Just mucking around with fins again ...brought 2 sets of shapers...one set with five fins ,other with 4 ,a bargain at $100 a set ...the five set .carbon flare ...had bigger side fins than my original Naish fins .8 instead of 7. 'S .the rear fin wais small compared to the 6.5 Naish rear fin .but put them in and headed out ,I thought I was going to be spinning out with such a small rear fin ...but the opposite ....so I now feel the stiffness of the board is very much decided on what side fins are put on .I did paddle in and push the rear fin up ,and got my looseness back again ...jus cruising ,the fins felt the same ,but when you started turning and throwing the board around ,after market fin really do make a huge difference ,more speed ,and just a nice feel with the slightly flex of the carbon over glass fins .
With the bigger sides I did manage to make it around a few sections ,over the smaller original side fins .and did liven up on the bigger waves .
The second set to try tomorrow will be the super light honey comb quads .core - lite.
any experience and ideas on combos are welcome .with your past experiences .I'm a bit of a newbie at the after market
fins ,but so far are liking the full set change ...before I would only change 2 .the very small rear really improves the nose snapping back around .
Here are the fins Im trying out .Enjoying the extra performance .Its almost like owing another board .It makes so much difference .
It's always fun to try different fins to change things up.
A few years ago, I was trying to loosen up a few boards, so I threw in some really long based, big sidebites and ran a few boards as twin fins.
They had surprising drive and bite in some steep head high waves... but still really made the boards loose and snappy.
I never noticed a need for a 3rd center fin. I abandoned that experiment when I got into more performance boards.
The fins were all Futures, so the boxes could handle the large area of the fins.
All of my boards now, run FCS boxes, so I haven't tried the big twins lately.
Nice twin supthecreek....also a pin tail be fun in smaller waves ..
colas..yeah the big 8's I have they are super thin too and very flexy .but it's good with the small rear .
i do like the way you can ride the wave high .and it still feels pretty loose ...because I has the x32 Hokua .it is
wide and it does work well.with the big sides...
It seems funny how I'm using the same fins as my surfboard ( that doesn't get used anymore)....yet riding a bigger board....?
i guess it is a lot to do with your weight .
but wow ...the original fins will be wall hangers from now on .
thanks for the cool vids.
I recently bought a set of the C Drives for my 8'6" JP surf pro and love them so much I've ordered a set for my Sunova Acid too.
Not only great fins but great service and advice from Troy the guy that sells them here in Oz.
cdrivefins.com/
Not only great fins but great service and advice from Troy the guy that sells them here in Oz.
cdrivefins.com/
Yes, do not hesitate to contact him, he can arrange easily custom orders, spare fins...
The free shipping worldwide is great!
x 2....I've bought a few sets of C-Drives from Troy & the service has always spot on (a big fat thumbs up) & the fins work a treat!
I love a bit of fin porn. I'm a big fan of a smaller rear fin in a thruster setup. I find it really loose but with just enough bite to stop you spinning out on hard cutbacks. I've also used a double zigfin for the rear fin which works well (and even double zigfins as the rears in a set of quads). I don't really bother when it gets big but generally if I do go out I replace the rear fin with a standard thruster fin for bigger waves or the board is just too loose.
I like the idea of trying c-drives but they don't appear to do futures which is a shame.
Ah yes, the nexus H3 were my favorite in the "traditional" fin shape. Very refined foil, and great construction, gave a very fluid and smooth feeling in turns. I didn't like the H2 as they were too small for my weight.
But for me the new "Performer" FCS line is as good as the H3.
I must say I didn't try the Carver or Accelerator line, as they do not exist in XL sizes, so i cannot speak of the differences in these new FCS fin lines.
Nor did I tried a lot of "normal" fins, as I was so satisfied when I discovered the first FCS fins with inside foil, I did not bother trying any fin in traditional shape with flat sides. The exception is the Harley Ingleby set, flat sides but huge size with thin profile, an interesting combo for a thruster setup on a noserider SUP where the slight drag is not an issue.
Yes Jhon, Colas;
H3, H2 and Beachley FCS fins models works good on shortSUP also C-Drive do it too. As well the TC red line ... all those fins templates are wide base and shallow tips or fin templates have narrow tip like C-Drive or TC ones. All those fins template have a common denominator which is to be compact and reactive .
To my opinion the reason why they work better on wide tail board and therefore SUPboard is the fact that the distance between your back foot and side fin has to be the shorter as possible.
So as compact but still functional as possible the side fin have to provide efficiency to dig the rail and board planning aera with the less back foot pressure as possible.
Also advantage of those fin systems of shallow fin is to have less drag so getting faster.
Last input is about fin toe of all these fins H2, NEXUS, C-Drive, TC: As SUP tail board are wide, no need to have toe get the board loose and maneuverable. I already demo on my own board that zero toe give more drive and stay very loose.
Ah yes, the nexus H3 were my favorite in the "traditional" fin shape. Very refined foil, and great construction, gave a very fluid and smooth feeling in turns. I didn't like the H2 as they were too small for my weight.
But for me the new "Performer" FCS line is as good as the H3.
I must say I didn't try the Carver or Accelerator line, as they do not exist in XL sizes, so i cannot speak of the differences in these new FCS fin lines.
Nor did I tried a lot of "normal" fins, as I was so satisfied when I discovered the first FCS fins with inside foil, I did not bother trying any fin in traditional shape with flat sides. The exception is the Harley Ingleby set, flat sides but huge size with thin profile, an interesting combo for a thruster setup on a noserider SUP where the slight drag is not an issue.
Oh so you think the new performer is as good as the H3 - I will have to look into that, I recently lost one of my side H3 fins the other day, I also will have a look at the Harley Ingleby set because I have not heard of them :-)
Yes Jhon;
H3, H2 and Beachley FCS fins models works good on shortSUP also C-Drive do it too. As well the TC red line ... all those fins templates are wide base and shallow tips or fin templates have narrow tip like C-Drive or TC ones. All those fins template have a common denominator which is to be compact and reactive .
To my opinion the reason why they work better on wide tail board and therefore SUPboard is the fact that the distance between your back foot and side fin has to be the shorter as possible.
So as compact but still functional as possible the side fin have to provide efficiency to dig the rail and board planning aera with the less back foot pressure as possible.
Also advantage of those fin systems of shallow fin is to have less drag so getting faster.
Last input is about fin toe of all these fins H2, NEXUS, C-Drive, TC: As SUP tail board are wide, no need to have toe get the board loose and maneuverable. I already demo on my own board that zero toe give more drive and stay very loose.
Yes Kami I have all those fins and I use different fins on different boards in different conditions - but I have not yet found the perfect set-up, also I do not know of the Beachley FCS fins which I will look into also :-)
Im still searching ,the 8 sides are way to big for my short board .I had trouble getting down the wave ..back to the short fins ,,,I need to mix them
up a bit to find a good combo.
I should be able to find something out of 10 fins .
the rear quad ones are smoothed on both edges can they be used as front sides .I guess they won't hold as good a line on the face .??
any ideas.
Yes Jhon;
H3, H2 and Beachley FCS fins models works good on shortSUP also C-Drive do it too. As well the TC red line ... all those fins templates are wide base and shallow tips or fin templates have narrow tip like C-Drive or TC ones. All those fins template have a common denominator which is to be compact and reactive .
To my opinion the reason why they work better on wide tail board and therefore SUPboard is the fact that the distance between your back foot and side fin has to be the shorter as possible.
So as compact but still functional as possible the side fin have to provide efficiency to dig the rail and board planning aera with the less back foot pressure as possible.
Also advantage of those fin systems of shallow fin is to have less drag so getting faster.
Last input is about fin toe of all these fins H2, NEXUS, C-Drive, TC: As SUP tail board are wide, no need to have toe get the board loose and maneuverable. I already demo on my own board that zero toe give more drive and stay very loose.
Yes Kami I have all those fins and I use different fins on different boards in different conditions - but I have not yet found the perfect set-up, also I do not know of the Beachley FCS fins which I will look into also :-)
Beachley fins have the H2 template or very similar without the extra toe but still same extra cant. Hard to find even in second hand market.
I reckon this before mucking around fins; have to think twice about fins positions too ( rear fin distance, toe and cant..) don't mind to drill extra FCS X2 plugs and find out the perfect fin and its perfect position.
With the bigger sides I did manage to make it around a few sections ,over the smaller original side fins .and did liven up on the bigger waves .
Smaller fins in bigger waves are better. Bigger fins in small waves give more drive and feel faster. In big waves the bigger fins give too much lift making it hard to bury a rail at speed. I always try to use the smallest fins I can to try make the big feckn pieces of foam we ride turn. Nothing better than sliding the tail in snaps.
With the bigger sides I did manage to make it around a few sections ,over the smaller original side fins .and did liven up on the bigger waves .
Smaller fins in bigger waves are better. Bigger fins in small waves give more drive and feel faster. In big waves the bigger fins give too much lift making it hard to bury a rail at speed. I always try to use the smallest fins I can to try make the big feckn pieces of foam we ride turn. Nothing better than sliding the tail in snaps.
Yep, minimize the size of fins on those big board make it more fun to ride. Less of total areas of tail and fins in water contact faster is the riding.
For fun try the FCS II MR Twinnies. Worked well in my biggest board - my King's 9'4" 130 liter "Monsterpiece".
With the bigger sides I did manage to make it around a few sections ,over the smaller original side fins .and did liven up on the bigger waves .
Smaller fins in bigger waves are better. Bigger fins in small waves give more drive and feel faster. In big waves the bigger fins give too much lift making it hard to bury a rail at speed. I always try to use the smallest fins I can to try make the big feckn pieces of foam we ride turn. Nothing better than sliding the tail in snaps.
Yep, minimize the size of fins on those big board make it more fun to ride. Less of total areas of tail and fins in water contact faster is the riding.
Thanks guys ..small it is ...what about the question of using rear fins on the front .without the flat sides .( supplied with the five fin pack)
Im guessing it s a No No ...why.....will the board slide more . Or not have enough grab on the face of the wave .
Yes Jhon;
H3, H2 and Beachley FCS fins models works good on shortSUP also C-Drive do it too. As well the TC red line ... all those fins templates are wide base and shallow tips or fin templates have narrow tip like C-Drive or TC ones. All those fins template have a common denominator which is to be compact and reactive .
To my opinion the reason why they work better on wide tail board and therefore SUPboard is the fact that the distance between your back foot and side fin has to be the shorter as possible.
So as compact but still functional as possible the side fin have to provide efficiency to dig the rail and board planning aera with the less back foot pressure as possible.
Also advantage of those fin systems of shallow fin is to have less drag so getting faster.
Last input is about fin toe of all these fins H2, NEXUS, C-Drive, TC: As SUP tail board are wide, no need to have toe get the board loose and maneuverable. I already demo on my own board that zero toe give more drive and stay very loose.
Yes Kami I have all those fins and I use different fins on different boards in different conditions - but I have not yet found the perfect set-up, also I do not know of the Beachley FCS fins which I will look into also :-)
Beachley fins have the H2 template or very similar without the extra toe but still same extra cant. Hard to find even in second hand market.
I reckon this before mucking around fins; have to think twice about fins positions too ( rear fin distance, toe and cant..) don't mind to drill extra FCS X2 plugs and find out the perfect fin and its perfect position.
Ok thanks for the info, I also tend to modify / sand my fins as required some times :-)
Ah yes, the nexus H3 were my favorite in the "traditional" fin shape. Very refined foil, and great construction, gave a very fluid and smooth feeling in turns. I didn't like the H2 as they were too small for my weight.
But for me the new "Performer" FCS line is as good as the H3.
I must say I didn't try the Carver or Accelerator line, as they do not exist in XL sizes, so i cannot speak of the differences in these new FCS fin lines.
Nor did I tried a lot of "normal" fins, as I was so satisfied when I discovered the first FCS fins with inside foil, I did not bother trying any fin in traditional shape with flat sides. The exception is the Harley Ingleby set, flat sides but huge size with thin profile, an interesting combo for a thruster setup on a noserider SUP where the slight drag is not an issue.
Also I have just seen the "Quantum fin" on line (not yet available I think) which you might be interested in looking at colas :-)
Thanks guys ..small it is ...what about the question of using rear fins on the front .without the flat sides .( supplied with the five fin pack)
If the internal foil is convex (i.e. a 80/20 or 50/50 foil), do not use them as front sides in a quad or thruster setup, you will lose traction in the start of the turns. Not pleasant.
They are great however in 2+1 setups as "sidebites" to a bigger (7"-9") center fin where the grip is provided by the center fin and the sides act more as stabilizers and let the center in dominate. And of course as rear fins in quads, where you want the front sides to dominate.
Kami could tell us however if they would be good as front fins in a "Twinzer" setup, where I guess you want the rear fins to dominate the ride.
PS: On smaller fins for by waves, I agree. Also because longer boards for big waves have thinner rails (volume being distributed on a longer length), and the rails become the dominant grip force, the fins acting more as stabilizers and should let the rails do their work.
Thanks guys ..small it is ...what about the question of using rear fins on the front .without the flat sides .( supplied with the five fin pack)
If the internal foil is convex (i.e. a 80/20 or 50/50 foil), do not use them as front sides in a quad or thruster setup, you will lose traction in the start of the turns. Not pleasant.
They are great however in 2+1 setups as "sidebites" to a bigger (7"-9") center fin where the grip is provided by the center fin and the sides act more as stabilizers and let the center in dominate. And of course as rear fins in quads, where you want the front sides to dominate.
Kami could tell us however if they would be good as front fins in a "Twinzer" setup, where I guess you want the rear fins to dominate the ride.
PS: On smaller fins for by waves, I agree. Also because longer boards for big waves have thinner rails (volume being distributed on a longer length), and the rails become the dominant grip force, the fins acting more as stabilizers and should let the rails do their work.
Thanks...good info ...wondered how it works ....
some great little fat short boards there colas....
i enjoy the raptor I have ...I reckon they would of done better with a pointier nose like yours pictured.....mine ploughs a bit in lumpy days.due to the sawn off nose ...that's the only complaint I have about it ...
i like the one on the left ...nice wide tail ...does it have great speed ?
what sizes are they ?