Hi All,
Another fin question. At least I'm not the only one asking fin questions.
Spent time on the search function here, and over on google.

Just can't find the answer....

When it comes to setting up a 2+1 combo, where should the centre fin be placed in relation to the side bites, as a starting point?

Plenty out there on single fin set up... and thruster set up for shorties, just can't find much/any info on a 2+1 set up.

I do get that it's trial and error... and your board, your fins, your wave, your style will be the decider.
Rather than pretty much ignoring my centre fin placement out of ignorance (although I typically have the leading edge of the centre fin base just behind the trailing edge of the base of the sides), I thought I'd see if there's a general rule of thumb regarding a starting set up.

Board in question is a 9'6" Noosa Longboards Tea Tree. FCS GL side bites and 8" FCS II Connect PG.
I've tried it as a single fin with a Shapers Gatto 10.25" and a 10" Island Fin Design 'Islander'... both fins seemed to slow the board way down.
In the conditions I've tried the single fins out in, I prefer the 2+1
I haven't yet tried as a 2+1 with anything other than the GL & 8" FCS.

Back to the question at hand... Centre fin placement in a 2+1 setup?

Cheers!

Nice grass... It'll be due for a mow soon.

From that pic, it looks like the leading edge of the centre fin starts just behind the trailing tips of the side fins?

Would you modify that setup for a square tail as opposed to pin?

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damned67 said..
Nice grass... It'll be due for a mow soon.

From that pic, it looks like the leading edge of the centre fin starts just behind the trailing tips of the side fins?

Would you modify that setup for a square tail as opposed to pin?

Fin needs to go bad another inch from the pic,you don't want a cluster of fins.

And what about size of the centre fin?
While that's likely determined by what you want the board to do... do you have a go-to centre fin size (according to board size/length)?

I haven't tried any other centre fins other than the 8", simply based on the fact that that's how they set the board up when they sold it to me...

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Macaha said..

damned67 said..
Nice grass... It'll be due for a mow soon.

From that pic, it looks like the leading edge of the centre fin starts just behind the trailing tips of the side fins?

Would you modify that setup for a square tail as opposed to pin?

Fin needs to go bad another inch from the pic,you don't want a cluster of fins.

I've had played with my 2+1 set ups a fair bit and that's about where I go. Loose enough, drivey enough, holds enough.

Select to expand quote

damned67 said..
And what about size of the centre fin?
While that's likely determined by what you want the board to do... do you have a go-to centre fin size (according to board size/length)?

I haven't tried any other centre fins other than the 8", simply based on the fact that that's how they set the board up when they sold it to me...

I like a 7.5 inch on my 9.6 HP board,a 8 in my all round 9.6 / 9.8,a 9 in my 9.6 single a 10.5 in my 10 foot noserider.

I find having my centre fin back maybe another 1/2" further than Macaha's works good for me. I also found that the single fin on all my boards was slower, but it depends on your style.
Get them centre fins way back IMO.

Fins, Fins, Fins.. Send a sane man crazy and broke....

Usual disclaimer... depends what fins ( Rake, base, Area) , what waves you surf , how you surf and what you want the board to feel like..

But to answer your question Gx and an 8" i'd put it about 7- 8 inches from the tail and go from there.

Single aren't slow, they just take a while to wind up and need to be surfed on different lines to a 3 finner. a 2 plus 1 with a big center is still pretty much a single with sides to break the track of the single so usually move it up a touch from where you'd run a single fin.

On fins the world lost one heck of a human, Wiz handmade every centre fin for mctavish over a 15 year period, Wiz was big ,big in every way.One funny guy rip Wiz.

That sucks. I've never met the guy, but I've read much about him. A legend in the world of fins.

Maybe he deserves his own thread? Probably heaps of guys on here with experience with either him or his fins.... that are probably avoiding yet another fin thread.

Sad news. made great fins..

That is sad news. The fins that came with that custom McT I ordered some years back looked really nice.

First time on here for a while and saddened by this news, condolences to Wiz'z family and Friends a fine craftsman he was.

The great Wiz will be laid to rest today at Ocean Shores.

www.mctavish.com.au/blogs/stories-2/wiz

Hi Damned
Found measuring 3 to 31/4" back from where the rear of the base of the side bite to the front edge of the centre fin works for me but like all the boys have said its trial and error and everyones setup is different. Good luck