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fins for kitesurfboard

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
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russiandangle

Since 28 Jun 2019
21 Posts
Park City, Ut
 



PostFri Jul 24, 20 8:11 am    fins for kitesurfboard Reply with quote

Hey all,
just picked up a 5'1" evo he with pads and a set of fins in a quad setup. Do fins make a big differences when you kite with the surfboard, or is that more of just a surf thing? Took the board out in SoCal but have not had a real chance to test it in the river swell yet.

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1251 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
XTreme Poster



PostFri Jul 24, 20 9:18 am     Reply with quote

I think it's a debatable topic. I feel they make a difference. I switched from the stock plastic FCS-II fins that come with Slingshot boards to the FCS-II Performers and love them. (I bought the five-pack when I was experimenting between setups on an Angry Swallow with five finboxes).

Recently on my Celero (thruster) I was running the Performer center fin with the two plastic leading fins and switched them out to fiberglass fins that came with my wife's SUP. We had a big day a few weeks ago and it seemed to me the board held better when pushing harder in turns on wave faces. Yesterday was my first day on a new Mixer (quad) and the stock fins are still in their bag; I upgraded fins on the advice of experienced kiter friends but also have friends who tell me it's all in my head.

Incidentally, FCS-II sells a legacy finbox converter kit which comes with some rubber spacers and a bunch of set screws. I picked this up when I got the board on the advice of some folks who lost fins and use the set screws to lock the rear of the fin in place (front not necessary). This came in handy when stealing my wife's fins because they're not FCS-II, and I've had several weeks using the conversion with the spacers and screws with no problems - it's a good kit to have handy if you're on that system.

Edit: it's called the "compatibility kit", sometimes known as "tab infill kit", handy for set screws and wrench alone:
https://www.surffcs.com/products/fcs-ii-compatibility-kit

Last edited by shred_da_gorge on Fri Jul 24, 20 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostFri Jul 24, 20 10:26 am     Reply with quote

Fins makes a HUGE difference in the performance of a board.
Use the Search function on this forum - many discussions on this topic.

Is there a performance aspect you want to address?

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knotwindy

Since 25 Sep 2011
598 Posts

Addicted



PostFri Jul 24, 20 1:56 pm     Reply with quote

Yea, rough guess is that about 50% of your surface is fins when you are planing. So,mthey can make a big difference depending upon how you ride.
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russiandangle

Since 28 Jun 2019
21 Posts
Park City, Ut
 



PostFri Jul 24, 20 4:40 pm     Reply with quote

Honestly, Im not sure if im missing anything with the stock fins I have as a quad set up. So far the board feels great.

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1251 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
XTreme Poster



PostFri Jul 24, 20 10:13 pm     Reply with quote

My first surfboard was a North quad and I thought it absolutely sucked until Ken Lucas told me the big fins go on the front not the back... ;-D

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostSat Jul 25, 20 8:04 am     Reply with quote

russiandangle wrote:
Honestly, Im not sure if im missing anything with the stock fins I have as a quad set up. So far the board feels great.


Don't change anything - enjoy!

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Ho-Toe

Since 30 Apr 2014
231 Posts
pissed-off science guy like Bill Nye
CO2 quantifier & upwelling specialist



PostSat Jul 25, 20 4:39 pm    Fins are overrated Reply with quote

Take them off! Laughing

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4RzMWlugk

Last edited by Ho-Toe on Sun Jul 26, 20 7:39 am; edited 1 time in total

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Matt V

Since 26 Oct 2014
462 Posts
Summer- OR Coast, Winter - My van near good snow
Explosive Diarrhea



PostSun Jul 26, 20 7:09 am    Re: Fins are overrated Reply with quote

Ho-Toe wrote:
Take them off! :lol

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4RzMWlugk


Nice link! I have been dreaming of a super upwind finless for directional riding in a fine sand bottomed river in the midwest. Dont want no door.

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scottm

Since 12 Jun 2006
108 Posts

Stoked



PostTue Jul 28, 20 6:03 pm     Reply with quote

According to my custom shaper (stretchboards.com), who is one of the biggest and most respected names in the surf/tow/kite/big wave community, "fins are 50% of the wetted area of your surfboard". So, you decide if you want half of your performance dictated by crappy flexy molded plastic fins. I don't. I run full fiberglass, custom, hand-shaped by (stoned) US surfers in San Diego, Fins Unlimited fins. YMMV, especially if you are some combo of not-heavy, cheap-azz, and un-picky.

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1251 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
XTreme Poster



PostTue Jul 28, 20 7:09 pm     Reply with quote

Also my vibe on the Mixer (quad) vs Celero (thruster) is the quad brings me back to my windsurfer daze, driving the fins hard for speed, and I track my sessions and proved the Mixer's faster. The Celero is more upright stance like prone surfing, and I really didn't get what everyone was raving about until I had a big day with shoulder- to head-high swell and the longer, drawn-out carves made sense - either the Slingy literature was accurate or it filled my head with preconceived notions (either way I'm stoked on both boards for their respective uses). The strap placement seems intentionally different too.

So my point (other than an unsolicitated board review)? If you're riding a quad you may want to borrow good fins and feel out if it's worth the upgrade for you. If you're riding a thruster it may not be as big an impact.


   Shred Twins.jpg 

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knotwindy

Since 25 Sep 2011
598 Posts

Addicted



PostWed Jul 29, 20 7:57 am     Reply with quote

If you want to know if fins make a difference to you
Take the trailing fins off the board and go ride it. On a thruster take the single back fin out and put in a stubby or leave it out and ride as a twin fin. See if you can feel the difference. If you can’t you should go back to a tt. Yes, they can make a difference. And a good fin can change a boards ride almost as much. They are relatively cheap compared to other gear and make a difference so why not try/borrow some and find out for yourself?

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bigjohn

Since 13 Mar 2012
663 Posts

Addicted



PostWed Jul 29, 20 1:26 pm     Reply with quote

shred_da_gorge wrote:
Also my vibe on the Mixer (quad) vs Celero (thruster) is the quad brings me back to my windsurfer daze, driving the fins hard for speed, and I track my sessions and proved the Mixer's faster. The Celero is more upright stance like prone surfing, and I really didn't get what everyone was raving about until I had a big day with shoulder- to head-high swell and the longer, drawn-out carves made sense - either the Slingy literature was accurate or it filled my head with preconceived notions (either way I'm stoked on both boards for their respective uses). The strap placement seems intentionally different too.

So my point (other than an unsolicitated board review)? If you're riding a quad you may want to borrow good fins and feel out if it's worth the upgrade for you. If you're riding a thruster it may not be as big an impact.


I've been mostly riding celeritas/celero for the last few years. I'm on my third board. Per recommendation from a friend I updated the fins on my first celeritas with bigger and stiffer fins. Frankly I hardly noticed a difference. I even tried mixing in new and old fins. It filled my head with the opinion that fins really don't matter that much. I've been buying the cheap fins ever since.


I recently purchased a mixer (quad). Haven't rode it yet. Perhaps my opinion on fins will change with the mixer.

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Pete

Since 29 Oct 2007
829 Posts

Opinionated



PostThu Jul 30, 20 9:40 am    Big difference Reply with quote

At 185lbs, I notice a huge difference in fins. Both in the ability to go upwind, and holding in on waves. I only ride in the ocean and on waves, so maybe that is the difference.

I strictly use Future Pancho Sullivan fins. Anything else lets loose to easily for me.

YMMV

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lewmt

Since 04 Aug 2010
182 Posts
MT
Stoked



PostFri Jul 31, 20 3:58 am     Reply with quote

Ride strapless (FW Vader -thruster) - talked myself into buying Quobba fins. Actually noticed a pretty good difference. Upwind better & great hold. Smashed 1 into a rock & after going back to the old fins will be getting another set of Quobbas. I'm kinda solid but definitely not great -skillzwise- so take my suggestion FWIW.

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