Have recently replaced a Select Viper speed30 with a KA SL 30 fin - sailed it twice now on my s-type 93 and the difference was quite amazing. Felt much more solid and it didn't want to skip when tightly carving or spin out when heavily loading up. Another thing that it does is whistle at higher speeds (around 27kn +). I initially thought the boom or mast was the origin.

The noise is perfectly pitched and doesn't quaver and nor does the board - in fact when it's whistling the board feels very stable. Has / does this occur to many others and does it effect performance.

That's funny, it's normally the Select fins that whistle! It shouldn't be affecting performance, all it needs is a light sand with some wet and dry and the whistling should go away. Then again, if it only starts happening at a certain speed it can be quite cool to know that you've just hit 27 or 28 or 29 knots etc...A bit like the audible beeping you can set the GT31 GPS units to.

Sausage , Get a piece of 400 wet and dry on a flat sanding block. Run it up and down the trailing edge on about a 45 deg angle just a couple of times. Should fix any whistle.
I have had a really good look at my fins . What I think has maybe happened on just some of the batch is the NC cutter has stopped fractionally short on its pass and has left a minute cusp right on the trailing edge. They haven.t removed it completely when they hand finished the fins. It,s tiny but enough to set up a whistle. A couple of passes with wet and dry on a 45 deg angle should fix it no probs just be careful not to make it razor sharp as you may lose some toes when water starting.
This is not an uncommon issue , I have had Selects, Drakes and Meanlines(from the same manufacturer)that have done the same.
The fins are fantastic, rock solid and super slippery, Chris and AMAC have done a great job with the design.

fin whistle can be a lot of fun if you change the frequency with the help of a frequency generator according to the current speed. So you have a perfect speed indicator in a video

My select 37 does this, it changes pitch in distinct steps, once per knot from around 27 knots upwards. So you go faster by listening to the pitch. When it changes pitch upwards, you've done something right.

Heaps easier than trying to count beeps

wonderful!
Can you record this sound next time ?
Would like to hear

IanK...surely you gotta weigh in here!

Even though I can't see him, I know IanK is running me down because of this very phenomenon. I know when he's making his move cause the pitch changes when he bears away; seconds later he's fanging past me. *shakes fist*

I have experienced the same with the KA SL 30 fin, whistle sounds goes away though the faster you go. It does not whistle over 40, and is one sweet, fast, controlable fin.
Follow Mr Loves instructions if you prefer to do without it.

cheers

this is dejavu mates..love those whistle indicators

An oldie but a goodie that fin. The Curtis SR-6b Rebel Yell. In its early days I tried all the sanding tricks - but you can't silence a thoroughbred fin. Have since realised that like a good Haka it has certain tactical advantages ... well it works on Trousers.

I had a Select 37 and the faster I went the worse and louder it became.
I got an expert to have a gander and the whole fin was very slightly warped.
mates I used to sail with reckoned it was an easy way to know where I was, just listen to the F18 approaching.

I think creating a good whistle fin is a kind of fine art.
If it indicates the speed its like making a violin.
The next challenge for fin-makers like Boogie or Mal

Select to expand quote

Spotty said...

I have experienced the same with the KA SL 30 fin, whistle sounds goes away though the faster you go. It does not whistle over 40, and is one sweet, fast, controlable fin.
Follow Mr Loves instructions if you prefer to do without it.

cheers

Thanks Spotty - think I might keep fin as is just to hear it (the silence that is) when I crack 40 - yeah right. Have to agree with how controllable this fin feels. I now have a slight insight into this fin fetish thingy.