Surfing Waves

Now, wishing they get the color right

Looks like an excellent choice - should give you a bit of a challenge but not too much, good all round shape, very versatile

Of course getting the colours right is more important. The main reason for a custom!

Oh oh, I foresee a "what size center fin ?" question coming.

So what sizes of single fins and side bites should I get? 7?

A surf shop who’s familiar with this shaper recommended Skip Frye. Maybe I can also ask the shaper when the board is done.

About 1" per foot for centre fin, smaller for side bites, or don't have them in at all go with shapers thoughts to start!
Get a working relationship, good things can happen!
First custom board is like a first great wave , fully memorable

Since you’ll be asking your shaper what fin(s) he recommends, you might as well ask what the blank is made from beforehand, so you’ll know the correct ding repair kit to buy.

Shaper suggested
- single: 8"
- 2+1: 7" center plus 3.75" side bites

But let's say I want to save money to just get one center fin to reuse in both setups.

Would 7.5" center work for both setups? What length of side bites to get?

I've read advice on sizing the center fin (e.g., 1 inch per foot; or when putting the fin sideways at the tailbox, ~25% of fin should exceed the tail), yet haven't read about how to adjust side bite length according to center length.

If your shaper recommends , go with that, dont over analyze see what works in the water, play with single finning it at times, go with the side bites supplied.
Play with the centre fin. Forward and back in the centre box. Read my primer “ uncle Jaffa’s fin primer” so you have an idea what you are talking about.
Get your surfing going really well then your surf will dictate your fin combinations.
Beg or borrow other fins, find out how they suit your surfing .
Some fin brands have a try before you buy system, if that is around link into,that.
Also shapers also have buckets of old fins you might be able to borrow.

BTW 7.5” fine . Which system, FCS or Futures?

jaffa1949 wrote:BTW 7.5” fine . Which system, FCS or Futures?

Yep I've read through your primer! Futures.

ConcreteVitamin wrote:I've read advice on sizing the center fin (e.g., 1 inch per foot; or when putting the fin sideways at the tailbox, ~25% of fin should exceed the tail), yet haven't read about how to adjust side bite length according to center length.

The amount of area stays the same, just gets distributed to other places. So say you have 9 foot board with a 9 inch single fin. If you make it into a Thruster with 3 same size fins, each fin would be about 3.33 inches. If you had a 2+1 configuration, if running a center fin of 6 inches, the sides would be 1.5 inches each.

But because you have a mid-length with Futures Fin side boxes, things are not as easy. One thing is the common side bite for Futures is the SB-1, which is (about) 3.50. It's more rare, but you could try find the Futures Fin SB-3 which is 3.25. So you will add way more area without bringing the area down on the 7.5" center fin. That's where you then need to move the center fin more up in the box.


This the TMF-2 which is 2.00. It is actually for rear trailers ( notice the shallow insert ), but it will work in the deeper front box.

waikikikichan wrote:It's more rare, but you could try find the Futures Fin SB-3 which is 3.25. So you will add way more area without bringing the area down on the 7.5" center fin. That's where you then need to move the center fin more up in the box.

Thanks WKK!

The other day I was in the shop looking at the SB1. Confusingly, its label says 3/4" - does it mean (3 + 1/4) = 3.25 inch?

This confusion probably comes from being familiar only with metric numbering convention.

ConcreteVitamin wrote:The other day I was in the shop looking at the SB1. Confusingly, its label says 3/4" - does it mean (3 + 1/4) = 3.25 inch?

The 3/4" refers to the depth of the box, which are commonly only the forward fins. The rear center or trailer fins on the Quads are usually 1/2" in depth. ( I say "usually", since when Futures first released, they use to ( but not anymore ) have Quad rear trailer available in both 3/4" and 1/2". That led to some "user" incorrectly putting the wrong fin front/back or shops selling 3/4" fins that wouldn't fit in the owner's 1/2" box )
So why not make them all 3/4" including the rear center box ?? Because the tail is thinner than compared to the hips on the rail where the side fins are located.

Is that swatch the color of the board?

LostAtSea wrote:Is that swatch the color of the board?

That's right. Although I later decided to change it to something else.