Chocco weed 40cm would be good

If there is floating weed you'll need a weedfin so the weed slides off, otherwise you'll keep getting bogged down and wondering why you're not planing.
As a newbie don't go for an expensive pristine fin because you'll hit the bottom a lot and damage the fin anyway. Ask around, check the buy and sell for a second hand fin of suitable size.
As a beginner you won't want a whole quiver of fins, just a weedie for the lake and maybe a pointer as well if you sail somewhere with no weed. Set your mast track a little further back when using the weedie.

^^^Keef, I've been trying to get billyboy to make the trip down south but it just hasn't lined up with work and weather. I've got some bits he can have as well, 4.7 sail, adjustable harness lines, Pryde X3 boom and a Dakine t3 harness. All used but comes at the right price $0.00, just can't help out with a weedy as I sold my spare.

William, weed fins will make life a bit easier if there is any sort of weed about, it doesn't take much to stop you planing. Like all fins the weedys come in all sorts, wave, freestyle, freeride, slalom and speed. You'll just want a Freeride weedy for your viper and generally if you have a 38cm normal fin you will want a 38cm weedy. They will look vastly different when you put them side by side and the weedy will be a lot longer but because of the rake it will be at the same depth as the standard fin. The viper is power box and all power box fins are the same, The PB is the most common fin box in freeride boards. from memory the viper had a much smaller fin as standard, about 20-25 was what I was thinking. Yours must have an aftermarket fin, It had a smaller fin as the board is fitted with a centre board that generated the lift and stability and the back fin was mainly for tracking. If the centre board is not used or missing then something like a 38cm fin would be needed for the board.

There are plenty of weed fins out there but they are not all equal.

Sounds like I need a larger weedfin..I borrowed a 30cm one for my 125ltre with 6.6m sail. I usually use a 44cm with it..
It was quite gusty so I spent some time not planing but I wasn't getting upwind very well.I know its also my technique as well.When it did blow I'd spin out occasionally so I'd just back off the back foot pressure after & it would be ok.
Its frustrating when you can only have one or 2 fins to cover a wide range of boards & sails..

jh2703 said...

^^^Keef, I've been trying to get billyboy to make the trip down south but it just hasn't lined up with work and weather. I've got some bits he can have as well, 4.7 sail, adjustable harness lines, Pryde X3 boom and a Dakine t3 harness. All used but comes at the right price $0.00, just can't help out with a weedy as I sold my spare.

William, weed fins will make life a bit easier if there is any sort of weed about, it doesn't take much to stop you planing. Like all fins the weedys come in all sorts, wave, freestyle, freeride, slalom and speed. You'll just want a Freeride weedy for your viper and generally if you have a 38cm normal fin you will want a 38cm weedy. They will look vastly different when you put them side by side and the weedy will be a lot longer but because of the rake it will be at the same depth as the standard fin. The viper is power box and all power box fins are the same, The PB is the most common fin box in freeride boards. from memory the viper had a much smaller fin as standard, about 20-25 was what I was thinking. Yours must have an aftermarket fin, It had a smaller fin as the board is fitted with a centre board that generated the lift and stability and the back fin was mainly for tracking. If the centre board is not used or missing then something like a 38cm fin would be needed for the board.

There are plenty of weed fins out there but they are not all equal.

I'm constantly amazed at the willingness to help and generosity of windsurfers, so a big thumbs up to all those like JH2703 I come from a surfing background and things are a tad different. If someone lends you their wax, whilst they lean over our shoulder so you don't use too much, you've done well. Only been sailing for 5 months now and every sailboarder I've meet has been super helpful and generous.

Yeah I know, way off track. Sorry Billyboy...