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Fins - length vs width

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Created by Obelix > 9 months ago, 11 Oct 2009
Obelix
WA, 1173 posts
11 Oct 2009 11:10AM
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Just tried my new gear at Pelican Point yesterday.

52cm fin on 8m sail, and 160L freeride board.
Between the low tide and crap wind I managed to have no fun at all.

The 52cm fin kept scrapping the bottom to 50-100m out, and I'm considering a short one to complement.
But what short fin can match 160L board and 8m sail?
Can anyone shed some light on the lenth vs width of the fin?

Help?


fullmoon
WA, 314 posts
11 Oct 2009 11:59AM
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I'de try one of those Drake Shallow 410 fins. I think they could handle 160l+8m.
Couple of shallow spots at pelli this year. I think it may be from where they dragged boats out that had blown ashore. There is also some bloody deep holes (2m+)[}:)] where it was only waist deep last year.
A 52 fin will almost guarantee you will hit the bottom somewhere but a 41 should get through except on really low tides.

A 40 weed might be the go also. Maybe even better.
Choco 40 and MFC 39 weedies come to mind.

Obelix
WA, 1173 posts
11 Oct 2009 12:24PM
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fullmoon said...

I'de try one of those Drake Shallow 410 fins. I think they could handle 160l+8m.
Couple of shallow spots at pelli this year. I think it may be from where they dragged boats out that had blown ashore. There is also some bloody deep holes (2m+)[}:)] where it was only waist deep last year.
A 52 fin will almost guarantee you will hit the bottom somewhere but a 41 should get through except on really low tides.

A 40 weed might be the go also. Maybe even better.
Choco 40 and MFC 39 weedies come to mind.


Choko Weed 40 is looking good.
Anyone selling them locally?


fullmoon
WA, 314 posts
11 Oct 2009 12:47PM
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Reg at Windsurfing Perth. In tuttlebox, dont know about deep tuttle which you might have. Tuttle fits anyway and could be a better buy as you will be able to use it in your next board. I use one occasionally in a 133 futura. Its a hellbig blade for lighter days but not so big on your 160.

NotWal
QLD, 7436 posts
11 Oct 2009 6:00PM
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If the fin works well why don't you try learning to sail fin first to get to deep water and to come in again.

Mark _australia
WA, 23726 posts
11 Oct 2009 5:07PM
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Always can just walk 50m out....... I haven't sailed there for 10+ years but everybody just used to always walk out, it is just that kinda spot.....

Obelix
WA, 1173 posts
11 Oct 2009 9:50PM
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Mark _australia said...

Always can just walk 50m out....... I haven't sailed there for 10+ years but everybody just used to always walk out, it is just that kinda spot.....


Or swim. I tired deep water, and had a great swim today at Pinnaroo Point
Then again, I managed 5-6 water starts today. More than the whole Autumn of trying.
Then a nice 500m walk of shame carrying the gear back because I could not keep it up...

Cheers for your advice Windman.
I used the calculator, and the size of 52cm is correct for the board/sail combo, however, does not take the Pelican Point conditions into consideration.
The fact I'm a **** sailor doesn't help either...

I'm now getting 2 fins. 1 weed equivalent to the 52cm dagger, and the shorter dagger to use with the 6m sail.
More equipment and money spent will make me a better sailor


Windxtasy
WA, 4019 posts
11 Oct 2009 10:00PM
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Try sailing at Melville.
It gets deep a lot quicker.
Just watch out for the sandbar at low tide.

Mark _australia
WA, 23726 posts
11 Oct 2009 10:07PM
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Yeah but sux in a southwester

Windxtasy
WA, 4019 posts
11 Oct 2009 10:10PM
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Mark _australia said...

Yeah but sux in a southwester


I agree a norwester is perfect there but what is wrong with SW other than gusty?

Obelix
WA, 1173 posts
11 Oct 2009 10:31PM
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Windxtasy said...

Try sailing at Melville.
It gets deep a lot quicker.
Just watch out for the sandbar at low tide.


Thanks Windxtasy.
Even if I get shorter fins, it's good information when the NW kicks in.
Hate to show how ignorant I am...Where would you park and get into the water?





Windxtasy
WA, 4019 posts
11 Oct 2009 10:35PM
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Obelix said...

Windxtasy said...

Try sailing at Melville.
It gets deep a lot quicker.
Just watch out for the sandbar at low tide.


Thanks Windxtasy.
Even if I get shorter fins, it's good information when the NW kicks in.
Hate to show how ignorant I am...Where would you park and get into the water?

There is a carpark on Melville Beach Rd , and even though signs say no parking on the road heaps of people do. You can get into the water anywhere along there.
The norwester gives sailing parallel to the beach which is lovely.
Dozens of people sail there in a SW also. It can be a bit gusty and there are holes (in the wind), but hey, it's the river.








Squid Lips
WA, 708 posts
12 Oct 2009 8:25AM
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Something like this would be the go



33cm can handle up to a 9.5m sail and the 42cm, up to a 10.5! Comes in any fin box.

Obelix
WA, 1173 posts
12 Oct 2009 8:37AM
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Squid Lips said...

Something like this would be the go

33cm can handle up to a 9.5m sail and the 42cm, up to a 10.5! Comes in any fin box.


Thanks Squid Lips. The shape looks similar to Drake, so it should work.
The brand is not very clear. Sport DC Driver (?) .
Would you know who is selling these?

ducati
QLD, 474 posts
12 Oct 2009 10:52AM
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.....or cut down a second hand weedie, woz 49cm to 30cm
like mine which allows you to skim across kneedeep water at ridiculous speeds
with 7.5m to 9m sails.
Doesn't gybe well tho

Gestalt
QLD, 14969 posts
12 Oct 2009 12:00PM
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it's a gsport fin. which are x curtis fins i believe. bill kline is a legend in the windsurfing industry. i haven't used the fin in the image but i've tried a couple of gsport slalom and formula fins and they are quite good. conversations i've had with bill he has been very helpfull as well.

the old curtis fins were very good also and there was a time when everyone on the race course used curtis.

i think curtis fins also own fin systems for surfboards which revolutionised that side of the sport.

only thing with short and wide fins is they are slow.


Obelix said...

Squid Lips said...

Something like this would be the go

33cm can handle up to a 9.5m sail and the 42cm, up to a 10.5! Comes in any fin box.


Thanks Squid Lips. The shape looks similar to Drake, so it should work.
The brand is not very clear. Sport DC Driver (?) .
Would you know who is selling these?




Obelix
WA, 1173 posts
12 Oct 2009 10:46AM
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Thanks Ducati, your fin looks agressive.
I think a 40cm weed would also be fine and would be reluctant to butcher a good weed fin which may also be used on the ocean.

re: only thing with short and wide fins is they are slow.
Thanks Gestalt.
I'm only a short board beginner, so the top speed doesn't matter much yet.
I hope it would still get the board to plane though

I just bought a S/H 38cm Fanatic fin to fit my 6m sail.

This should help with the windy days. Now for the marginal days and 8m sail...

It's between a 40cm weed or GSport or Drake shallow water fins.
Whatever I find first at the reasonable price will do.
I'll start ringing around Perth shops today.

Cheers everyone.



Gestalt
QLD, 14969 posts
12 Oct 2009 12:56PM
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Obelix said...

Thanks Ducati, your fin looks agressive.
I think a 40cm weed would also be fine and would be reluctant to butcher a good weed fin which may also be used on the ocean.

re: only thing with short and wide fins is they are slow.
Thanks Gestalt.
I'm only a short board beginner, so the top speed doesn't matter much yet.
I hope it would still get the board to plane though

I just bought a S/H 38cm Fanatic fin to fit my 6m sail.

This should help with the windy days. Now for the marginal days and 8m sail...

It's between a 40cm weed or GSport or Drake shallow water fins.
Whatever I find first at the reasonable price will do.
I'll start ringing around Perth shops today.

Cheers everyone.






lol, i almost bid on it also.



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