I tried out a gated fin yesterday. Seemed to recover from spin out much faster than my standard fin. Just my imagination Does anyone still use these

I don't think anyone makes them any more. It's been stated that fins are much better these days in preventing spin-out.

Interesting greenleader...

Makes you wonder if just dragging a drogue or bit of rope would work like a fin, without the possibility of spinout. Reminds me of the self rescue advice for if your fin breaks, tie your harness around the board and through the back strap so you can still sail home.

There's got to be a better solution for spinout though, last Sunday I was skipping sideways for a good 100m, couldn't get the fin to stick again no matter what I did. Had to sheet out and jump off the board to get the air bubble off the fin. I'm sure everyone's had that happen to them some time.

At the risk of hijacking this thread into something more philosophical then Harrow's original question, isn't the solution to spinout 1. good equipment design and 2. good technique, rather than reverting to "older technology" such as a slotted fin. Not that I have anything against older technology, though, but things seem to have moved on from slotted fins and I haven't seen one at the beach for a long long time. Although I don't regularly go to have a perve at people's appendages.
I believe that fins these days are better designed and are less likely to lead to spinout, and by learning the proper technique spinout can be minimised. My point for debate (if anyone is interested in debating) is: if you revert to an old solution like a slotted fin, aren't you handicapping yourself, rather than improving as a sailor. Aren't you letting the slotted fin fix the spinout problem and mask a technique issue, rather than improving your technique and using a modern, more efficient fin (or even an old, less efficient fin) which should improve your speed/control? And by learning better technique, (and I'm not having a go at you Harrow for bad technique!) doesn't that work to fixing the spinout problem across a whole range of board/fin/sail set-ups, and wind and water conditions. Don't get me wrong- at the end of the day I don't care what equipment anyone uses, as it's a very personal thing. But is Harrow doing the best thing for his sailing by using a slotted fin to fix the problem. Short term, probably yes, because tomorrow, he'll probably spinout less, but longer term? Or am I just rambling?

Lads I nearly totally agree with you.

But if there is others like me with a limited wallet size to get the right sail, board, fin that suits the conditions.
Struth I get out when the wind is up, when not working - playing with the kids etc.

One board, One sail, 2 fins.......

Mate I'm grass roots sailing.......I'd dearly love to get the sails and boards I used to have whet I was younger, but my reality is if my slotted fin compensates for poor board choice or sail choice. I'm using it.
I agree the right gear makes sailing so so much easier

Sorry Harrow if I misslead you........

To be honest I'm not really buying into the size of fin as the major problem (and so money shouldn't prevent a spin out). I used to have a biggest sail size of 6.9m (sounds small by todays comparisons) which I used with a 39cm, very upright fin. 5 years on I have completely different kit, however my biggest sail is now a 7m and I use this on a free-style board with the stock standard, raked, approx 28cm free-style fin. This as I'm sure everyone will agree is far too small for light wind, early planing 7m weather. However I get planing before a lot of people with race kit and NEVER spin the fin out (except after a bad jump attempt).

I used to spin out a lot, but after watching videos like "speed with style" which tackled spin out problems, taking on board that advice and generally getting better I don't spin out any longer.

Spining out really is based around:

1. Bad equipment set-up
2. Bad technique
3. Very difficult conditions

You can - if skilled - sail any board and sail combination with any size fin upwind without spining out (and I'm not saying I can do this).

BTW, the slot on the fin I was using is only about 2cm long in a 25cm fin, not one of those 'double' fins that I remember seeing in the early 90's. In choppy conditions, (such as 25knts on Botany Bay) is it really possible to eliminate spinout with technique, set-up, etc?

I'm happy for you to say "yes", but if you do, could you also tell me how to do it.

good old slot fins! R.I.P.