More About Fins 2015

  

Click here for our 2015 fin guide

Fins can make or break a board especially if you are fussy and surf lots of different types of waves. However choosing the right fin for you is tough.

• Use a base set of fins as a standard to work from – the less complicated the fin the better. That way you can compare fins on a like for like basis. If the boards feels too stiff apply the rules above and look for a fin that with solve the problem. Don’t make huge jumps between sizes or styles.

• To test the board as a quad use the same standard front fins (to keep the drive the same) with another set of smaller quad rear fins. Use this as your standard set up chopping and changing until you find a perfect. Don’t be afraid to mix and match fins. Larger front fins, smaller trailers, smaller front fins larger trailers.

 

SIZE

Larger fins generally have more hold, drive and control. Smaller fins are looser but you sacrifice drive and control.

BASE

A longer base equals more drive, acceleration and draws out turns. Shorter fin bases increase manoeuvrability but decrease drive.

DEPTH (height):

The greater the depth the more hold and vice versa. The smaller the fin, the more release.

Rake

The amount of backward curve. More rake longer turns, less rake (amore upright fin) equals quicker tighter turns. More upright rake, means more pivot and looser feeling.

FLEX (bendiness in the tip):

Stiff fins for quick response, speed and drive. Flexier fins are whippier through turns – slow at first then they whip through on release.

CANT

The angle or splay of the side fins. Less cant faster acceleration and a stiffer feel. More cant more manoeuvrability and looser feel.

FOIL

Curve on the inside and outside of the fin. Very complicated! The fin foil is the aerodynamic cross section and generates lift. Side fins are generally flat or curved on the inside of the fin with a foil on the outside. Center fins have 50/50 foils. Flat sided fins can work well on deep concaved boards as they stiffen them up, inside foils can add drive through turns.

Toe

The toe of your fins is the angle the fins point inwards an creates different pressures on the outside and inside foils. More toe increases the responsiveness of your board. Less toe faster speeds but a stiffer feel.

 

FLAT SIDED FIN VERSUS INSIDE FOILED FIN

Flat foils break free sooner and are better for controlling speed, use them in fast powerful surf where you don’t need to generate additional speed. Flat foils will feel closest to glass ons.

Vector foils will allow you to maximise speed and drive hard in your bottom turns, the fins feel fluid rail to rail. Futures produce a series of V2 fins which feature the speed generating characteristics of the V (vector) at the base transitioning into flat foil at the tip, for controlled release in critical turns.

 
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