3 fins vs. 1 fin system

[buffs94]

Hi, I am new to surfing and prefer a longboard. I surf on a 9 ft Wave Weapon epoxy in southern california. I have the typical 3 fin system but often I see longboarders using one fin. Can someone explain the difference? Which one is more suitable for the beginner? Thanks.

[JupiterSurfer]

I'm a novice as well and have been told that a three fin system provides more stability than a single fin. I'm interested to see what others have to say as well.

[pkbum]

Hi, I am new to surfing and prefer a longboard. I surf on a 9 ft Wave Weapon epoxy in southern california. I have the typical 3 fin system but often I see longboarders using one fin. Can someone explain the difference? Which one is more suitable for the beginner? Thanks.

I know that a 3 fins will provide more speed and more carving control and turn. Don't know why people would use the 1 fin... maybe more stability??

[parrysurf]

Hi, I am new to surfing and prefer a longboard. I surf on a 9 ft Wave Weapon epoxy in southern california. I have the typical 3 fin system but often I see longboarders using one fin. Can someone explain the difference? Which one is more suitable for the beginner? Thanks.

I know that a 3 fins will provide more speed and more carving control and turn. Don't know why people would use the 1 fin... maybe more stability??

The soul is in the single fin. Love the loose, glide you get with the single.

To be honest having surfed both for many years, I not sure why the still make the 3 fin logs?? Maybe for longboarders who are trying to fool themselves to thinking they surf more like shortboarders.

[Otter]

hehehe... that's a good one!

I've used both, frankly, the difference it will make in performance at your skill level won't be noticeable. In fact, I'll bet that truly, 90% of the surfer's wouldn't know the difference if their board had 1 or 3 fins, and I'm not sure about the other 10% either.

[boardrider]

hehehe... that's a good one!

I've used both, frankly, the difference it will make in performance at your skill level won't be noticeable. In fact, I'll bet that truly, 90% of the surfer's wouldn't know the difference if their board had 1 or 3 fins, and I'm not sure about the other 10% either.

Eh come on your kidding eh?

[Otter]

No, not kidding. To a beginner, it won't make a difference whether there are three fins or one. I don't think so anyway...

[pkbum]

No, not kidding. To a beginner, it won't make a difference whether there are three fins or one. I don't think so anyway...

What about a 6 fin and 1 fin?

[kitesurfer]

I agree with the guys above, as a beginer you are unlikely to be able to tell the difference as you will be way more concerned with the fact that you've just had a great ride without falling off as opposed to be being concerned as to how your fins performed.
However as you progress and so does your style then you may want to start thinking about fin set-ups.
Personally i think your style will dictate what type of fin set-up you want.
If you want to have a lazy/graceful style with fast down the line speed and big casual turns then go for a single fin. Big singles are also good for nose riding. A single fin fin will create less drag and more straight line speed, good for gliding, catching waves early and making long sections.
If however you want a more performance based style, hard turns, late drops and steeper waves then go for a more slender raked back centre fin with side biters and a board with more rocker. A thruster set-up will create more lift/drive in the critical section but also more drag when gliding on the face, hence the need to be more aggresive in your style.

KS

[J-B]

what about bonzers? 5 fin bonzers? Heard they give so much drive but do they drag on the face?

[Hangtensurfing]

I say for a beginner, go Single. The single has more drive than the 2 plus one and the sidebite fins tend to drag. The 2 plus one is better if you are able to make tight hi performance turns for the intermediate. Ideally, is get a board with a 2 plus one and take the sidebites off first and ride it as a single fin or change it around. Make sure you buy a bigger fin to ride it as a single fin.

[Willbo33]

I don't feel like you got a good answer. Here is my take. There are two classes of longboard the classic nose rider type and the hyperformence type. Made for different types of surf and different styles. the hyperformence has more rocker and uses three fin design. The classic board often heavier with less rocker has a single fin. I use a high performance long board on a shore break or if I want to carve quick and spray snap etc generally like a short board but paddles like a long board. It's also good for beggeners because it's more stable paddling, however it is very difficult to nose ride them because the fins do drag. I use classic on a point break or a long smooth break tbehat I can turn trim stall nose ride etc. If you want to try switching to single fin get a little longer roughly 9in for 9ft. And move it forward to start back if you want more loose. The board will feel more wabaly and you will find yourself more graceful.

[SoCalNative]

Nothing like bringing up an old topic to bring out a new member. Yo! Willbo, great answer ... I had to stop and think as I read your reply. All this terminology as well from some of the other replies. I am an old native here in Calif, and can tell you my first board was a Basal wood plank with fiberglass as well .. and it was heavy. If you got hit in the head by your board it could have been somewhat near fatal. I have surfed on and off several times .. in my lifetime depending on the circumstances .. i.e. College, career, mid-life crisis, marriage and kids. Now aside from my intro, I can honestly say..
If you have 10 longboarders in a room, you could get 10 different answers. And I should point out right now, this all comes down to personal likes and style, 'If it works for you, use it'
My take on all this, well happens to agree with you Willbo and would like to point out several 'other' aspects of 3 fin setup.
1. I do not like 3 fins, but if I were to choose a 3 fin system I would tend to want certain specs in a longboard that goes with a 3 fins system.
1. What kind of rocker would I want? And not just the 'over-all' rocker, but some consideration of the kick in the tail. I have found or should I say believed that a board with too much rocker is slow.. tops out in the 'top end'. The same thought applies to the tail end kick in the longboard.
2. What about the tail end? Rounded or Pintail? Diamond or Blocked and if Blocked .. wide block or.. ?
3. What kind of rails? Downturn 70/30 or 50/50?
4. And somewhat very important. In my honest opinion is the bottom side edge of the longboard. Most boards do have an 'edge' on the underside of the board. Starting from the tail end of the longboard there is an edge on the underside. It is sharpest at the tail and gradually tapers round as it moves up to the mid portion of the board. How long or short that edge is important to me. I'd want something that grabs and holds a turn to my wishes.
To me, that is very important and that bottom side edge is what helps make a 3 fin system truly a 3 fin system. Its what grabs and makes a 3 fin turn and carve the way its supposed to do.
Now aside from all the variables involved in choosing a 3 fin system, I would like to point out that in a 3 fin setup, those outside fins are pointing to the very center of the nose of the board, as well as tilting outwards. That is the drag that some point out in the setup. It is also the very reason why a 3 fin setup does what it does as far as bottom turns and carving. Three Fins? So many factors, hey 'If it works for you, use it'
btw, never even touched on a single fin subject, same thing .. so many factors to consider.

[waikikikichan]

1 fin system is easy to explain what it is, one single fin. 3 fins system, gets a little confusing. I feel saying 3 fins means a Thruster set-up where each fin is the same height ( about 4.5" each ) A 2+1 set up has 3 fins, but the center is taller and the sides smaller ( 6-7-8" center and 2.5-4" sides ). Then there is also the Twin/stabi set up with large fronts and tiny trailer for the middle.
I think the OP ( 9 years ago ) was thinking more on the lines of the 2+1 set up. So basically a 2+1 set up takes some aspects of the thruster and the single fin set up.
If you have a copy of Wingnuts Art of Longboard #3, Dino Miranda explains in detail when interviewed by Wingnut.