Flex Fins
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a flexible fin or fins on these surfboard designs. The fin allows the board to behave appropriately. To trim at high speed with little effort. To maneuver smoothly and particularly to release during down the line high speed turns. A rigid fin with the inappropriate foil will not make this happen with these boards. The board will pivot awkwardly and die out of a turn with no forward acceleration. It will feel wrong to the initiated.
It is essential that the center fin have this particular type of flex, not a soft bending over flex, but a high tension flex that bends concave and gradually into the base of the fin. It lets power on and off even and smoothly resulting in a high speed and flowing style of surfing.
I think that on the three fin designs ( single flex fin and two side fins running roughly in line and parallel ) that the flexibility of the side fins is not as critical as the center fin. I have noticed that if the side fins do have some flex and are foiled more closely like the center fins that the board seems faster and smoother but this may be a very subtle observation. I try to foil them similar as a result.
All the designs come with flex fins, single or single with side runners. They are all made with volan fabric, sanded smooth with no finish coat and should be taken care of religiously. A small ding will cause them to split or break and afford them useless.
I use fins from three different manufacturers: True Ames, Bahne aka Fins Unlimited and now Fiberglass Fin Company. The Ames fins flex more in the tip of the fin, i refoil the Bahne fins to flex more down into the base as do the Fiberglass Fin Co. fins. Chuck Ames at True Ames made fins for me in the 70's and foiled them himself during that era. The current fins he provides have more layers in the lamination than the Bahne or FFCo. fins and the foils are absolutely symetrical. The Bahne fins allow me to adjust the foil and experiment with different flex patterns. The new FFCo. fins are foiled so that they provide the "concave" flex as shown in the upper photo. All have their place and provide a choice for the frontsider and backsider in various surfing condtions.
Left Photo: True Ames L Flex Center Photo: Fiberglass Fin Co. G.L. Flex Right Photo: Refoiled Bahne Flex
Flex fins can be purchased separately for $60, postage included. Available in length of 8.5", 9.0", 9.5" and 9.0W, 9.5W (wider base)
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