Here's something I do when comparing fins, I find it helps negate the effect rake has on the functional position of the fin and helps two fins of different shape to be compared more fairly.
- Find the fore and aft centre of surface area of the fin and mark this at the base of the fin. (Make a little cardboard cutout of the fin, balance it on your pen, drop this point down perpendicular to the base.)
- Mark a fixed and static point on the board. In my case 10" from the tail but it could be anything.
When comparing fins put them in the same position using the two marks as the only guide, it doesn't matter if one visually looks further forward or aft in the box, it's the centre of area that is important.
Bit of a clumsy explanation I realise, here's a photo to help... The mark on the board, in both cases is 10" from the tail.
We're cross posting Andy.
My take on the whole hull thing is that it's a step towards finless. Less hold from the fin, more necessity to use the rail. That is what allows the turning from the front half of the board. You look where you naturally stand when riding finless - in the middle.
I'll definitely be running any and every (and zero) fins in the Liddle when it comes , lotsa fun times ahead!
Its all very complicated really... I mean, finless is supposed to be fastest but then Bonzers are fastest and well....
I think we can theorize all we like but at the end of the day, the most fun is in the act of experimentation and its where some absolute gems have happened, by sheer accident... aka Vbowls... and you can laugh at the failures with the benefit of having an excuse for looking like a kook...
And speaking of experiments...
This crazy flex tail thingy
I hear flex tails go unreal... I know Kev was a big fan and the big fella surfed better than most... Wherever you are Kev
www.trueames.com/blogs/true-ames-fins/case-study-02-liddle-surfboards-kirk-putnam-by-daydream-surf-shop
Nice looking board Termite.
This ones pretty good too...
His opinions on Fins is pretty interesting too, specific made fins to suit the board and rider...
Although I've been around surfing for a looong time I've never really gone in depth into the reasons why something works on a board....but one thing I found one this 8' Tolly hull was that it was as loose as a goose with this 12" flexy fin..I tried a similar fin but smaller at about 8" but it didn't do the do the way the 12 did..another one I'd wished I kept.
Anyone ridden one of these?
Its called a Powerblade... I Know Salty has one on order and keen to try...
Looks like maybe less drive with the narrow base but the blade is designed to flex and turn and drive through and out of turns... Andreini is a big advocate and he knows his stuff...
The Power Blade, another original George Greenough design, was created with the intention of pushing the boundaries of the modern-day single fin surfboard. Through meticulous material selection, endless hours of testing, design revisions, and a uniquely constructed flex pattern, the Power Blade now has the potential of rivaling the performance characteristics of the thruster.
Here, Marc Andreini summarizes the Power Blade's function... "Although the thruster took surfing to a higher performance level (following single fins) with more speed and quicker responsiveness, we lost a lot of flow, trim, deep bottom turning and down the line style that went with single fin style surfing. Now we can take that style, and up the performance to match the speed and virility of the postmodern board without sacrificing the flow.
"The most important design aspect of the Power Blade lies within its ability to flex and 'twist off' at the 'head' of the fin. This attribute provides variable-tow, similar to how a thruster works, which allows the tail of the board to follow the nose and in turn produces drive. In some ways it acts like a fish tail, flexing and twisting back and forth creating propulsion based on direction and angle of attack. The narrow base permits for an extremely minimal amount of water pressure resistance, allowing for a significant amount of response, speed, and maneuverability within a single fin.
The main challenge in successfully producing this design, came through the need to retain a very stiff and extremely strong 'leg' in order to support all the load on the 'head.' Through extensive research and testing we finally landed on an extremely unique lay-up combination of high-density epoxy and fiberglass materials that met the qualifications without suffering fatigue. Our Power Blade fins meet 3 different demanding requirements within a singular fin. stiffness where needed, flex, and the ability to twist.
Find more information from Andreini here regarding performance characteristics of the Power Blade.
Yep, similar.
The one I had wasn't a super narrow base, different shape but with the twisting head idea that loads up, flex and springs back through turns theory.
It was called a football fin.
Thanks McGuane, and SP as well.
Can't say I'm really any more enlightened by that context but I appreciate the link all the same.
There's a Parmenter article in TSJ 25.1 'Must we Burn the Single Blade' which is a worthy read for anyone wanting a pro single fin perspective. You gots to pay though I'm afraid... www.surfersjournal.com/product/must-we-burn-the-single-blade/
Speaking of Michael Kew, I've returned to this little piece of wisdom a few times over the last couple of years...
michaelkew.com/dispatches/2015/8/4/quiver-qualm-celebrate-the-one-board-epoch
Proof my wife is stalking me but that she's equally awesome...
Soundtrack is a pretty nice listen the kids were into it