I just purchased a tail pad for my 8'5 starby pro. Where should it be placed relitave to the fins? i would like to get it in the right spot first time.
Thanks
Dave
Placing a tailpad is quite simple: as far back as the leash plug position allows you :-)
I like the "ramp" to start just behind the rear of the center fin.... which is, as colas said.... about as far back as it can go.
Getting leverage behind the fin, gives you a lot of control in tight turns.
yip as above. When ive put on deck grip i always use a template first just to make sure its exactly where i want to be, aligned and looks good. You only want to be doing this job once! Once its down..its down. Just a thought
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..
As long as your back foot can not be placed behind the centre rear fin.. IMO.
I have to admit my personal reasoning or thoughts on this is from a windsurfing background where I've had many custom surfing boards made and the rear footstrap placement is very important.. Having your rear foot slightly too far back loads the fin way too much IMO and prevents you turning from the rail of the board.. I'm no surfing expert and I guess sup's are a very different beast.. Also my surfing (surfing/windsurfing) days were before the recent surfing style where breaking the fins out to do tail slides happened.. But even after saying that I'm still a big believer in not having your rear foot behind the rear fin.. We need guys like Dan (DTM) to chime in on this and give us his thoughts.. 
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..
I guess sup's are a very different beast..
For me, having your foot really back helps control the wide & high volume tails of SUPs (compared to prone surfboards). If you are back enough, it decreases the need for constantly shuffling the rear foot from rail to rail.
Of course, your foot is on the kickpad only at very specific times (when you want to tighten the turn).
Select to expand quotecolas said..
Placing a tailpad is quite simple: as far back as the leash plug position allows you :-)
+1 on that further back the better especially if you want to blow the tail and it also makes it easier to get to the rail. The earlier model JP's were just over the rear fin now they are all right back. You can really notice the difference.
