Just bought the 2016 Javelin 14x28"
Very stable but very bad tracking with original fin.
Looking for advise on Fin to use for racing flat water and chop lon distance.
as I'm tall and heavy, thinking of big fin but can't realy find it.
Are windsurfing fins (anti-werd like Unifiber Weed Slasher curved outline) an option?

Thx

Steven

This is what I found works best in my 14x28" Jav..

Hi DJ,

can you give me lengte and area of thuis fin?
I'm thinking of Unifiber Weed Slasher curved outline.
What do you think?

If you want better tracking you need a longer base on the fin.. This is why the stock fin with its cut away is not working so well for you.. If you have a weed problem you need a weed fin with lots of rake but because it lacks base area it's not going to help you with tracking as much as the fin that I use.. It may look like a boring shape plan old dolphin fin but there are dolphin shapes and there are dolphin shapes.. Some are better than others.. Mine is the 9" FCS tool-less molded glass fin (it's not plastic) and only cost about $60.. They also do a very nice looking machined glass version that I also have for about $120.. The tool-less system is priceless.. Be careful to not use a fin that's too big or too long because you will get noticable drag.. Your tracking issues might also be a technique thing.. These boards like you to stand slightly ahead of the handle.. Standing an inch or two back will result in increased yawing and drag from not getting a clean release off the tail.

There's lot of good fins out there now.. Some like the VMG Blade fins are excellent but pretty pricy.. Check out their site and see how they also use a short but big base area fin.. vmgblades.com/about-vmg/

DJ...since you have had eyes on the VMG fins up close and personal can you tell me the approx foil thickness?

Especially the Mako 37 and the Mako Time-trial. Are they a thick or thin foil? How many mm's at thickest point...just curious since I've never seen one other than pictures in their catalog. I love their profiles but the foil is as, if not more important overall.

My latest board build has been in the ball park of a Javelin 27x14 so this topic is of great interest to me. Been using an old vertical windsurf fin in my 12-6 and it has to be holding my performance back. Thanks...

Select to expand quote

rghdc said...
DJ...since you have had eyes on the VMG fins up close and personal can you tell me the approx foil thickness?

Especially the Mako 37 and the Mako Time-trial. Are they a thick or thin foil? How many mm's at thickest point...just curious since I've never seen one other than pictures in their catalog. I love their profiles but the foil is as, if not more important overall.

My latest board build has been in the ball park of a Javelin 27x14 so this topic is of great interest to me. Been using an old vertical windsurf fin in my 12-6 and it has to be holding my performance back. Thanks...

We have a background in Custom Formula windsurfing fins, so fully understand foil shape, chord thickness ratio and sizing appropriately for AOA and Reynolds number.

Without giving too much away, all of our foils are at least 6 percent Chord thickness.

Chris
Thanks for the response...
Do you have dealers in the US?

I am contemplating making a "0ne off" fin shaped by hand, rather not... but have more time/materials/tools/skill than money right now. That said I would rather buy if feasible. Grinding fiberglass is not high on my favorites list.

Have heard/experienced conflicting information about foil thickness. On one hand the best surfboard I ever rode had a very thick foil fin I shaped and was very fast and held when all other fins same size would spin out. The way the board projected was unreal.
Coming from a formally obsessed windsurf background I rode nothing but vertical high aspect ratio fins that were considerably thinner highly refined foils. Now on SUP and they all feel slow...painfully slow...heard some foil talk of thinner the better. What's your take on it?

Select to expand quote

rghdc said..
Chris
Thanks for the response...
Do you have dealers in the US?

I am contemplating making a "0ne off" fin shaped by hand, rather not... but have more time/materials/tools/skill than money right now. That said I would rather buy if feasible. Grinding fiberglass is not high on my favorites list.

Have heard/experienced conflicting information about foil thickness. On one hand the best surfboard I ever rode had a very thick foil fin I shaped and was very fast and held when all other fins same size would spin out. The way the board projected was unreal.
Coming from a formally obsessed windsurf background I rode nothing but vertical high aspect ratio fins that were considerably thinner highly refined foils. Now on SUP and they all feel slow...painfully slow...heard some foil talk of thinner the better. What's your take on it?

We have some dealers in the U.S. send me a PM with your location.

VMG Blades are some of the thicker foils you'll see in SUP, yet fast enough to win many races this year including the Lost Mills Fastest Paddler on Earth this year.

Foil thickness should be based on percentage of chord(width) measurement. Windsurfing fins are generally 9 percent except asymmetric speed sailing fins. Your windsurfing fins may appear thin, but because they are a narrow chord they are actually relatively thick compared to most SUP fins.

Getting the foil thickness along with the correct foil is vital for reducing drag, and retaining flow at various angles of attack. Other aspects of fin design also contribute, and are all interelated such as plan shape, geometric twist, and laminate bend and twist.

Chris
Greatly appreciate your perspective.

Can the fin outline area be reduced as the thickness to cord ratio increase? ....within reason? Or is that just an illusion based on the function of surface area change...as the fin moves towards being more 3 dimensional and farther away from flat?

Or to put it another way...can smaller outline/thicker foils achieve the same utility as a larger outline/thinner foil without as much surface area?

Such an interesting topic...all the things that apply to Catamaran & Winsdsurfing foils seem to get set on their ear when slowed down to SUP speeds in flat water.

I have been using the Black Project Tiger Sprint fin in my Javelin's all through out 2015. Excellent all round fin for all conditions, very strong construction.