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Posted: Thu May 02, 2002 9:44 am
by Toby
do fins play an important rule?
Do they make a difference between a board running or being crap?
I tested some and they can be a reason for boards to loose grip, running not controlled or don't spending enough grip.
Important are even fins, made out of good quality with sharp edges.
I tested finf with not so sharp edges and then the board starts to bubble, meaning it doesn't cut through the water like a knife. Some also suck air which makes the board loosing grip.

But what about shapes? Do all shapes work or only a few?

Posted: Thu May 02, 2002 5:06 pm
by Alf
Franz Olry has started to make assymetrical fins. You can read about them on http://www.cabareteairforce.com -> boardbuilding -> assym fins.

Apparantly, they help to keep the edge in the water.

So I think shapes do matter :wink:

grtz,
Dènis

Posted: Thu May 02, 2002 11:28 pm
by FLYSURFER.BE
If you test the AX from loose board, you will see the importance of the shape.
nice board!!!and very good to go upwind..
Bruno http://www.loose.it

Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 5:17 pm
by Guest
I have both a 2001 Naish Mutant and a new Slingshot Jarvis.

The Mutant has 4 fins right beneath your rear foot (and they are asymetrical also). I have only tried the board one day, so I don't have alot of feedback on it. But it was easy to use right off the bat, lots of grip. I really like the way the board felt in a straight line, really felt solid, stable. But, if I want to ride it more I'm going to have to do ALOT of more work on my jibes!

The Slingshot has alot of fins as well, but being a twintip they are further back towards the tail, behing where your rear foot is. Also the stance is centered over the board, where the Mutant is shifted towards the tail to begin with (about 1 footstrap's width back). I found that I had to really shift my weight back alot more on this board than the Mutant to get the fins to fully engage. But once you do that, the board has great grip.

It's fun to see what the different designs ride like.

Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 10:15 pm
by Sake
I'm riding a TT, Slingshot Drake 147(6 fins. On each side 2 bigger and 1 smaller fin)
Quit small (37cm wide) and a lot of rocker and flex at the tips.

Don't know about how far the fins are concerned, but I definetly notice that I ride the Drake with more backlegpressure as other TT's. It also tracks better. A matter of taste, but I like it very much.
It's up and going upwind(using a 16m Rhino, 72kg kiter) in >8 knots. From 10 knots it's parking the Rhino 16m and 100% fun.
(would you please wipe that grin of my face :wink: )

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sake on 2002-05-03 23:43 ]</font>

Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 9:47 pm
by Guest
Toby,

it depends of the level.. actually I can ride a piece of wood with no fin and enjoy my full day, I've even had one session with my olry 175 fin less (forgot the fins in my airplan travel board bag) and it worked pretty well... my friends were surprised that it worked so well and that I was still jumping that high, BUT it is simply because I'm NOT good at all..
seriously to be it is truly a question of level, and I believe that riding finless is no problem but it is so much pleasure to ride with.. at the moment with Christo we are working on a fin on the very center of the board to have a better bite at the carving.. and it works.. so yes fins are VERY important, when you have the level to feel it !! (not my case)..
that's the very same with plywood board.. I made one (because I had broken my TT and I'm waiting Wipika to deliver the other boards, and also because I wanted to try it).. I did a copy cat of the exellent Kiteloose wake.. honestly I've ridden my plywood for about 10 to 15 (maybe 20) session before breaking in 1 part.. it was a great board, it was cool riding, I was ripping like a hell, jumping high so no problem it was a fair board BUT still I've much much more pleasure and easyness to ride my 175 or Chris's board !!

fins are like boards which are like girls

it works without but it is so much better with one, and even better with a good one

cheers

Greg

Posted: Mon May 06, 2002 1:56 am
by Guest
excellent!

Posted: Tue May 14, 2002 1:28 pm
by bragnouff
Yes Greg, even if I'm very proud of my finless PortnaWake boards, I do like your philosophy about boards and girls !<br>

See Ya !

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2002 4:57 pm
by EH Kiteboards
Franz had NOTHING to do with the development, I worked on these fins for years

Eric
On 2002-05-02 18:06, Alf wrote:
Franz Olry has started to make assymetrical fins. You can read about them on http://www.cabareteairforce.com -> boardbuilding -> assym fins.

Apparantly, they help to keep the edge in the water.


So I think shapes do matter :wink:

grtz,
Dènis

Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2002 7:14 pm
by Guest
ooohhhhh! handbags in paradise.