I'm no expert on fins. This is just my opinion, hopefully there will be others...
I would say a good nose rider fin would look something like this...
I got it with my 9'8" Yater Specializer Nose.
Wide base and tip with a lot of rake.
I would say that a good high preformance fin would have a narrow tip and a lot less rake (more straight up and down). The base width would depend, but you probably want less width - more width = more drive, hold direction, stiffness; less width = looser more sensitive. Rake - less rake = responsive, less drag, less hold; more rake = less responsive, more drag, more hold.
A narrow tip and less rake will be easier to turn.
Everything is a tradeoff, so it kind of depends how extreme to one end you want to go.
I think the length of fin will have to do with the length of the board, and I'm won't be much help there.
Edit* I wanted to add that the shape of the longboard is going to make a diffenence. I don't know how well a nose riding fin would work on a HP board, or visea versa. I guess it would aid in walking the board, and a HP fin in a nose rider would loosen it up. But, I don't think it's a very good substitute for the proper board design.
Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:04 pm