Surfing Waves

I just recieved a new board for my birthday and it did not come with a fin. My friend gave me a fin that was 6.5 inches. I was wondering if that would be ok to use on this size of a board. Do I need a bigger fin or can I use the one he gave me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

Hi m81702, welcome to Surfing Waves.

Now that is what I call a birthday present!
A 6.5 inch fin is fine for a 7'1" surfboard. Fin sizes don't really matter to the average surfer, they are something that a more experienced surfer needs to take into account. It's not really something that I have played around with. An expert may be able to tell you more about it.

Hi hi.
I have a 9'0 and i use a 9 inch fin.
a 6.5 is like, a normal size and with side-biters, (the small fins that go on either side of the bigger fin in the middle) the 6.5 will provide a nice fast kick with good manueverable stablity. a 6.5 is usually what you get with a new board, however, if you step it up in your surfing, you might want to up the size of your fin or remove the sidebiters depending on what you want to lose in your surfing and what you want to gain.
for example, I surf a tri-fin set-up with a 6.5 fin usually or sometimes a 7 flex for bigger waves (faster catching speed) but for smaller waves, i take off the sidebiters and put in my nine inch. for cool turning and nice stabilty and easy turns...
hope that helps...
Baby

thanks for all the info...i am now going to go out and try my new present!

Lucky you!! :D