Hi,
I have a 114 L Exocet free ride board that I use a 6.6 and a 7.5 sail with, as a compromise I use a 39cm select slalom fin. My question is what size weed fin should I get assuming it was to be used with both sails? I seem to recall that a weed fin needs to be slightly bigger than a regular fin ?? Thanks

You will get many different answers to your question as each sailors views are so a varied.
Try a rule of thumb.
For a big board like a 125 litre slalom board and 7.8 I will use a 36cm weedy.
For a 112 litre board I use a 32cm weedy with a 7.0 or 6.7.
These days its quite common for guys to use quite small weedys due to thickness of weed and water depth.
At places like Illawarra the locals are using 17-19cm fins as its shallow as.
For somewhere like Canton Beach the depth is OK but the weed is VERY thick. So a more swept back fin (most weedys are 45 deg) like 50 deg can be a huge help.
I use a 25cm 50 deg in a 112 slalom board. Works fine. Try a 34 weedy. JP and Flying Objects make good ones.
Hope this helps.

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ka43 said..

You will get many different answers to your question as each sailors views are so a varied.
Try a rule of thumb.
For a big board like a 125 litre slalom board and 7.8 I will use a 36cm weedy.
For a 112 litre board I use a 32cm weedy with a 7.0 or 6.7.
These days its quite common for guys to use quite small weedys due to thickness of weed and water depth.
At places like Illawarra the locals are using 17-19cm fins as its shallow as.
For somewhere like Canton Beach the depth is OK but the weed is VERY thick. So a more swept back fin (most weedys are 45 deg) like 50 deg can be a huge help.
I use a 25cm 50 deg in a 112 slalom board. Works fine. Try a 34 weedy. JP and Flying Objects make good ones.
Hope this helps.

Canton weed seems to have cleared up a little thank goodness..

Check Vector www.vectorfins.com.au for weed slalom or speed weed.

Jesper 0439978708 Hes also really helpful for advice.

Like KA43 said, - you will get a lot of different answers,, :)

I can only talk from the fins I use myself.

Normally I recommend the weed size to be 2-4 cm less than their "all round" pointer fin size (if just 1 fin). If you want more up wind ability or for racing, then go same size (or 2cm less) as the pointer. From my feedback most free ride sailors like the 2-4cm less for the weed fins..

So in your situation with 114 Exocet board and 6.5 and 7.5 in mind, the 34-38cm would be the go. Maybe 36cm as best all - round,,

Every weed fin brand is different in performance,,

By the way this is from the perspective of the Vector Slalom Weed fins,,

The Vector Weedy's are quite a powerful weed fin as Jesper is alluding to. I previously used a 34cm FO Weedy (and 34-36cm pointer) in my Falcon 99, but when I bought some Vector Slalom Weedies a couple of months back I dropped down to a size 30 in the Falcon 99 and I was stoked with the outcome. Same power as the other 34 I had, smooth, doesn't let go, and glided through the lulls, torquey upwind (which surprised me when dropping length/depth) and great acceleration. I have used it twice with a 7.1 KA Race and I am 90kg so i am not a light weight.

I normally run a FO 38cm Weedy (and 38-40cm pointer) in my Falcon 113, and purchased a 34cm Vector Weedy to replace the FO fin........ I am yet to try it out - I am sure it will be like a similar result to dropping the two fin sizes like I did for the Falcon 99.

The advantage of being able to go the smaller weed fin is that you can sail into shallower flatter water without hitting bottom, and also not catch on weed lower down - all in all less weed entanglements = more time sailing and less frustration. . This was a distinct advantage for our local speed run and is why I Opted for the Vector Slalom Weedies.

As you are NOT using overly large sails on the 114, I would be inclined to use size 34-36 in the Vector Slalom Weed depending on exactly what you want for your sailing. Where abouts are you in NSW Corkers? If you are close you can take my 34 for a run and see what you think. I am in Port Macquarie.

Thanks for the advise, definitely clears a few things up. AJ, thanks for your kind offer, but do most of my sailing in sydney and down the south coast. Cheers