Just curious on where people place their fin in the box and what side biters they use.

I am still playing around with mine.

hey bro...I like to run an inch of fin per foot of board up to 9 inches and then your on your own not to wide at the tip and not to flexy....almost all the way back for mine with small side bites...i use the FCS-GXQ's...I don't like the fins to clustered if its bigger...if its for smaller surf I bring the fin forward....for me forward fin position makes the board more pivoty...further back means longer turns and more control

I should probably use the box more. I tend to find a compromise and just leave it there. Presently I have the fin about an inch forward on the 8' widow maker. It's a 7" inch fin, although I ordered the same fin as an 8" on the weekend. I tried a 7' inch fin with more tip on a locals recommendation but didn't like it. It seemed to lose a bit of drive although it did turn a bit easier.

I went from some tiny side bites, to the fcs Gx-Qs and now have the rear quad find from a set of Performers (it has FCS II). I have only surfed them once in the weekend in some pretty solid surf, but the board felt a fair bit tighter. It surprised me as going to the GX-Qs actually loosened it up a little for the same centre fin position. Perhaps it didn't really loosen it up but just made rail to rail transitions easier with more side fin.

I was talking to my shaper and he was against a 9" fin in the new 9'6" gun. You'd be comfortable going that big?

I reckon anything between 8 and 9 would be OK in the 9'6 depending on the tail width....fins are really subjective I reckon...I have talked to some gun shapers and there response was, " fin size....****ed if I know I just put a bunch of dfferent ones on there and go with what looks right"

Tail width is 13" last time I looked. It may have a been pulled in a little when I dropped the width from 23" to 22", but that would be marginal and only a result of a narrower board pinning the outline out a little.

GXQ's are nice. 4'1/2 tall from memory... You can also try some 4'3/4 with flat insides...

Just have fun trying different options!

Flat insides will tighten the turning arc, GXQ's open up the arc... If you have down the line point breaks to test them on, you'll live both! I'd favour GCQ's in bigger waves...

Widow Makers are fun either way!

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thedrip said..
Tail width is 13" last time I looked. It may have a been pulled in a little when I dropped the width from 23" to 22", but that would be marginal and only a result of a narrower board pinning the outline out a little.

Paddle out to 12 foot tombies and if you don't make any waves you are definatly using the wrong fin setup

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Tux said...

thedrip said..
Tail width is 13" last time I looked. It may have a been pulled in a little when I dropped the width from 23" to 22", but that would be marginal and only a result of a narrower board pinning the outline out a little.

Paddle out to 12 foot tombies and if you don't make any waves you are definatly using the wrong fin setup

I've done that.





Once...





Never again....





I thought it 6-8. There was no one out (slightly onshore late arvo)and I talked a mate into coming out. I used the southern jump off and got out pretty easy. He used the normal jump off and finished up punching through towards the Bombie. I met him way out in the middle of nowhere as we didn't want to know anything about maybe being close enough to catch a wave. After 45 mins or so and getting a bit of rhythm with the sets, we put our head down and paddled in pretty much through the peak. Pausing and paddling in between the 6-8 footers was nerve wracking enough. When a set came we were far enough in that it was just a handy gut slide to the cliff. However...(lol)

...it was high tide and the swells were just exploding against the bottom of the cliffs so the jump up was pretty hectic and intimidating too.




10-12 foot Tombies. It makes my stomach churn and my eye twitch.


Tell you what, I double dare YOU to drag your carcass to some warm water and get out there. I'll come video tape for you.

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Tux said...

thedrip said..
Tail width is 13" last time I looked. It may have a been pulled in a little when I dropped the width from 23" to 22", but that would be marginal and only a result of a narrower board pinning the outline out a little.

Paddle out to 12 foot tombies and if you don't make any waves you are definatly using the wrong fin setup

And I think the problem would be lack of skill and heart rather than the fins. Lol.

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thedrip said..

Tux said...

thedrip said..
Tail width is 13" last time I looked. It may have a been pulled in a little when I dropped the width from 23" to 22", but that would be marginal and only a result of a narrower board pinning the outline out a little.

Paddle out to 12 foot tombies and if you don't make any waves you are definatly using the wrong fin setup

I've done that.





Once...





Never again....





I thought it 6-8. There was no one out (slightly onshore late arvo)and I talked a mate into coming out. I used the southern jump off and got out pretty easy. He used the normal jump off and finished up punching through towards the Bombie. I met him way out in the middle of nowhere as we didn't want to know anything about maybe being close enough to catch a wave. After 45 mins or so and getting a bit of rhythm with the sets, we put our head down and paddled in pretty much through the peak. Pausing and paddling in between the 6-8 footers was nerve wracking enough. When a set came we were far enough in that it was just a handy gut slide to the cliff. However...(lol)

...it was high tide and the swells were just exploding against the bottom of the cliffs so the jump up was pretty hectic and intimidating too.




10-12 foot Tombies. It makes my stomach churn and my eye twitch.


Tell you what, I double dare YOU to drag your carcass to some warm water and get out there. I'll come video tape for you.

Pretty sure there is video of me missing the cave twice a fairly good size day at Ulu's

I think I am one of many breezers who would like to see that.