Advice on squirrel fin

Posted:
Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:53 pm
by greypump
Hi - I'm looking for a new fin for the longboard. The 2+1 set up is a bit stagey in the turns for me. I'm quite new to surfing but already feel that I'm a bit restricted in movement. It's a 9 2 board and I'm 13.5 stone - I'm messing around on 2- 5 foot waves max.
Was thinking of one of these but would like any advice:
http://www.watermarkhardwear.com/waterm ... te_008.htm
Thanks

Posted:
Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:53 pm
by oldgrom
Ye they are cool if ya want to do alot of noseriding used one of my bud's. Look into some future fins ive got 3 I've been happy with. 8.5 Laird,8.0 cutaway,8.0 classic and I've got a couple of FCS long fins too and they are O.K. allso.
keep in mind It's 9'2" under you and it doesent turn like a shortboard plus you should try fin placement first all the way forward(lose)(tighter turning ability) or try droping your side bites all together(lose again) Fin placement is very important not just the fin itself. Oh yea I'm using these fins mentioned on any of my long type from a 8'5" minimal to a 9'5" long and very happy with any of these fins on any of my boards. Get a fin bolt you can lossen/tighten in the water and try fin placement fist I think they were called wonder bolt??? Can't remember but I have em just for tat reason. Good luck (( GP )) with whatever you chose.
Squirell

Posted:
Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:01 pm
by TheMilo
Hi GP,
I use this fin on my 9'2" Custard Point and reckon it's a vast improvement over the cheapo one that I got with it. As the chap above says, you can really tell the difference with a good sized fin depending on where you place it: right forward makes it a little looser and right back tightens it up a little.
I really like these fins but i surf ith a guy who rides like me and has a similar board and he hates it! Guess there is a bit of personal pref:S
Give it a try and let us know how it goes
Milo

Posted:
Sun Sep 14, 2008 4:22 pm
by parrysurf
I run a 8.0 cut away as a singe on my 10'0....I am not fond of larger fins, I get plenty of drive, and she will break loose if i want her to.

Posted:
Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:37 am
by Hang11
I use a 8" squirrell on my 9'6" log, it's nice, tried a bigger one didn't like it, got a massive barn door fin, which is a laugh but you need to be going quick to get any meaningful kind of turn in, but the board flies down the line. I reckon as all round fins, squirrels are pretty good if you like to nose ride sometimes.
Used to have one on a thinner more all around shape 9'3", but it didn't work so great, so I switched it for a flexi 8" fin with not much rake, and it goes way better.
If you can, build up a bit of a fin quiver, they make loads of difference to the way boards ride, especially if you muck around with the positioning too.