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5 fins

Created by Neil001 Neil001  > 9 months ago, 26 Sep 2022
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Neil001
Neil001

NSW

16 posts

26 Sep 2022 8:57am
Has anyone tried 5 small fins on a SUP. In small waves I put 3 in the back 3 slots and was great.
cheers
colas
colas

5370 posts

26 Sep 2022 12:18pm
Select to expand quote
Neil001 said..
Has anyone tried 5 small fins on a SUP. In small waves I put 3 in the back 3 slots and was great.
cheers



5 fins work well for very wide tailed boards.
Basically, if you feel that the board as a quad handles like a supermarket trolley (there is some yaw when the board is flat between turns), add a 5th fin, big enough to stabilize the trajectory. It can be a nubster to a full central fin.

But the bigger the central fin, the bigger the drag. Compromises...

In my experience 5-fins is only useful in very short boards. Otherwise the longer rail line is enough for directional stability.

Here is a 6'10" fish I rode often in 5 fins:




In action:



A longer board (7'11") with a central nubster:



Note that the late Greg Griffin has been advocating 5 fins or 3-fins-in-the-rear setups for years:

www.griffinsurfboards.com/product/modfish/
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057262636965&sk=photos


Jradedmondo
Jradedmondo

NSW

637 posts

26 Sep 2022 6:09pm
yeah, I use a nubster fin with my quad setup on my short sup, like mentioned above it has a wideish tail, so I find it works well
theSeb
theSeb

365 posts

26 Sep 2022 6:55pm
If it's good enough for the GOAT, then it's good enough for the rest of us

stabmag.com/hardware/watch-kelly-slater-on-a-5-fin-board-then-read-greg-webber-explain-it/
Neil001
Neil001

NSW

16 posts

27 Sep 2022 6:43am
thanks guys ....gr8 to read..much apreciated
BostonSUP
BostonSUP

29 posts

25 Nov 2022 10:37am
5 fin set ups can work for any width tail, if the fins are sized and placed appropriately. Generally, the wider the tail, the more fin is needed.

NVS was kind enough to make a LB box center of their Album Apex quad rears for me. Now I have a five fin set up with the three rear fins all the same template and size, and in line (Greg Griffin inspired set up) on my 7'7 Destroyer. Plenty of drive and pivot. Fast and loose.





estingo
estingo

118 posts

31 Mar 2023 9:43pm
Hi BostonSUP, cool to see some one else with those Riptides. I tried them on the destroyers that I have as well but ended up going back to the Quobbas. They are not too bad. How do you like the Riptides with no toe? I'm curious..
BostonSUP
BostonSUP

29 posts

16 May 2023 8:17pm
I like them in the Destroyer. Have also used, and liked, them in a Stun Gun. I think the Riptides pair well with board that has a curvy outline (i.e., boards that don't need a fin with a lot of cant to break it loose/turn it, but wouldn't mind a little more speed).

I also have a bunch of Greg Griffin 5 fin boards. I am a big believer in his designs.
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