Surfing Waves

Hello! First post here

I’m a high-level beginner/low level intermediate surfer living in the Mediterranean where waves are not the best but definitely workable.

Height: 1.73m
Weight: ~72kg
Fitness: Average

I have a 6’6” Ocean & Earth Happy Hour surfboard https://www.oceanearthstore.com/soft-boards/happy-hour-epoxy-softboard-66/ which comes with an 8" Polycarbonate centre fin and 2x 4" Polycarbonate side fins. I exclusively surf it as a single fin and wanted to make my turns more “snappy/pivotty” or less arcing. Currently, my turns are a bit more carvy than what I would have liked, and I wanted to experiment more with fins (ideally single fins) but open to suggestions as the board supports all configurations.

I’m after a more “snappy/pivotty” feeling, and I’ve narrowed it down to two single fins with a vertical profile, meant to make the board more maneuverable.

https://www.deflowsurf.com/product/pocket-knife-75-2/ vs
https://eu.futuresfins.com/en/surfboard-fins/209-longboard-fin-rob-machado-fiberglass-green-clear-75-futures-815681021059.html

Which one should I go for? They look pretty similar to me, but maybe I’m missing something.

Would adding the two side fins to my setup make the board turn better?

Should I try a twin fin configuration instead? I surfed my previous board 5’11” Catch Surf RnF https://catchsurf.com/products/lost-rnf as a twiny and really liked it, but it felt more fluid, not necessarily “pivotty”...

Thanks in advance

A really simple solution and answer since none of us have seen you surf!
play around single finning change the position of your centre fin in its box, forward loose , right back tight to turn.
Don’t ask put the side fins in , trying the two sets of fin positions, changing centre fin position too.
Take the centre fin out, again try the two sets of fin positions. Get two more but smaller side fins try quad style!

Get a smaller centre fin with less base, ( read the fin primer ) to understand fin principles!
Go have fun, the likely story is really pushing the fins you have and understanding what does and doesn’t work.

Just get this. There is a cheaper normal glass lay up model, but the Volan is on another level.

jaffa1949 wrote:Go have fun, the likely story is really pushing the fins you have and understanding what does and doesn’t work.

I appreciate the response Jaffa! Been reading your responses here for years. Will try both single and twin when I go out in a few days. I’ll make my decision then!

waikikikichan wrote:Just get this.

Hi Waikikikichan! Thanks for the input. Been reading your responses here for years as well. Doesn’t the 4-A have more rake than the fins I posted? Doesn’t that translate to more wide/arcing turns?

Forgive my newbiness …

Androuil wrote:Doesn’t the 4-A have more rake than the fins I posted? Doesn’t that translate to more wide/arcing turns?

On first observation, Yes the rake from the back of the base to the end of the tip is more on the Greenough 4-A than on the fins you posted. But compare the frontal area / leading edge. It is more pronounced on both the other fins.

But try getting the fins you found and see how they work. I got a crate box full of fins. Those fins won't be your last.

I tried single vs twin today! I don’t think the stock side fins were representative of a proper twin set but I still liked the single fin more. So I’m going single fin this time around!!

I looked into Waikikikichan’s suggestion for the 4A and it seems like its a legendary fin and the vast majority of people love it, so its a strong contender!

The stock fin the board comes with is 8”. Should I go smaller given my board at 6’6”?
7 / 7.5 / 8 ?

Thanks again guys!

Androuil wrote:I tried single vs twin today! I don’t think the stock side fins were representative of a proper twin set

How tall were the side fins ? About 4 inches. Twins set ups like the FCS M.R. and the Futures fins T-1 are more like 6 inches tall.

Androuil wrote:The stock fin the board comes with is 8”. Should I go smaller given my board at 6’6”?
7 / 7.5 / 8 ?

That depends where you are setting up the 8 inch fin currently. In the middle, to the front or to the back of the box ?

That depends where you are setting up the 8 inch fin currently. In the middle, to the front or to the back of the box ?

At the far front of the box (towards the nose).

Leaning towards a 7.5” 4A atm.

Androuil wrote:At the far front of the box (towards the nose). Leaning towards a 7.5” 4A atm.

Yeah then the 7.5" should be good. On my 7'4" Aipa big boy Sting, I've been using a 7" FCS pivot tool-less fin.

Yeah then the 7.5" should be good.

Nice! Is the volan worth the price difference? I can't find it in Europe at 7.5" and the price is almost double. What makes the volan better ?