Hi alec,

For a 6.5 sail a 34 - 36cm fin should be about right.
On your 5.7 i would be looking at a 30 - 32cm.

You may also like to play with your mast base positioning a bit also.
If you are getting lifted up on your fin you can move your track forward and if you feel the nose sticking/pushing water you can move it back.

I wouldnt move more than a cm at a time though as it can make a fair amount of difference.

alec95 said...

hmm ok ill play around with different settings. ive only just started to get into the straps so it may take a little while to get used to. its a tuttle box by the way, not sure if that makes any difference?

Can't help you with the fin box question, but just curious-as I'm just about to jump in the straps myself- do you find the board want's to round up into the wind when you're in the straps? I ask as the further I edge back towards them, the more the boards want to steer up-wind. Probably just some technique thing I don't know about...

PhilSWR said...

alec95 said...

hmm ok ill play around with different settings. ive only just started to get into the straps so it may take a little while to get used to. its a tuttle box by the way, not sure if that makes any difference?

Can't help you with the fin box question, but just curious-as I'm just about to jump in the straps myself- do you find the board want's to round up into the wind when you're in the straps? I ask as the further I edge back towards them, the more the boards want to steer up-wind. Probably just some technique thing I don't know about...

Concentrate on mast foot pressure. When your going for the straps put as much weight as you can into your boom. Downwards. I also assume that you are using a harness as this will make doing that much easier. Your probably taking the weight off your front foot to lift it up to try and put it into the strap and in turn transferring too much weight to your rear foot which will make the board turn up wind.
1: Concentrate on putting your weight on the boom which will create mast foot pressure. Doing this can also help a little in reducing catapults down the track when you learn more about body position.
2: When you are going for the straps concentrate on steering the board slightly downwind with your back foot by putting pressure on the ball and toes of your rear foot . You are probably just focusing on lifting your front foot up and not thinking about what you back foot is doing and how much weight is on it. You want to be light on your feet. More weight on the boom equals less weight on your feet.
3: Make sure your boom is high enough. If it is too low it's quite hard to put downward pressure on it. Somewhere around chest high at the mast end of the boom when you rig the sail on land and stand in front of it before it is attached to the mast base should be pretty close to the money.
Good luck

PhilSWR said...
Can't help you with the fin box question, but just curious-as I'm just about to jump in the straps myself- do you find the board want's to round up into the wind when you're in the straps? I ask as the further I edge back towards them, the more the boards want to steer up-wind. Probably just some technique thing I don't know about...

Phil, I was having the same issues. I found i was going for the rear strap to early. Bear away and keep the pressure on your front foot, toes pointing forwards towards the mast. Once up to full speed move your back hand down the boom and pivot your back foot towards the rear strap and slide it in.
Another problem i was having was the overwhelming feeling of getting catapaulted when going for the rear strap. This was removed (slightly ) by using the underhand grip or as i was told, the "kill switch". I found it uncomfortable at first but now won't sail without using this technique.
Hope that helps some.

What is going on if fin size is too small?
I had been using recently 94L with 29 cm fin for 7.4m2.
I can not observe any spin outs, but wonder if that small fin for the sail size could effect early planning ability ?

qldnacra said...

Concentrate on mast foot pressure. When your going for the straps put as much weight as you can into your boom. Downwards.

+1

No i dea if its right or not as im self taught and new as well but i put my back foot in first and move the front foot forwards and back to transfer weight through the peaks and lulls. saves me from trying to get rear foot in and out all the time as i find it hard when wearing boots. Seems to work for me just a suggestion. But when fully planing in nice solid wind back foots locked in and the front foots locked in straight after.

Macroscien said...

What is going on if fin size is too small?
I had been using recently 94L with 29 cm fin for 7.4m2.
I can not observe any spin outs, but wonder if that small fin for the sail size could effect early planning ability ?

Yes, early planning is likely to be affected as well as ability to point up wind.

On my 95L, 61 wide I use a 34 or 36 with 6.6 to 7.0m sails. After that i jump on a 75 wide with 7.8m sails and above and use 42cm plus fins.

Fin size plays a huge role in early planning! See if someone at your local has some fins to try in your setup.

The fin is most likely too big for an older board. Measure the width of the board 30cm from the tail and try a fin a couple of cm shorter than that.

PhilSWR said...

Stuthepirate said...

PhilSWR said...
Can't help you with the fin box question, but just curious-as I'm just about to jump in the straps myself- do you find the board want's to round up into the wind when you're in the straps? I ask as the further I edge back towards them, the more the boards want to steer up-wind. Probably just some technique thing I don't know about...

Phil, I was having the same issues. I found i was going for the rear strap to early. Bear away and keep the pressure on your front foot, toes pointing forwards towards the mast. Once up to full speed move your back hand down the boom and pivot your back foot towards the rear strap and slide it in.
Another problem i was having was the overwhelming feeling of getting catapaulted when going for the rear strap. This was removed (slightly ) by using the underhand grip or as i was told, the "kill switch". I found it uncomfortable at first but now won't sail without using this technique.
Hope that helps some.

I hearing you with the catapults. Gotta love that "here we go" feeling. At least it don't hurt, just makes ya look like a total Gumby to the crew rolling in laughter on the bank. All info taken onboard.

Silly question, but do you put the front foot in the straps first right?

PS_ Sorry Alex, definitly not trying to hijack ya thread. Cheers for ya earlier info.

Front foot first and you don't need to be planing to put your front foot in but you need to be on the verge of planing and accelerating. So long as your hanging off the boom you should be OK. Putting your front foot in and weighting it can not only help you get your back foot in but will help you get onto the plane. You can sail front foot in and back foot just in front of the rear strap for extended periods or until you feel ready to go for the rear strap but it feels wrong to me sailing with your rear foot in and front foot out.
Catapults not hurting who ever heard of such a thing. Man i've been flogged by some of my catapults and had sore necks muscles for days and bruised and corked thighs from slamming into the head of the boom. You must be doing them wrong. Mark my words the painful ones are only just around the corner. If you can remember to sheet in if your at the point of no return then you will save the nose of your board too as the sail will fly past it rather than hitting it square on with not so nice results.

PhilSWR....Yep you are doing your catapults all wrong, You know when they are good because you'll end up on you back with your boom snapped in half and have caved to nose of your new board in...Now that's a proper catapult.

.....and maybe whiplash or concussion.

Have fun with it

end up on you back - Tick
caved the nose of your new board in - Tick
maybe whiplash or concussion - Tick and Tick

I am glad to here its not just me

alec95 said...

ive recently bought a 110 litre seatrend board. the board is excellent got it for 150 bucks and loving it. gets onto the plane easily for me and has great top speeds. I weigh about 65 kgs and sail with a 6.5 or 5.7 in around 20-30 knots. got a second hand fin for $50, its a bit too big, 35 cm is coming to mind but im unsure. I find once i get into the straps it rides up on the fin and becomes unsteady. What size fin should i be using? and how much would one cost? or possibly is it just my technique thats wrong?

6.5 - 5.7 in 20 -30kts! I weigh about 63-64kgs and I'm on a 4.2m at say 22kts..hanging on at 25kts & at 30kts need a 3.8m ( gusty ) or 3.2m solid... Maybe your just using too much sail..?

sboardcrazy said...

alec95 said...

ive recently bought a 110 litre seatrend board. the board is excellent got it for 150 bucks and loving it. gets onto the plane easily for me and has great top speeds. I weigh about 65 kgs and sail with a 6.5 or 5.7 in around 20-30 knots. got a second hand fin for $50, its a bit too big, 35 cm is coming to mind but im unsure. I find once i get into the straps it rides up on the fin and becomes unsteady. What size fin should i be using? and how much would one cost? or possibly is it just my technique thats wrong?

6.5 - 5.7 in 20 -30kts! I weigh about 63-64kgs and I'm on a 4.2m at say 22kts..hanging on at 25kts & at 30kts need a 3.8m ( gusty ) or 3.2m solid... Maybe your just using too much sail..?

i dont know, i see other guys using the same sizes as me. i think its just me using the wrong technique whilst in the straps but ill see when i go out next, fingers crossed for sunday