Any example of being overfinned?

rtz · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 296 Location: Oklahoma City

Today in winds in the 20mph range gusting upwards of 30mph, on a 240L viper with a 48cm fin and 4.5m sail. When I would get on plane, the board would get all wonky and wobbly and felt like it was trying to twist from the fin causing the board to roll.

Over finned? Go down till it spins out?

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

I suggest it may be more related to the huge board, decent size fin but paired with a very small sail. In other words, the fin was doing its job and allowing you to plane, but the bottom of the board became exposed to the wind without the necessary mast base pressure that usually comes from a larger sail used in flatter water.

But, yes, you likely felt the fin's power ramping up quickly and rolling the board.

manuel · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158

Yes definitely, match fin with sail size so long as you can stay upwind.
Your board is huge for this type of wind. You'll need to downsize to leverage the conditions too..

Overfinned means you get lots of lift from the back of the board, burning back leg, board wants to point upwind, drag at top speeds, tail walks, stiff in the turns.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:26 am Post subject:

Large board, small sail...prob beyond the boards minimum size range.l
Long, make that LoNggggggggggggggfin.
Fin too long and a multitude, of too this too that.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:29 am Post subject:

Going smaller on fin would help, but I feel the board is too large for those conditions, unless you weight 300 lbs.
My 2011 Tabou Rocket 135 for sale would help immensely