turns out a few performance longboards, the fins are a basic standard FCS fin, it sounds like you are doing the basic, but when you go forward the fins just don't help.

My suggestion, see if you can get a genuine longboard with a changeable centre fin box, another way to go is to have repair done and have a series of the FCS plugs installed up the stringer so you can vary the fin that way.
Warning here is the lugs on the longer fins do not have strength to support the added length and can fail.
So the fins choice is still limited.

Oh a last thought, if the board has a strong rocker, then nose riding will lift the shorter fins out of the wave and give you some side sliding problems

Have a try of other boards see what you think

[pico_train]

Thanks Jaffa. I did think of the inability to tune the centre fin when I took the pictures. Finally dawned on me, the plugs are fixed! Never really paid attention to it.

I can get to about 4/5 of the way up the board and lean back to keep the tail down and nose out of the water. Quite fun. Not sure about the rocker though...

So you think maybe an 8" in the middle is worth a shot with smaller sides?

I'll have to wait on the new longboard...but will keep the ideas in mind. I always look at new boards but all those family finance variables kick in ...

The shaper is Greg Stokes. He does do traditional longboards. Well reputed here. I didn't really know all that much when buying the board. It's a great board though all in all. Cool flames design on top too! Ooooohhhh

[jaffa1949]

Yep try the 8" see if Greg Stokes will set another set of plugs forward, that will be a good cheaper tune up.
At a longer stretch a fin box could be added.

If you have a single concave to a double you could try a set of Bonzer FCS fins they seem to enhance nose riding for me, no concave, then forget the boozers they are also a bit costly, so get the smallest outside fins or leave them out altogether.

Talk to Greg as you go tell what is and isn't working it will give him clear ideas of what you what if you get the money to have him shape your next board. He might also have some others to try to refine what you are riding.
Good luck!