Fin Advice

[LeeD]

Most want to spin the board around the mast track pivot point, so less fin allows easier spins.
Their boards are bigger than yours and mine (surface area and planing surface for their size) so don't need nearly as much fin to get upwind.
Obviously they sail freestyle style better than you (and me, of course).
By the time they start chopping fins to 7.5" stubs, they can already Vulcan and Spock, usually working on more stuff, so they're better than you and me.

[jansel]

I'm told there is a huge difference between "production" fins which come with a new board, vs. more custom fins ie Curtis etc. Can anyway speak to the difference in construction/manufacturing/design which makes the more custom fins worth the extra money ? What should one look for in choosing a top quality fin ?

[LeeD]

I'm not up on the latest preferred fashion in slalom fins, but you could easily spend up to $700 for something that goes fast and doesn't spinout.
Most production fins work just fine, needing possibly a little care limiting fin lift and extreme loading.
Kinda depends on your needs, and your pocketbook, of course.
Talking production fins that come with boards, there's good ones, OK ones, bad ones, and atrocious ones. You gotta be specific. And there's Monday and Friday made fins.
Some peeps like to blame "made in China" for everything, but I have some that match up to the $250 variety customs.
And seems there's a variety of fin foil shapes that work well, from hi aspect thick chord (ratio) to lower aspect wider, thinner, foil back shapes to moderate aspect, draft forward shapes. All CAN work well, going fast and not spinning out.
Depends what you mean by "top quality fin".
Try being more specific on board need, your sizing, size of fin, $$$ you want to spend, what your goals, how long can you wait....etc....
Fin tech is something that is super complicated and most fin makers can make 20 page dissertations on why they make fins the way they do...and another opposing fin maker making entirely different designs can do the same!
Simple terms like "CNC", or custom made, or hand finished, or NACA foils don't mean much. It's the actual performance of the fin that counts, now how it's made by whom.

[LeeD]

I'm not up on the latest preferred fashion in slalom fins, but you could easily spend up to $700 for something that goes fast and doesn't spinout.
Most production fins work just fine, needing possibly a little care limiting fin lift and extreme loading.
Kinda depends on your needs, and your pocketbook, of course.
Talking production fins that come with boards, there's good ones, OK ones, bad ones, and atrocious ones. You gotta be specific. And there's Monday and Friday made fins.
Some peeps like to blame "made in China" for everything, but I have some that match up to the $250 variety customs.
And seems there's a variety of fin foil shapes that work well, from hi aspect thick chord (ratio) to lower aspect wider, thinner, foil back shapes to moderate aspect, draft forward shapes. All CAN work well, going fast and not spinning out.
Depends what you mean by "top quality fin".
Try being more specific on board need, your sizing, size of fin, $$$ you want to spend, what your goals, how long can you wait....etc....
Fin tech is something that is super complicated and most fin makers can make 20 page dissertations on why they make fins the way they do...and another opposing fin maker making entirely different designs can do the same!
Simple terms like "CNC", or custom made, or hand finished, or NACA foils don't mean much. It's the actual performance of the fin that counts, now how it's made by whom.

[billgfc]

Hi there

There is a major difference between the fins that come with the board and those that are produced by the top fin companies. At risk of oversimplification, board companies are just that. They do boards best. Fin companies do fins best. Sail companies to sails/rigs best.
You are what you eat.

The best production fins produced by fin companies are very close to custom in performance. A well managed fin company, just as a board or rig company manages production tolerance and designs effectively.
In some cases we have been able to get superior performance to customs, even those designed by masters or highly skilled engineers and research scientists.

The big picture is to educate the public that the best aftermarket fins make a difference and this is a major education and marketing challenge for all fin producers.

As for pros, we have used custom fins for pro sailor and rec sailor evaluation, usually preproduction. We have also had good success using production fins in Regional, National and International competitions.
PWA events and World Titles have been won on the same fins randomly selected from production we send to customers. It is not always to say those exact fins will help you the sailor in your situation, but what is leaned from day to day observation improves the art for all.

The best aftermarket production and custom fins rarely spin out, help your board ride smoother and expand range. Fin quivers expand range further, just as board and sail quivers do.

In summary, we have found that the greatest challenges are not custom vs the best production fins but getting more info out there about what good fins do when you upgrade and expand range from the colorful stuff that comes with boards. Getting the correctly selected custom or top production fin is prime. Which company or dealer to use is a personal choice. It s good to work with those who are passionate about board, rig and fins because they all work together. Each is 1/3 or the board, rig and fin system. Each 1/3 is equally important

Balance all three, get a better ride and enjoy:)

Bill

[billgfc]

well written Lee!
B

[stevenieve]

[shlongone]

No, that wasn't bill talking on the beach about fins 3h.

Some other dude