Hello to all from sunny Ft. Lauderdale. I'm a fairly new SUP'r, newly retired and see SUP surfiing as an avenue and supplement to later learn to longboard. I was lucky to find a mint used NSP 11, 2+1 and have been paying my dues on flat and backwaters, with nothing worse than a very small wind chop (open lakes). In the interest of tracking and glide I removed the side bites, and moved the center fin to the absolute rear. This was successful.
My plan now is to move to the ocean and small surf in our south Florida beachbreak, and I see two options:
1. First option: to run it 2+1.
2. Second option: to run it as single center fin.
In either case, I need to decide where to place the center fin, forward, back or middle. I'd very much appreciate your collective guidance, keeping in mind you are dealing with a new SUP'r in the ocean. The longboard that awaits the future is a 10' Pearson Arrow CJ Nelson (single fin). Me: 5'8", 180 lb, Thanks...
Hi - I have ridden this board extensively and in my opinion the fin should be either right in the centre of the box or at the most maybe a 1/4 inch back from centre. Also I ran my 11.0s as a single fin and ride my current 10.6 nsp as a single also. The larger nsp sups really need to be surfed like a big longboard - move back, weight up the rails and use your position on the board and your paddle to initiate nice flowing turns. These boards surf very well once you get confident and you will have many hours/years of fun on them.
Thanks for the input, I'll try that positioning. Can you address what the difference for me as beginner in learning to surf, between the 2+1 and running it as a single center fin?
Also, has anyone removed a bit of the pad near the tail and installed a surfboard style kick pad there? Does it help?
Again, thanks to all for your attentions...
OK, enough time has passed, so we're left with Southern's advice, much appreciated. Here's a few more things I learned elsewhere, and feel obligated to share:
1. Southern's position of the center fin is abou 1-3/4" back on this board. Other resources start at about 1" back.
2. Running this board as a single fin (and not as a 2+1) will be looser, and more advantageous for me, a beginner, and on small waves. With the single fin only, the board will be more likely to hold the smaller waves, will turn and catch waves easier. According to more cooperative resources, the single fin is a dream for small wave learning and surfing - loose, forgiving, fast and more amenable for noseriding. It minimizes drag, allows faster paddling and extra glide. Also these resources state that as for noseriding, the single allows for more water to wrap around the board and will keep you locked in for longer noserides.
3. With the single fin it will turn more like a longboard, which is my ultimate objective. It will especially mimic the turning of my Pearson Arrow 10' CJ Nelson.
In closing, my thanks, at least to Southern who alone took the time to address a newbie - my thanks and sincere appreciation. I hope other newbies will benefit from all of the above.
