I here different advice about centre fin placement from people in the water.pushed right forward means a more responsive board , right back a stiffer feel. anybody out there has any more advice it would be great. im trying to get more glide and trim out of my mana 10 in slow waves we have on offer at my local spot. do i need to change the centre fin or move it?.TA
This is just one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions.
As you said forward means responsive and back means stiffer. The other side of this is that forward means less drive and speed out of turns, back means more. More speed makes a board more responsive so you end up at the beginning again.
The answer to this question only exists in your feet. Some surf off the front foot, some off the back and some do a bit of both. Where you stand, how you drive off your front or back foot particularly from the bottom turn and how this relates to your fin position and your preference for what feels better to you.
Just keep everything constant, get one of those fin screws with the FCS head in it and ride 3 waves, move it a 1/4 inch in either direction and ride another 3 waves keep doing this until it feels right. Just make sure you do the adjustments in the same surf, not a different day. You and the conditions are the same that way and you will get a better understanding of what you need.
Don't bother changing fin sizes around until you have exhausted your options on the set you already have.
Mate, which mana do you have - the ast which has a bigger (I think 9") centre with small sides or the bamboo with more of a big thruster set ? The 9" centre on the ast models seems to go really well in creating a bit more drive and helps the board track a little better but the board is never going to be a super fast down the line trimming board because it is a heavily rockered surfing board and very very good at that. I would run the centre fin just back from midway in the box - maybe an inch at most and see how that feels. You will probably end up settling for somewhere between all the way back and centre as thats where my mates and I have run our mana fins and had the most success.
Since sliding the 6" centre fin on my Coreban Fusion to the back of the box as an experiment a few weeks ago (after a comment from a local SUP retailers experience with an east coast regular contributor) - it feels more responsive, drives off the bottom better and just feels great - I have always gone centre or slightly forward - I am a convert to the back of the box and getting the back foot onto the angled stomp pad on the cutties and bottom turns - surprised me how good it surfs way back there on a wide tail board - works better in any position than the quad set up (personal opinion there)
note where you normally stand, take a about half a step to a step forward this will make your Manna paddle a little straighter. Ive got one know what ya mean
Yes. if you put the centre fin on your forehead, and the side fins on your shoulders and touch your nose with your tongue you will definately get more trim and speed. This works I have done it. Everyone else is lying to you. The only other thing I can suggest to you is grow some balls and try something from your brain, I know its hard but I know you can do it.
He he - thanks for the chuckle tingles, but seriously, forward or back?? Ive got the 11'2 starboard with only a center fin, the word responsive doesnt really come into play for me with this board..
