Hey folks, currently paddling a 2014 Falcon (27.25" width), predominantly on flat water. I'm picking up a fair bit of salad (mostly floating ribbon weed) in my local waters with the stock Fanatic ONE fin - so considering an upgrade to a new fin.

I know there are a few weed specific fins out there, but I've also noticed that many of the better quality fins have a higher rake (and would likely shed weed better) than the stock fin anyway.

The stock fin tracks beautifully for me ( I can get 12-16 strokes per side in flat water) and I'll keep it for choppy water / down winding, so was thinking of stepping down a size in fin to reduce drag and pick up some more boat speed on the flat - currently no real issues with board stability.

What's everybody else using for flat water? Any recommendations? BTW I'm 180 cm and 90 kg!

I also struggle a bit with the current fin in stronger side winds and front corner winds, the bow of the Falcon gets blown off the wind a bit, and the current fin tracks a bit too well, to get it back up on the wind.......I spend the whole leg paddling on one side then...even after moving forward on the bow a bit. I didn't experience this with the 2013 12'6" Falcon......I guess the higher bow design of the '14 has something to do with that.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Larry Allison Gladiator (hybrid or pro models at your weight), or maybe Larry's Ninja fin
FCS do an OK weed fin, their Danny Ching fin looks like it would shed OK
True Ames have some very shallow weed fins for SUPS (http://trueames.com/shop/shallow-water-touring-sup-fin).

just a few for thought, I like my Gladiator and Ninja but I almost never paddle in weed

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Childsplay said..

Hey folks, currently paddling a 2014 Falcon (27.25" width), predominantly on flat water. I'm picking up a fair bit of salad (mostly floating ribbon weed) in my local waters with the stock Fanatic ONE fin - so considering an upgrade to a new fin.

I know there are a few weed specific fins out there, but I've also noticed that many of the better quality fins have a higher rake (and would likely shed weed better) than the stock fin anyway.

The stock fin tracks beautifully for me ( I can get 12-16 strokes per side in flat water) and I'll keep it for choppy water / down winding, so was thinking of stepping down a size in fin to reduce drag and pick up some more boat speed on the flat - currently no real issues with board stability.

What's everybody else using for flat water? Any recommendations? BTW I'm 180 cm and 90 kg!

I also struggle a bit with the current fin in stronger side winds and front corner winds, the bow of the Falcon gets blown off the wind a bit, and the current fin tracks a bit too well, to get it back up on the wind.......I spend the whole leg paddling on one side then...even after moving forward on the bow a bit. I didn't experience this with the 2013 12'6" Falcon......I guess the higher bow design of the '14 has something to do with that.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Hi There. I also have the same board and found the fin to create to much drag and over steered in runs and swell, I have recently purchased a vmg blade, this fin is shorter in length but wide in the base, It has great directional ability but is super loose in bumps and runs, by being smaller and less drag you will go faster and pick up less salad.best race fin Ive ever had and Ive had a few. they sell them at windsurfnsnow at collaroy a lot of the good guys and girls are using them, hope this is of some help.

Hi Childsplay,

I have tried a couple of fins in my 2014 Falcon (24.75") and am extremely happy with my current set up!

I was using the stock ONE fin for ages in my board, I also had a few incidents with weed on the flat water but it is a capable DW fin for the ocean, very stable, a pretty good stock fin IMO.

I then started using a Futures Fins Triangle Cutaway Race in the small (44 sq. in.) size for flat water racing, this fin was really fast and had no issues with weed, but it did hold the back of the board a little too straight when in some of the stronger side wind causing the nose to turn DW. The large sweep and amount of fin area deep in the water made it harder to pivot turn than the ONE fin, but it worked well, another good fin.

The favourite has been the new Mako fin from VMG blades (www.facebook.com/VMGBlades). This fin has a great foil profile for the speeds that we do on SUPs and doesn't have too much fin area deep in the water. I am not sure of the actual area of the fin, but I think it would be a little smaller that the ONE. In the flat water I have not noticed any difference in speed from the Furutes Fin, but the distribution of the fin area in the water allows the board to "drift" a little at the rear when there is a side wind. This keeps the board pointed in the direction you want to go and enables you to swap paddling sides more often than when you are fighting to keep the nose straight. There is a great rake at the base of the fin, different to the "corner" at the base of the ONE fin, so I have never had any problems with weed using it. Wait... I haven't even got to the best part about the Mako yet... that is how it performs DW! It is a little less stable in the ocean than the ONE fin, but it is worth it once you have a little experience. The foil on the fin works a treat to help the board turn and foot steer on runners, much easier to turn than the ONE. Again that smaller area deep in the water seems to make the board "drift" or traverse across runners much better, some fins hold the back too tight and slide the nose into the trough, but the Mako really helps to hold the line and keep you making ground in the direction you need to go. Made me faster DW! It is also ultra light, not much to dislike about the fin really, unless you don't like the look of sweet carbon fiber weave!

As you can see I am pretty happy with the Mako and I have only had it a couple of weeks! I have tried it in a few 12'6" boards as well and it really livens up how they behave off the foot, surf really well!

Hope this helps shed some info on a cool new fin out there. Just try as many as you can and get what works for you.

Have fun, paddle hard!

I am 177 cm, 75 kg and not sponsored.

Tibbo I'd be interested to know if you think this fin has made any difference to your downwind speed. You forgot to add your only a youngster. Seriously, how different is the stability?

Thanks guys, all good feedback, I might have a look at the VMG Blade! Sounds like it might be what I'm after, specially in cross winds. Cheers.

The Gladiater Pro is the go..

Had the opportunity to try a 2014 Falcon and my first thought was, I hate this fin (the One). It hangs up on anything. I've tried quite a few fins for flat water and my favorite on my All Star is the Futures Karen Wrenn. It's slippery and foot steers better than any fin I own. It has a narrow tip and wide base like the VMG fin, but with more rake and trail. When things get rougher I like the slightly bigger Byron Kurt. More of a standard dolphin, but with an early ramp like the VMG. Did I mention both these fins shed grass and kelp great?

Interesting comments on the Triangle fin. I've been wanting to try it, but it sounds like it has the same defect I've found with my keel fins (Futures and Allison Becker). They paddle straight in light conditions, but you loose directional control over your board when things get rougher. I.e., same as Childsplay and Tibbo.

I have a falcon and also a gladiator fin. It works better than carbon one in flat water but if it's more of a downwinder Kind of day I would just use the stock fin. The only issue with the gladiator is it quite weighty.

Thanks baddog, I had a chance to try an Allison Becker today. It certainly sheds weed fine, but tracks like a train on the flat - could paddle constantly on one side (either side without any trouble)......any one need a fin to straighten a squirrelly board? It's not going to help my situation........but I should have suspected that.

Got to go smaller with less area in the tip.

Which size Gladiator are you using bruiser?

Anyone tried a Ninja on the falcon 14, I note Larry recommends this fin where the box is a fair way forward ( like the 14 Falcon) in the board?