I am looking for input on fin alternatives to the stock thruster 25cm fin for ocean sailing in chest high waves at 70kg weight. Any experience running a 27 or 29cm weed fin such as the Tectonics Weed Demon for ocean blasting and wave sailing. Any other fin experiences or advice for this board?
I just sold my 2019 Goya One 116 and replaced it with a Kode 125 L. Sorry, can't help you with weed fins, I never needed them. For wave sailing, I preferred using an MFC AR 24 cm center fin with the stock side fins with my 6.7. I weigh 86 kg. Strong currents where I sail, but I never had a problem staying upwind with that fin setup.
Thank you for the information. I had considered the Kode 125 as well. The Goya One Pro 116 came with MFC 25 center fin. I hope to use my Simmer Icon X 6.2 or Aerotech Phantom 6.8.
What sail size? You have side bites or is it just single? My, excellent in the waves, Goya Freeride 105 came with a 32cm freeride fin. I switched it for a 29 freemove which worked much better for 4.7 and 5.3. For 7.0 I couldn't get it to work well, it struggles pointing upwind even with a 36cm.
Now I use it only with a 23cm freewave single, and it's perfect! Sail size is 4.7 to 5.4. For the waves, it's much better and still enough to provide good torque.
A weed fin has less drive (or torque) than a regular fin, so it needs to be longer compare to a regular fin to achieve the same productivity.
Therefore you wouldn't notice much difference between a regular 25cm against a weed 27. You may even lose some drive!
Will use Simmer Icon X 6.2 or Aerotech Phantom 6.8., possibly Aerotech Charge 5.5 and 5.0. It is a thruster but I would use a larger fin as single. I have used Keith's Hatteras Weed Demon fin now distributed by Tectonics in powerbox on other boards and love the fin. Lots of drive and points high. It is not your father's weed fin... just don't know how it will be on the Goya One Pro 116 in the surf and whether worth the cost of getting a US box version. Maybe the 25 MFC is the right fin? Thanks for your input.
For bump & jump:
6.2 / 6.8 = single, at least mid 30s
5.5 / 5.0 = single, somewhere around 30cm.
For wave riding you could go down some.
As far as weed fins go, it'll be more raked back so you will lose low end drive no matter their quality.
Don't weed fins usually measure by height from the board rather than along the leading edge? If so usually you want a weed fin a bit shorter than you are currently using.
Makani seem to make the best weed fins for wave use. They are very popular among windswell sailors in Vancouver Canada because of the eel grass that grows there over the summer.
