Short single fin for river use

[steepcreek]

I recently bought a Red Paddle Race 12'6".  It seems pretty solid in rough water and I've got an itch to try it out in some mild whitewater here on the Potomac near DC.  I'm just worried about the fin catching on a rock at an inopportune moment and doing a header.  I do at least have a helmet.

This SUP's got a removable fin and came with about an 8" dolphin style fin.  I've been looking for a shorter tougher fin, say like 4" with a long sweep.  Seems like most short fins attach differently like FCS.  Any ideas on finding a short center fin that goes in in this type fin box?  Should I get a longer plastic one and try and cut it down?

[kayadogg]

You can get an FCS adapter that fits in that center box and turns it into a regular FCS box.

[steepcreek]

You can get an FCS adapter that fits in that center box and turns it into a regular FCS box.

Thanks for the tip, just ordered one.  As you can tell, I know nothing about surfboards. Still looking for a bomber fin.

[detourgreg]

How do you like the 12'6" race? It sounds like you've taken it in some rough conditions and liked it? I'm looking for a relatively fast board for cruising on mountain lakes. They can go from glass to strong winds on any given paddle. How well does the board track?

Thanks

[steepcreek]

I've only had it a month and paddled it in various conditions a half dozen times.  Still haven't formed a definitive opinion but here are my initial impressions.  It might be a good fit for your intended use.

Cons

Not as fast as I hoped it would be in calm flat water.  It feels like it has decent glide, but my 14' ULI is noticeably faster. 
It's heavy. Even weighs more than our old Yolo 12' 6" 32" W glass board with many patches and probably water inside.
Kinda corky, at my weight at least - 160lbs. And sometimes when a wave hits the bow at just the right angle it really knocks it sideways.

Plus side

It does track well and handles chop better than the Uli probably because of the 6" thickness vs. 4".
Stability is good, especially initial stability.  Two rookies I've let paddle it were comfortable fairly quickly.
I like the ability the remove and or change the fin.  Helps with stacking boards on the truck and packing too.   I took it out on some class 2 with no fin and had fun.  Surfs small standing waves well.  Still looking for a short fin but as someone who's been paddling WW OC's for years, it wasn't that difficult keeping it straight with no fin.
The heavy duty construction.  Comes with the weight penalty but makes it good for use in rocky environments.

[airSUP]

Ask Red Paddle for the new flex fins, they should have them soon.

Send me a personal message if you want to try a free sample.

[K1SUP]

Have pretty much found that a fin is not needed and more trouble than its worth for downriver on any of my boards.  If I were on deeper rivers it would be nice to have for surfing but the SE rivers around here have shallow shoals that like to catch the fin and send me sailing over the handlebars.

[Green Water Sports]

Hi steepcreek,

I'll be stocking these fins soon, might be what you are thinking of:

http://trueames.com/shop/shallow-water-touring-sup-fin

[SUPmission]

I just picked the true ames 6.25" fin
Love it
Definetly appreciate the extra clearance on the bottom
As I come upon some shallow areas during my sessions
It's supposed to improve tracking too
I think it has but you sometimes it's hard to judge if its you or the equipment
There are many variables in what influences the tracking imo
A major factor being paddling technique, tempo and of course the board itself

[UKRiverSurfers]

I just cut my fins down with a hacksaw. Just use a cheap plastic fin.

[paddlebattle]

Hi steepcreek,

I'll be stocking these fins soon, might be what you are thinking of:

http://trueames.com/shop/shallow-water-touring-sup-fin

That fin is awesome. I bought a year or two ago and it's all I ever use around here. No scrapes, no dragging vegetation. handles very nicely and runs fast.