Fins, fins and fins

[Rand]

http://www.dsurf.com/

These guys made us 4 custom bags from 9'2 to 9'6.  They were $225 each.  Great quality.  Thick padding, huge rail beading, and bomber zippers.  We have flown with them twice, and abuse them daily. 

Hope that helps.

[wadadli_waterman]

I have put enough time in now to start playing with my fin arrangements and I am having fun with it.  I have always been a bit of a fin freak with surfing, wakeboarding and kiting becuase it really does make a difference on how the board rides for a given water condition.

With my C4 10-6 I went from the stock set up (a flexy 8inch center fin and 4 inch futures skinny side bites) to a 6 inch center fin and Futures 4.5 inch Vector 2's (side fins from a thruster set).  In small surf this set up feels great.  The tail is kind of slidy when the board is moving slow but bites nice with vert or good board speed.  It lets me get "slotted early" on a late take off or slide out at the top of the wave after coming out of a round house.....so much fun!

My theory has always been to use as little fin as you can get away with....as long as the tail stays behind the nose.  You've also got so much rail with these kinds of boards; use it.

[StandUpPaddleSurf.net]

Rand - What difference did you feel when you changed to the blue fcs fins? 

I have an Infinity 5 fin box 10'er and when I use the 5.5" on the sides and a 4.5" middle butted all the way fwd it really loosens up the board and I find it's easier for me in small waves to turn. 

I just got a PSH 10'6" all around board that is running 3" sides and 7.5" or 8" middle.  I may try the 5" side and 3 or 4" middle on that to see what it feels like. 

[Rand]

StandUp,

That little board of Blane's is a very fast, light board, that really wants to take off (even on very soft summer waves).  Those bigger twins made it even faster, and swithching to the whippy blue ones helped it free up better than the wider white ones.  For winter, I have just been riding standard shortboard fins (4.25's), and I have not been tempted to change.  I think that so much depends on the board shape, that you may need to try a few things out before you find what will work for you.  Best to find a friend with a big fin collection (and who gets really giving after a few beers).

Let us know how it goes.

[StandUpPaddleSurf.net]

Rand - What kind of 3" center fin are you using?

[DavidJohn]

My theory has always been to use as little fin as you can get away with

I agree...Let the rails do their job.

DJ

[Rand]

The white one was a Rainbow fin that says only Rainbow '98 on it in handwriting.  Something from deep in the bag.  True Ames has a bunch of small ones that are carried at Hi Tech (and maybe other stores).  They had at least a dozen in the 3-5 inch range that will fit a stanadard US (longboard style) fin box if memory serves.

[Byronmaui]

Quad all the way.

Aloha

Byron

[boots]

Byron, how are you liking your quad? I've heard only good things about them but haven't tried one yet. Post  a pic of your fin setup if you can and let us know how she goes.

[Big Island Mike]

I ordered one of those bags today,they have 9'6 x 30 in stock, great service. Thanks for the referral Rand. Stoked.  Probably have a travil version for my 9'2 and 6'6 surfboard for doing trips.