Forums > Windsurfing General

Fins: lift + control or big + small

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Created by paddymac > 9 months ago, 24 Sep 2013
paddymac
WA, 939 posts
24 Sep 2013 6:45PM
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It seems that two fins should be enough for any one board (excluding weedies) for an average sailor with a couple of boards.

So for a medium size board 68-70cm wide, do you think it is more effective to get two
- similar size fins, one designed for lift and one for control e.g. a 40cm Canefire (lift) + a 40cm EX (control)
- different size fins with the same design/feel e.g. 42cm Volt+ 38cm Volt (all round)

I've used Vectors as an example but I assume most brands have lift / control / all round models
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Vector-Fins-for-high-wind-rough-water/?page=2

Would you make different choices for different board sizes?

Gestalt
QLD, 14670 posts
24 Sep 2013 9:48PM
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i tend to match fins with sails. each sail i have has 2 fin options.

paddymac
WA, 939 posts
24 Sep 2013 8:12PM
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Select to expand quote
Gestalt said..
i tend to match fins with sails. each sail i have has 2 fin options.


Cool. Similar to board matching I guess. Same question applies - are they the same type of fin, one bigger, one smaller or are they different types of fins, one with more lift, one with more control?

I've used some high end CAD programmers (offshore) to illustrate my point





jusavina
QLD, 1490 posts
24 Sep 2013 10:40PM
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Select to expand quote
paddymac said..

Gestalt said..
i tend to match fins with sails. each sail i have has 2 fin options.


Cool. Similar to board matching I guess. Same question applies - are they the same type of fin, one bigger, one smaller or are they different types of fins, one with more lift, one with more control?

I've used some high end CAD programmers (offshore) to illustrate my point







Is A) is before hiting a rock and B) after?

Gestalt
QLD, 14670 posts
24 Sep 2013 10:44PM
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it depends somewhat. it's about both control and lift generally but sometimes also about type of windsurfing.

my fsw setup is

6.4m kult - 36cm mfc freewave (lift)
6.4m kult - 32cm mfc freewave (control)

5.8m kult - 32cm mfc freewave (lift)
5.8m kult - 24cm choco royal flush (freestyle)
5.8m kult - 24cm select wave + fcs side fins (surf)

5.3m kaos - 24cm choco royal flush (with fcs side fins if chop)
5.3m kaos - 24cm select wave + fcs side fins (surf)

4.7m kaos - 24cm select wave + fcs side fins (control)
would like a 20cm + smaller fcs setup for 4.7 also.

i don't like the select fin i wish it would break. it will be replaced with an mfc wave fin

my slalom setup is

8.5m KA Race - 48cm mfc RC
8.5m KA Race - 42cm mfc RC

sup setup.

5.8m kult - 21 something unifiber wave + fcs side fins

paddymac
WA, 939 posts
24 Sep 2013 9:03PM
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OK, I think that puts you roughly in the B category where I reckon most people will be, me included.

I guess I was prompted to ask the question from an article

http://team.point-7.com/product.php?productid=146&cat=27&page=1


Do you choose your fins also depending on the seas, whether it's flat water, choppy or rough North-sea conditions?
Maciek: Yep. Usually you pre-choose a couple of your best fins in a given size before the season and take them to all the venues. You'll probably at least have a more top-speed orientated one and a more control-orientated, easier one in every size.


So I was interested to see if others were more option A than option B

Gestalt
QLD, 14670 posts
24 Sep 2013 11:16PM
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interesting article.

i'm surprised with the fin sizes those guys are using.

John340
QLD, 3364 posts
25 Sep 2013 1:21AM
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Select to expand quote
Gestalt said...
interesting article.

i'm surprised with the fin sizes those guys are using.


I'm surprised about the board and sail sizes as we'll. Macroscien board and sai selections would not seem out of place here.

Gestalt
QLD, 14670 posts
25 Sep 2013 1:30AM
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yeah the pwa level guys carry big sails so they can win. i laughed a few years back when one of the guys here went out in 40 knots on his 7.5 because that was all he had. there was mist coming off the fin. :-)

i think macro has something funky going on though. those guys don't need big sails to plane the need big sails to win.



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