Freestyle Fins

[Dan]

Originally Posted by windsurferdagg

Finally got a hold of an old powerbox fin and cut it down. It is now 18 cm and works great I guess (don't have experience with such short fins). However, the thickness (cord length?) is rather well, thick. It was a much bigger fin than 18 cm so just cutting it left it to be a large surface area and also thick. Should I grind it down to thin the profile as well as the cord thickness?

I have done a lot of reading and research trying to find out if a straight cut off (flatt tip) or a rounded tip is better. So far I think a flat tip (like mine) is good because it has a specific spinout point. Would the same be found if I rounded the tip or made it to a point?

Just wondering if there are any benifits to thinning the profile or thinning the cord etc. So far I love the new short fin though!

Thanks,

Thomas
www.tdaggws.blogspot.com

Thomas: By refoiling the chord at the new tip you could reduce the tip vortice that likely increased in size when you cut the fin down. For the type of speeds you are going for freestyle, you might like the effect more than the risk of totally screwing up the fin.

-Dan

[RobSwift]

Glad to see someone got the thread back on track, Dan.

There is no need to cut fins anymore.

Why not buy a 18 cm freestyle fin directly?

Look at:

http://www.chocofins.com/fins/royalflush/index.html

[Phill104]

How did you get on Thomas?

It is nice to see people experimenting in this way. I'm sure you can learn a lot by trying new things.

p.s. Just read your blog. Excellent.

i do not see why this would not work,. Is it ideal ....maybe not , but while high aspect fins are great for good lift at speed, but their bottom end is lacking.
freestyle boards need low speed lift ,a low aspect foil will give you bottom end, so why not cut one down ...??

shredulato

[windsurferdagg]

Unfortunatly, here in Ottawa, we have had NO wind for the past 3.5 weeks... Hopefully tomorrow and or Thursday will be decent enough to get out again.

Fingers crossed, and Happy Canada Day! I will post something if/when I get out. I shaved down the thickness a tad so it should be interesting. Plus I just can't wait to get out and work on those pesky vulcans again!

Thomas
www.tdaggws.blogspot.com

[jonthesailorman]

hey man nice blog. good to here about your freestyle coming along. i'm in the same boat actually i can get a good slide maybe 60% of the time, but iv'e only got a handful of vulcans in after going for it non-stop. but they are SO worth it! I haven't seen wind since the beginning of may! no-fair, u got to days straight of blowing like skunk!

hows ur fin btw?

I think Starboard should do a little pruning on this thread. The way RobSwift is acting does not look too good IMO.

Wasn't he the same person who haunted and insulted Roger on many occasions under a number of names on various forums?

[windsurferdagg]

thanks a lot. Yesterday and this morning were both windy, for sure able to get out on the 5.8 and 100L FS board. I was working though. Couldn't get out also, because I had a whole bunch of things to take care of before my wisdom teeth are surgically removed tomorrow :-(. No sailing for a week.

I love the freestyle way. I have a 5.8 and 5.0 and a 4.1. I use the 5.8 and 5.0 in pretty much any wind with the 100L. Its a one board, two sail quiver and it works great for my size (150 pounds/68kg). I will be planing in 12-14 knots on the 5.8 too, which is far more likely to happen around here (compared to 20 knots etc). My technique for non planing jibes and tacks have also exponentially improved just by farting around on the 100L board in light wind. It is tricky at first, and does sink if I do something just a tad wrong, but my sailing in all winds improved a lot. As a good friend erick g. said, "pay your dues". Lightwind sailing is a must, especially for freestyle.

Hopefully I can get more posts in soon. I am going up to a cottage/trailer with family for the week im recovering from the surgery, so I plan on bringing the board and my 5.8 and 5.0.

I NEED WIND!

Thomas
www.tdaggws.blogspot.com