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Keels on Smik spitfire

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Created by thegreatsup 1 month ago, 29 Jan 2026
thegreatsup
564 posts
29 Jan 2026 7:22PM
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hey all

the summer surf this year has been pretty crap so far, but I brought this little 3.5" centre fin in Bali last year and decided to give it a whack with some fcs keel fins that I got given on another board

never tried them before, but it actually worked pretty well. A touch skittish on overhead waves, but on under that they were very fun, even when quite hollow. I'm running them on a pintail Smik spitfire.
They still have a lot of hold and drive, but you can kind of release the rail a bit at the same
time too.

I know this board wasn't made to work as a twin, but this set up seems To work




flowmaster
360 posts
30 Jan 2026 3:09PM
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I have the FCS Mark Richards side fins and the same size centre fin on my spitfire and it also goes unreal

thegreatsup
564 posts
30 Jan 2026 9:58PM
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Are those sides less keely, and more height? I do think that a twin fin with a bit more height / rake and less base would go even better!

colas
5371 posts
31 Jan 2026 1:39AM
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Select to expand quote
thegreatsup said..
Are those sides less keely, and more height? I do think that a twin fin with a bit more height / rake and less base would go even better!



It depends on the wave.Keels work well at low speed, where you can push on them without sliding.

Fins with a higher aspect ratio work better at higher speeds, you get grip but without the tail becoming too stiff and having you struggle against the fin power.

I used to put keels on small waves (less than waist/chest high) on my Simmons, and switching to AM twins for bigger waves.

The C-Drive is a nice compromise: a wide base for power, but a thinner head to shed power. I ended up using only them on my Simmons.(But then I discovered the Quobba, and never got back on twin fin setups)

flowmaster
360 posts
31 Jan 2026 5:19PM
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Select to expand quote
thegreatsup said..
Are those sides less keely, and more height? I do think that a twin fin with a bit more height / rake and less base would go even better!


Never tryed keels on my spitfire, but more then happy about what I use now, and what Colas wrote the C drive;s work good in slower waves

flowmaster
360 posts
1 Feb 2026 5:39PM
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thegreatsup
564 posts
13 Feb 2026 7:30PM
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Took them for another burn on this day. Sadly the photographer on the beach only got my last wave, which jacked up and closed out solidly. the keels still Held very well though









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"Keels on Smik spitfire" started by thegreatsup