Forward fins set vs. less forward fins set

[john -]

but why take credit for slashing up a thing of beauty
when you're grateful just to be there

one of the most admired surfers along the 13th beach stretch rides a 7ft pintail and seems like he came straight from the "crystal voyager" video

last time i saw him 1t was a 4 to 6 swell with crumbling sections - we pulled up to the car park which is high above the line up to see a guy without a wettie cruising his way towards shore - he had made it from out back to the shallows without being caught behind any white water

our wifes love his style


we knew it was "f" because hes the only one we know surfing a board that would handle the power of the 1st car park at 13th whilst able to gracefully dance across a difficult day

not cutting edge or boundry pushing but in the groove and in harmony

"f" climbed the stairs, said "gday" took out his watch from the back pocket of his hawaiian board shorts - no bands just a face...he said "not a bad 40 minute session but best off home to the kids"

...poetry!

we observed the carvers left out there getting caught behind the difficult side shore conditions


dorje

[DarcyM]

a trade-off between manoeuverability (I struggle to type that word!) and drive.

It would be easier if you spelled it maneuverability (all those extra "o"'s and "u"s -- like "harbour" -- causing drag, slowing you down ...)

In all seriousness, I'm really struggling to keep up with Red's extensive knowledge and experience with fin shapes. Talking to him in Hawaii and last year in Tahiti, I've come to realize he really has some good ideas and insights! He's also far more adventurous than I in trying different sizes of fins, going so far as to swap them out on the beach so as to try different types in the same conditions in one day. Of course, that's the way to go if you really want to know.

In the past I've been far too complacent, allowing the shaper to sell me what I need for each board, and leaving it at that. But I'm going to try and see if I can really feel a difference and start building up my "quiver" of FCS fins to try out on different boards. What can it hurt?

I'm also wondering, how hard can it be to make an FCS style fin out of fiberglass? Has anyone tried it? What were the results? Other than ruining a perfectly good t-shirt with globs of resin and fiberglass? (or fibreglass if you prefer).

[splashy]

Yeah, I run with fibreglass custom foiled fins in FCS plugs - and I have a few to play around with depending on the waves and how I'm feeling. There are some guys in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast who make them.... but anyone with any foiling experience should be able to knock you up some fins.....

....I dunno about anyone else, but I find fibreglass fins always "feel" better in the water than plastic ones. I tend to be able to work them better... maybe it's the 'glass fins having some flex (????)

I ride 4 fins because I can't ride 3s - can't even get them moving. I think I ride and turn too far forward on the board - but I grew up on twin fins and whenever my shapers ever tried to get me to ride 3s I always ended up taking the back fin out.

Go figger!!!!

...on the subject of turning I find the rail shape and edge to be quite important. I ride double flyers and find that, when on the rail and turning, I can feel when flyer is biting, depending on the tightness of the arc and where in the turn I am....

[Steeno]

I dont have any plastic fins either, have only ever had custom glass or carbon fibre fins to suit FCS.

[ross]

darcy
fcs did do an unfoiled plug years ago although i was told they stopped making them.i had a friend who would get them for me.but you shouldn't have any trouble getting someone to make you a fibreglass set(i'd imagine FCS would frown upon that).i use fibreglass ones in my bigger boards(they're heavy though).
what are you guys doing with your guns?my configuration stays the same,but i decrese the size of my rail fins because i feel the extra rail and a pintail are providing the hold,so smaller fins can balance out the drive/manoeuvrability.i just wondered if this is commonplace.

[MTBarrels]

...<snipped>...But I'm going to try and see if I can really feel a difference and start building up my "quiver" of FCS fins to try out on different boards. What can it hurt?...<snipped>...

Wallet?

[K-man]

It's not all that expensive,if it improves the fun factor.Two sets of rail fins and several small to med trailers will do nicely.


cheers

[lowrider]

a cheaper way is the 'headwax acrylic breadboard fin' (TM)

[Anthony B]

Now theres an idea!

[K-man]

Wax-man

I'm lost in the woods...whatinahellyatalkinabout

Just a country boy at heart.


cheers,and then some.

[DarcyM]

...<snipped>...But I'm going to try and see if I can really feel a difference and start building up my "quiver" of FCS fins to try out on different boards. What can it hurt?...<snipped>...

Wallet?

Funny, MT ... true, but funny. And sometimes finding the variety at the local store is futile. Ordering online better, but then you need to know what you're looking for and not have to hold it in your hands or compare it to what you've got.

I suppose it might be equally futile trying to get a consensus on this board of the six most essential FCS fins ...

[Burnwater]

FCS now has a line of fiberglass fins with inside foil. They also have an adapter for the use of FCS fins in standard longboard fin boxes. (See the longboard fin section on their site.)
Fins Unlimited makes standard boxes down to 7.75 in. long. All of which would make for some very intersting fin experimentation, including the use of a single long fin when you feel the urge.
By the way has anyone tried the new FCS red tip (wing tip). Seems like it would provide too much tail lift for a kneeboard.

[Steeno]

I haven't tried the red tip but I have the exact same fin, called a wing tip from 1984 made by multifin systems. I rode that fin for 5 years in the 80's as my trailer, it did lift the board at fast speeds, my leg rope also used to occassionally get hooked up on it aswell...not good...always at the worst time to.

Chico (Albert) has just had a run of it recently on his retro board...but he gave it back after I kept saying "please dont lose that fin"