Also custom, Hanalei NRG 525 Twins, Phat foil .
These have inside foils from base to tip. I found it difficult to capture the foil as my eye and the lens see it differently. So front n back flat pics look plain . As you see from angle pics the foil is extensive.
Am open to techniques on how to better capture these foils ![]()







Used a chalk stick to highlight the crest .
The refraction in sunlight is awesome , again hard to capture.
After enjoying the Q2 XL as Twins I was intrigued to try the Q3 550 prototype custom with flip tips n Phat foil as Twin and trailer.
The inner foil starts at base and flows through to the flip tip.

Next pics show flip, foils and refraction



Had a play with video to highlight inner foiling but wouldn't load.
It looked like liquid flowing ![]()
So took some angle shots



How sick are the NRG , thru the moving lens they look like molten glass![]()
All photo tech advice welcome
Next step is to reshape Gearbox base to Smik / Starboard sides base ( still don't know name of this style of side box ) to keep lots of beef in base. With max for/aft adjustment.


I was wanting to get a better fit in the Smik side fin box so I got a Profile gauge . To trace the contour of the cavity for reshaping the fin tabs allowing full adjustment.
A bit of tweaking needed on Q2 's



Hi Bighugg, I have the Smik Hipster longboard on order, whats your go to setup to get the most out of the Smik?
Hi, Choice... Enjoy... go with Scotty's fins for awhile in a range of conditions as a benchmark to see if you are wanting something else or not. Scotty has put some time in on his fins ![]()
The Hipster is a unique critter so you may need to keep a open mind and get them feet moving front to rear to make it happen ![]()
If you haven't Hipster'ed before....
Custom ?
Nothing wrong with the stock fins, but in the spirit of chasing the dragon with some retail therapy am wondering what one of these would do to a smik bonza... for that matter what is the logic behind the shape?


Picked up a Tyler Warren 11" Pivot beast.
Because, well, why the feck not?!?![]()
I mean what's not to love about a beautifully laid up centre fin.
It's a thing of beauty. Prolly won't make me surf as good as Tyler but I can pretend.![]()
PS - if you haven't seen Tyler surf - check out One California Day.
Just don't blame me when you realise you've been living a false existence all this time and need to sell all your short boards, so you can get yourself a longboard. ![]()
For sure J - I love running single fins eh. There's a lot to be said for simplicity in design. I suppose that's why dorsal fins on dolphins and sharks etc haven't changed in millions of years.

Picked up a Tyler Warren 11" Pivot beast.
Because, well, why the feck not?!?![]()
I mean what's not to love about a beautifully laid up centre fin.
It's a thing of beauty. Prolly won't make me surf as good as Tyler but I can pretend.![]()
Mango, beautiful fin,a lot of GG in that but with more tip area,which suggests it is stiffer,more of a pivot than an alrounder ? That combo interest me! ,on the Tyler story I still watch him surf the sequence on the green Terry Martin 11ft absolutely my favourite bit ,beautiful minimal surfing![]()
Hey JAW, cheers man
Yeah, spot on, she's got bugger all flex and there's a heap of of fin from the base running pretty full through to the tip - yep it's gonna have plenty of GG! Full power fin.
And man - how good is that Tyler sequence! Definitely some of my favourite surfing to watch ever. That whole movie is just incredible - Joe Curran at Rincon, Joel Tudor, Alex Knost - such incredible surfing. But I remember when I saw that Tyler sequence for the first time it was one of those 'stop what you're doing' moments and just watch. He's a class act eh.
Novice in regards to fin knowledge here. I'm thinking of adding a bigger centre fin to try and add some stability to a Starboard Pro. At the moment i'm leaning towards the Gohard 7" Bombshell. from 3dfins. Any thoughts/advice on this?
Adding a bigger fin for stability is not a good idea. You will pay a huge price in liveliness for very little stability gain, if any.
Better just to work a bit on your balance technique: feet closer to the stringer and staggered. You will thus gain in balance, and in performance. A win-win!