Fin experts- Controllers vs Speed Dialers

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Fin experts- Controllers vs Speed Dialers

Postby bajoman » Sat Nov 03, 2018 7:37 pm

Anyone with experience of these quad sets (or general Fin Wisdom)?
Controllers or Speed Dialers for an FCS2 fishtailed board.
Looking specifically for the least amount of drag as board has a fair amount of continuous rocker (but parallel rails) and I'd like to keep it as fast as possible. Controllers have longer base and rake which I think contributes to drag but Speed Dialers have a 50/50 foil on rear fins which I also think contributes to drag. Any other pros/cons or comparisons also greatly appreciated!
CONTROLLERS fins
Image
Base: 5.25"
Depth: 4.50"

Rear Fins
Rear Base: 3.90"
Rear Depth: 4.50"
Rear Foil: 80/20

SPEED DIALER fins
Image
Front Fins
Base:
4.25"
Depth:
4.50"

Rear Fins
Rear Base:
3.50"
Rear Depth:
4.75"
Rear Foil:
50/50
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Re: Fin experts- Controllers vs Speed Dialers

Postby waikikikichan » Wed Nov 07, 2018 4:47 am

bajoman wrote:Looking specifically for the least amount of drag as board has a fair amount of continuous rocker (but parallel rails) and I'd like to keep it as fast as possible. Controllers have longer base and rake which I think contributes to drag but Speed Dialers have a 50/50 foil on rear fins which I also think contributes to drag.

I am not quite getting your theory ? You want FAST so you want less DRAG. So go with the one with less DRAG. ( or go with no fins for the very least amount of drag )
And if the board has "fair amount of continuous rocker", wouldn't you want a fin with more DEPTH ?
Wouldn't 50/50 foil have less drag as the water passing by comes back together versus a single sided foil where the water cavitates on one side ?

By the way, my Controllers work great on my wider tail boards, not so much on my narrower tails ones.
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Re: Fin experts- Controllers vs Speed Dialers

Postby bajoman » Wed Nov 07, 2018 11:59 pm

Yes, that's my question- which of those fin sets will have less drag?
In my experience, rear fins with a 50/50 foil have more hold and thus more drag. But the other fins have more rake, base and overall area, also contributers to drag. So overall which will have the least?
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Re: Fin experts- Controllers vs Speed Dialers

Postby waikikikichan » Thu Nov 08, 2018 12:24 am

You need drag or resistance. If you want less drag than take off the back trailer fins ( or all the fins altogether ).
Like wind in the sails. You need the fins to catch the energy of the wave to propel the board forward ( to assist the rails and bottom ). To big a resistance ( boat sails, fins, bowling ball ) not good. Too little, not good either.

But look at the controller as one piece instead of two. It's just a KEEL fin split in two. The first set has more rake in the front fins but less area in the rears. The second set has less rake in the front fins but more area in the rears. I would think How and When you angle in and out of turns, will be the deciding factor more than drag.
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Re: Fin experts- Controllers vs Speed Dialers

Postby surferbee » Sat Nov 10, 2018 7:30 pm

I've surfed quad controllers but not the speed dialers. I love the controllers - super drive, speed, and stability. They're often my fin of choice for setting up a quad. In general, rear quad fins often feature a 50/50 foil but I think the controllers are 80/20. FWIW, I often surf the Rastovich quads (50/50 rear) which are supposed to be better for generating speed. That may be true if I'm pumping hard, but for the most part the controllers feel faster down the line and through turns. Ultimately, you'll only notice a difference if you try both and see what works with your style, the board, and the conditions you're riding in. Hope that helps and best of luck!
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