sinistapenguin wrote:Drowning's post intrigued me:
For an example, Ive got a 7'4 funboard in my quiver which I always rode like a mini-mal until I smacked the fins on a sandbar. Then I replaced them with a slightly smaller and more splayed set of fins... and it immediately meant I ride it like a shortboard
So by this assumption I may be able to make my mini-mal much looser? The only thing is I have no idea what fins I have on my board, or how to change the 'splay'. Any tips would be greatly received!!
Yes, thats right. You can really loosen it up
Well, you can if you're not already on 'loose' fins.
When I first had the 7'4, it was my first 'real' board, and so the shaper put in some F5 458 Future Fins, which are quite chunky, and the outer fins have a real 'edge' to them ie the outside is curved but the inside of the fin is more or less flat.
The board was very stable, and quite slow - ideal for someone just finding their feet
Then a particularly inept bottom turn at Bournemouth snapped 'em!
So I got them replaced having spoken to the shaper again and he sent... damn, I cant remember the number.... (I can find out if you're interested, but only any use if your on futures and not FCS). Anyway, they're ever so slightly smaller, and a little more 'splayed' and also are shaped inside and out.
The first time I paddled out with them (at croyde) it was a transformation - suddenly it generated speed much much quicker and I had to shift my weight right back and start to turn it like a shortboard
So well worth the change
Ive now got futures on all my boards, so one day Im going to spend an entertaining afternoon swapping them round and seeing the effect - 7'4 funboard with hybrid fish fins anyone?
