You often hear about one inch per foot of board,I dont believe this is correct in all cases.

Whats your fin rule?

My Ruben Roxburg 5.5 & Asher Pacey 3.5's are plenty of fin for a longboard. But I'm one of those ugly HP type surfers than never noseride

Sponno mate has a similar setup though & noserides very well, so doubt you need a real big fin unless its single & your surfing fast sucky waves...like Rainbow/Greenmount

No rules, just try them and find one that suits that board.

For me the Area of the fins is more important than the actual size..

Overall Fin Height is just an indicator.
It's like board length. It only shows one dimension and doesn't paint the whole picture..

Eg A 9 inch fin that has a wide base is different to a 9 inch fin with a narrow base.

A narrow tail board is likely to need a smaller fin then a rounder outline with more tail rocker.

Shorter more upright fins back on the box will be more pivoty turns. Bigger more raked fins up in the box. More rake will make them more carvey and draw your turns out.

My fin rules are not to sell any single fins as everytime I do I get a new board down the track and think to myself "Why did I sell that fin, it would be perfect for this board" Only to scour GT for ages looking for a suitable fin for it!!

All my fins come from True Ames - wouldn't go anywhere else for fins...

Select to expand quote

McHenry said..
My fin rules are not to sell any single fins as everytime I do I get a new board down the track and think to myself "Why did I sell that fin, it would be perfect for this board" Only to scour GT for ages looking for a suitable fin for it!!

Agreed. Hate selling fins. Try to keep the ones I like and put **** ones in when I sell boards

Select to expand quote

SP said..

I like and put **** ones in when I sell boards

Despite the fact that I basically use this forum to ask questions about fins, my rule is pretty much to try every fin and fin set up on every board.I had one of my least liked boards go to one of my favourite boards thanks to a fin I would not have thought would make a difference (compared to the others I'd tried)

If it works, its' the right one!!!!!

Fins make a huge difference and selling a fin or fins can be a mistake down the track when a new board may perform much better with those you sold plus I love packing fins for a surf trip to epic waves where you can really feel the difference

Select to expand quote

Sandsy1 said..
If it works, its' the right one!!!!!

Sandy that sounds great but how do we know it works,is it the board the fin both or like me the surfer.

Post from Mac. about fins.
Couple of beers.
Research what he asked.
Couple of beers.
True Ames web site.
Couple of beers.
Found what I was looking for about sizes for side bites.
Couple of beers.
3 days later......

Ooohh far left looks the goods!!

What is is it Nozza??

Select to expand quote

McHenry said..
Ooohh far left looks the goods!!

What is is it Nozza??

True Ames California Classic.
I was trying to be too artistic unpacking and photographing, so haven't got a good shot of it.


https://www.trueames.com/collections/our-most-popular-fins/products/california-classic-8-5-to-10?variant=2548556804

Given the number of beers Mac. made me drink pre ordering, I'm not sure how I got the cool black / red / clear one, but it is a beautiful fin.

"Nine sizes make up this collection for a wide range of choices. These are the larger sizes from 8.5" to 10"... Perfect single fin setup. The medium build and rake make this design the foundation to begin to expand your quiver. All boards and designs accepted. A great all-around fin."

in their own words.

Can be easy to overthink things, what board are we talking about a fin for Mac?

Select to expand quote

vanders1 said..
Can be easy to overthink things, what board are we talking about a fin for Mac?

Not one board in mind mate just a general question Its always interesting to hear and learn what others are onto

Select to expand quote

SP said..

McHenry said..
My fin rules are not to sell any single fins as everytime I do I get a new board down the track and think to myself "Why did I sell that fin, it would be perfect for this board" Only to scour GT for ages looking for a suitable fin for it!!

Agreed. Hate selling fins. Try to keep the ones I like and put **** ones in when I sell boards

Couldn't agree more with McHenry,haha SP that's what I do.

Select to expand quote

SP said..
No rules, just try them and find one that suits that board.

For me the Area of the fins is more important than the actual size..

Overall Fin Height is just an indicator.
It's like board length. It only shows one dimension and doesn't paint the whole picture..

Eg A 9 inch fin that has a wide base is different to a 9 inch fin with a narrow base.

A narrow tail board is likely to need a smaller fin then a rounder outline with more tail rocker.

Shorter more upright fins back on the box will be more pivoty turns. Bigger more raked fins up in the box. More rake will make them more carvey and draw your turns out.

Bang on dude... My Lizzy is very much like the Flat Tracker, likes a small fin as it narrow and really refined through the tail. It's 7'7 but when i tried the 8' Christensen fin it would catch on the bottom turn, dropped back to 7.5' and its buttery smooth.

I think the tail width and wide point of the board is actually more important for fin size than the length of the board...

On the log I have a 10' Glide Fins Hatchet and its unreal for the log, jammed as far back in the box as she'll go and you get the heavy drawn out turns and great hold for the nose...

Select to expand quote

Cobra said..

SP said..

McHenry said..
My fin rules are not to sell any single fins as everytime I do I get a new board down the track and think to myself "Why did I sell that fin, it would be perfect for this board" Only to scour GT for ages looking for a suitable fin for it!!

Agreed. Hate selling fins. Try to keep the ones I like and put **** ones in when I sell boards

Couldn't agree more with McHenry,haha SP that's what I do.

I have a stash of ****ty plastic fins that I use

Select to expand quote

AndyrooMac said..

SP said..
No rules, just try them and find one that suits that board.

For me the Area of the fins is more important than the actual size..

Overall Fin Height is just an indicator.
It's like board length. It only shows one dimension and doesn't paint the whole picture..

Eg A 9 inch fin that has a wide base is different to a 9 inch fin with a narrow base.

A narrow tail board is likely to need a smaller fin then a rounder outline with more tail rocker.

Shorter more upright fins back on the box will be more pivoty turns. Bigger more raked fins up in the box. More rake will make them more carvey and draw your turns out.

Bang on dude... My Lizzy is very much like the Flat Tracker, likes a small fin as it narrow and really refined through the tail. It's 7'7 but when i tried the 8' Christensen fin it would catch on the bottom turn, dropped back to 7.5' and its buttery smooth.

I think the tail width and wide point of the board is actually more important for fin size than the length of the board...

On the log I have a 10' Glide Fins Hatchet and its unreal for the log, jammed as far back in the box as she'll go and you get the heavy drawn out turns and great hold for the nose...

What fins are you using in the Lizzy? Just a single? I thought you were getting sent some bonzer sides and centre fin for a 2+1?

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..

Sandsy1 said..
If it works, its' the right one!!!!!

Sandy that sounds great but how do we know it works,is it the board the fin both or like me the surfer.

All of the above Mac.
I'm hearing you!
I have stuck with my tried and true. Basically never change.
10.5" Hatchet on the 10'2" log
11" Flexy or 10" Fatboy on the 9'6" log. Fatboy when it's a bit steeper, has a bit more side slip

Select to expand quote

SP said..

AndyrooMac said..

SP said..
No rules, just try them and find one that suits that board.

For me the Area of the fins is more important than the actual size..

Overall Fin Height is just an indicator.
It's like board length. It only shows one dimension and doesn't paint the whole picture..

Eg A 9 inch fin that has a wide base is different to a 9 inch fin with a narrow base.

A narrow tail board is likely to need a smaller fin then a rounder outline with more tail rocker.

Shorter more upright fins back on the box will be more pivoty turns. Bigger more raked fins up in the box. More rake will make them more carvey and draw your turns out.

Bang on dude... My Lizzy is very much like the Flat Tracker, likes a small fin as it narrow and really refined through the tail. It's 7'7 but when i tried the 8' Christensen fin it would catch on the bottom turn, dropped back to 7.5' and its buttery smooth.

I think the tail width and wide point of the board is actually more important for fin size than the length of the board...

On the log I have a 10' Glide Fins Hatchet and its unreal for the log, jammed as far back in the box as she'll go and you get the heavy drawn out turns and great hold for the nose...

What fins are you using in the Lizzy? Just a single? I thought you were getting sent some bonzer sides and centre fin for a 2+1?

Ryan has sent me the custom fins but meanwhile i'm running a Captain Fin Brothers Marshal 7.5', Goes siiick as a single but i'll try it with the Bonzers when they arrive, i'd be surprised if they improve it but who knows

Select to expand quote

McHenry said..
Ooohh far left looks the goods!!

What is is it Nozza??

A better shot

Beautiful fin Nozza. I reckon you'd be giving Surfanimals and SP a run for their money

Select to expand quote

McHenry said..
Beautiful fin Nozza. I reckon you'd be giving Surfanimals and SP a run for their money

It's not a contest, I don't think.
Just sharing things we like.
Woops, got a bit huggy, feely there.....

I rode the same board today as yesterday I ride it with 9 inch A4 today the fin that I normally use and it went much better today or was that me I don't know

Went better with the 4A or the fin you normally use ?

Select to expand quote

McHenry said..
Went better with the 4A or the fin you normally use ?

The fin I normally use.

So stick with it for a while before you try any others, that way you'll get a better all-round feel for it to know if the next one you try is better/worse. Just my noob advice anyway......

Select to expand quote

McHenry said..
Beautiful fin Nozza. I reckon you'd be giving Surfanimals and SP a run for their money

I had a self intervention it was getting out of hand.. Haven't bought a fin in over a year.