What size / config Fin do you like?

[Mdowling56]

Thought it would be interesting to see what fin set up your guys go with on your boards.

I'll go first!

I just bought a 9'6 RA noserider w/ a 10" Classic shape Fin. After the first ride it feels like a bit too much fin. Will probably throw a 9" on it this weekend and give her a go.

[Rickyroughneck]

Thought it would be interesting to see what fin set up your guys go with on your boards.

I'll go first!

I just bought a 9'6 RA noserider w/ a 10" Classic shape Fin. After the first ride it feels like a bit too much fin. Will probably throw a 9" on it this weekend and give her a go.

How does that feel to you? - Stiff/ hard to initiate turns? By classic shape, you mean some kind of skeg?


Mine is a standard 2+1 with an 8" cutaway. Pretty bog standard for a performance board. I want my next to be a single 10"


Good thread, I am interested in this. I have noticed a lot of contradicting information in the sales garb on fins so would be nice to get some proper feedback.

[Mdowling56]

no, just a standard dolphin shape.

Ya you are exactly right it's a bit stiff, excellent trimming but I found myself really having to get on the tail initiate turns.

Probably going to drop down to a 9" for the next trip and see how that goes. Thinking of picking up something with some flex so I can get little bit of both worlds in there.

Anyone have exp with the Harbour Hp Fins?

[jaffa1949]

I'd try a little repositioning in the fin box forward, giving looser feel (the way you say you have make turns indicates this). Further back stiffens things up.
See Uncle Jaffa's fin primer for what I think.
A quick useful rule of thumb is 1" of fin for 1' of board so 10" might be a bit of a drag especially if the base area is large, so your change could help a lot.
http://www.shapers.com.au/products/8.75 ... burgh.html, this is the model I use in my board if you go look further at this site you will see how much more area the classic 10" dolphin has and other fins, read the primer and see what you think fits you.
The Harbour HP is a blast from the past a development of the Greenough type fin, the flex and springback gives some kaboom release from the the initial turn forces and the thinner area makes it looser, if you have the money get a stable of fins if not borrow fins at every opportunity and see what works for your style of surfing.

[APH]

I also just picked up a RA noserider 9'8" surftech model. Mine came as a thruster with a 10" fin that seems to be swept back a fair bit (In comparison too what I have been using), Will it be suitable to use as a single fin or need another style. Hopefully will take it out this weekend so will experiment around with it as is for the time being

[jaffa1949]

APH take out the side bites and move the centre fin forward in the box, see how that goes!
BTW one of the main ideas of the thrusters was 3 equal size fins, call yours a 2+1 when you have the side bites in, looks good glad to see you've got it,get surfing.

The side bite boxes look to be futures fin system, when you are ready to try the 2+1 configuration check out the fins I use as my side bites (in the Uncle Jaffa Fin Primer) Save a bit of money for a while stick with the single set up.

[APH]

Will take your advice this weekend Jaffa. I was just a bit unsure as the fin whilst longer than my nine inch it just looks to have less area or base, also when I picked the board up, they were recommending a hatchet fin, which I gather is better for noseriding and I'm not quite at that stage (maybe in the next decade or so)
Re thruster , even as I wrote it i knew something wasnt quite right, just gotten into the habit of always saying single fin

[newportlongboard]

love playing around with fins makes a board do a lot of different things i even had my 9'1 performance nose rider made with extra fin boxes so it can be set up as a 2 + 1, single fin or quad. and the quad is really fun to surf for just powering down the line. i also have small and slightly larger side bits and i box to convert the fin box to a FCS. so my main board has been surfed in all different variations my favourite at the moment is a 7 inch cutaway centre fin and side bits i think there the FCS Gx ones.

[Mdowling56]

This is good stuff guys, thanks!

Ya APH that's a lot of center fin to roll on a 2+1. If you are looking to get more turn and performance I'd say drop down to a 8in center and toss your side bites on. Although a 9'8 is pushing what I would consider to be a performance board anyway.

[Kagey]

I also just picked up a RA noserider 9'8" surftech model. Mine came as a thruster with a 10" fin that seems to be swept back a fair bit (In comparison too what I have been using), Will it be suitable to use as a single fin or need another style. Hopefully will take it out this weekend so will experiment around with it as is for the time being

I have the exact same centre fin in my 10' RA Predator and it is a single fin. i haven't been able to try the board out yet but will report back when I eventually do.

[Katsura]

A 10 inch square hachet and a 9 dolphin depends on the condition.

[APH]

A 10 inch square hachet and a 9 dolphin depends on the condition.

What size board do you ride and what sort of conditions determine what fin you use? Also I have a 9" dolphin on my old board, would that be too small to use on my 9'8 as a single?I've been told to follow the inch per foot rule , so are you better off choosing slightly larger rather than too small?

[jaffa1949]

Quick try the dolphin, if one thing doesn't work, even if uncle Jaffa might have said it ( did I ), do something different.

APH get every fin you have that works in that board and try them all out.
If a rule doesn't work for you, (it's a theory) discard theory and find new rule.
I've never had a complaint about 9" and so 9'8" is under 10' so you can use 9" too or go smaller for a trial but the smaller you go the more the tail is going to slide, I'm going to send you a spare fin to try since you're in Victoria, PM me after you post a picture of your fin box from above so I can see if the fin will fit.
I see the side bites are futures.