Weed fin selection

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

thought they all came with that "pad" ??
seabreeze forum "talks" about http://mauiultrafins.com/fins/delta-fins/
but it seems they are testing DELTA XT in Australia and are European based
will ship apparently

windswell · Joined: 20 May 2010 Posts: 211

The standout for me also is the CNCFins Weed Demon, available from Dennis Parton at Tectonics. It excels at all points, being surprisingly jibeable and going upwind in onshore wave conditions.
Only negative is they're expensive. But you are keeping a U.S. hardworking citizen employed, and he'll talk with you on the phone about sizing.
Wardod WeedWaves (only available used now) are a distant second along with their True Ames clone.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Thanks for the responses, guys. Keep 'em coming.

Looks like I should add the Maui Ultra X-Weed to my list. SURELY the CNC weed line is intended more for slalom sailing than for slashy wave/swell sailing, where looseness reigns and stability is a detriment?

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

One of the fastest and slashiest guys I sail with uses the True Ames Surf Grass on all of his boards, all of the time. This makes no sense to me, but his results are inarguable. Wicked fast, very slashy.

I run a Weed Speed and a Surf Grass, but use them so infrequently that I haven't formed strong opinions.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:31 am Post subject:

skyking1231 · Joined: 10 Jul 2000 Posts: 280

I'll have to jump in here... as i (unfortunately) have quite a bit of exp with weed fins.

true ames surfgrass.....a good fin. but the makanin mano is better...i would almost say much better.

i sailed a fanatic stubby FW with a makani ONO in heavy F'n weeds on the stubby freewave. it sailed OK..it had difficulty shedding weeds (but so did alot of others that day...with varying fins)...the other thing...board felt too planted in the nose. i then switched to the Makani Mano (similar size)...and it was totally different experience... felt like a different board. Fin had no issue shedding weeds...and board felt much more lively...not sticking to the water. Ono is not a bad fin....just not good i thnk on a stubby. On a traditional freewave, you would have better results as for the ride.

note: when i say weeds were heavy....i mean i could almost impersonate Jesus and walk across the water ! although sailing through it...sometimes feels like you are sailing through mud.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 11:37 am Post subject:

I tried the Delta shaped fin , they worked ok so long as you went straight.

This was the initial offering from Maui. Their are others since, unless one had a serious need for a shallow depth fin, I would steer clear, others like them, so IMO.

For the gorge it would be silly.

dmilovich · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 99

@skyking:

Wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the FW STB weed fin experience. Wondering what size STB and sail were you on? And which size Ono and Mano? Were you running as single fin or w/thrusters? Thanks.

Dimitri

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Thanks, guys. With your help I've ordered Makani's Mano (plus a Piranha). When I can find some wind worth the drive*, I'll let you know what I think.

* The PacNW synopsis for at least the next couple of weeks looks like the past week ... triple digit temps and single digit winds. Pray for flukes.

skyking1231 · Joined: 10 Jul 2000 Posts: 280

on that day i mentioned.... it was the FW STB 105, 5.7m..i started with a 28cm ono....then switched to the 26cm mano.

sailed yesterday with the 26cm mano...same sail in much stronger wind (less weeds)...sailed great I use this board/fin combo with 5.7 & 5.0 ... once weeds go by by...i switch to a freewave fin...or when the fall comes (waves)..the tri-fin setup