If you are sizing down with a fin due to tail-walking or railing up when overpowered, what should be the difference? I have three upright fins in a powerbox, all G-10, 46 cm and 41 cm freeride sweepers, as well as a 46 cm pointer/freerace fin that has less area than the sweeper. When over-powered with the large sweeper, I want to know which fin will be better. I've actually never used the freerace fin, but I don't want to change to it and find I'm experiencing the same trouble. Will the 41 cm be too small?

Hi, Rubby,

For what it's worth:

No, the 41cm fin will not be too small, just try it and see what happens (the 41 cm fin should work with a 7.5m sail, but could be overpowered for 8.0m and larger sails).

When you are getting tail walk with big fins, you might also consider if the board is getting too big for the conditions. I have a 135L board/44cm fin combo and, after changing down to a 38cm fin and still experiencing "walk", usually swap to a 110L board, which cures the problem.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

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Rubby said...

If you are sizing down with a fin due to tail-walking or railing up when overpowered, what should be the difference? I have three upright fins in a powerbox, all G-10, 46 cm and 41 cm freeride sweepers, as well as a 46 cm pointer/freerace fin that has less area than the sweeper. When over-powered with the large sweeper, I want to know which fin will be better. I've actually never used the freerace fin, but I don't want to change to it and find I'm experiencing the same trouble. Will the 41 cm be too small?

Is that Brucie from Glory Lane asking?

Folks here might remember you as cosmicharlie ---> www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Profile/Details.aspx?member=cosmicharlie

If it is then he's been away for a while, thought he'd given up on this site.
I don't own fins that big, but I'd expect you to notice a difference between a 41 and 46, but it's only a bit over 10%. If the problem is great, it may not be enough to fix it, but should reduce the effect.

Yep It's him, been posting similar on Iwindsurf

www.iwindsurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10832&sid=8f0d106834e2ab4e3ca0beabf519185c

Seems to be of his med's again

At least Rubby is an appropriate name for a w^nker

Welcome back (not!!!!)

I remember him asking similar fin questions 5yrs ago on usenet...... rec.windsurfing et al


Bruce, if you spent as much time actually windsurfing as you do trolling you'd have figured out fin size spacing looonnggg ago

you know i wondered when i first read that post if it was knob head himself.

but it's been so long. i guess it's heading into winter in the northern hemisphere.

too big a fin for board size will make board lift way too much.
too small a fin for board size will make board feel awesome and smooth[like S class merc] when powered up.
however at preplaning speeds and lower speeds board tend to feel like going to spinout and sometimes does.
i use 25cm for 80litre, 28cm for95litre and 41cm for 150litre. all are carbon which adds greatly to lateral resistance.
by digging in leeward rail with backfoot toes which lifts windward rail up its near impossible for board to spinout.
this is a good technique i find for getting away with use of smaller fins.
i use this technique for all points of sailing,esp works good for pointing.
a major benefit of using smaller fins is you can sail alot longer without getting tired legs.as my thighs are a massive 20.5 inches small fins suit me fine.