Just got a 14' Glide had one downwinder in marginal conditions 8k with 10 to 12 knots. Have done about a half dozen downwinders before on a PSH 12er so no expert.

I used the Futures dolphin fin below not the stock. Board paddled well on the flat and upwind.

However I was a bit under whelmed by the Glides willingness to catch runners but I am 108kg and there was not much wind. Belly was cruising on a JL Albatross but he is 65kg.[}:)]

Obviously will try the stock fin but interested in the discussion as it has come up as a side issue in some other threads.

So the question of the experts is which of these fins would be best and is there a magic fin that will transform the board into a downwinding masterpiece????

Hilly doing down winders........

Who would hav ever thought it.

Piros said...

Hey DJ what about some of the earlier wind surfer dagger style fins have you tried them in a DW'er , weren't they originally designed to give some tail lift ?

Rob

Tail lift.. or sail lift..

Dagger style fins are great for high speeds and going up wind (and I'm talking upwind Windsurfing.. not paddling)... and IMO that's all they're good for.. I don't think they work well when going off the wind or down wind (windsurfing).. and not that great for slower speeds.

What do we do?.. We go down wind and pretty slow speeds.. So I don't get it.. They do look cool and have slightly less drag but they also make the board want to rail up when going fast off the wind.. and I've had plenty of fin cuts from when I've accidentally kicked the fin.. You could slice a loaf of bread with them.

The thing I hate the most about them is the noise they make when you drag them across the sand in shallow water.. In fact they don't like to be dragged at all and are also very pron to get damaged if they ever touch a rock or anything hard.

You can't beat a good dolphin shaped fin .. Maybe keep the beautiful Naish dagger fin for races that don't go near shallow water.. Also the deep vertical dagger fin might also make the board slightly more stable if you find it a bit narrow and wobbly.

DJ

surf4fun said...

Hilly doing down winders........

Who would hav ever thought it.

Really warming up for summer when there is no swell but 20knots everyday. Need to exercise kiting is too sedentary without swell.

This coast is always bloody onshore so might as make the most of it.

Just got to get the right run. Hillaries to Mullaloo looks ok a little short though need a driver so we can do it 3 times.

Will try City Beach to Trigg with the kiters next season.

Piros said...

What about a modified keel fin it might be more drag in the flat but out at sea wouldn't this give more tail lift to pick up runners ?

Rob

Got this out the back reckon I should fit it

hilly said...

Piros said...

What the hell was that off ?

hilly said...

surf4fun said...

Hilly doing down winders........

Who would hav ever thought it.

Really warming up for summer when there is no swell but 20knots everyday. Need to exercise kiting is too sedentary without swell.

This coast is always bloody onshore so might as make the most of it.

Just got to get the right run. Hillaries to Mullaloo looks ok a little short though need a driver so we can do it 3 times.

Will try City Beach to Trigg with the kiters next season.

City Beach to Trigg you are just starting to have fun. City Beach to Hillaries is fun or Cott/Swanbourne to Trigg is also fun.

laceys lane said...

hilly, at this stage of the game,no one really knows whats best imo- they are still trying to work the boards out yet. shapers' the axe' is going well in my 14'
cheers

I saw that on another thread how does it help over a smaller fin? Can you paddle harder due to less slippage?

Got a big naish fin to try from an 11 4, thanks Craig, will try that next week.

hilly said...

Holy crap 15" that's a long fin. Interesting shape though, would be good to hear from someone who has tried one.


Another option www.wavegrinder.com/ AA at Balmoral will have these soon very scientific approach Worth a try

Heh Hilly Stewart (SF?) has one of those fins.

I tried it on his 11'2 the other day while out surfing and (when taking into account the placebo effect and powerbalance band) felt did did provide a little lift when you just started to take off on a wave and just a bit lighter and loser in the turns.

Have not tried for downwind but may be good.

DId you beat Belly on his Albatross? He is quick even though he is just but skin and bones.

Zimbo Reagan said...

hilly said...

Holy crap 15" that's a long fin. Interesting shape though, would be good to hear from someone who has tried one.


Another option www.wavegrinder.com/ AA at Balmoral will have these soon very scientific approach Worth a try

Heh Hilly Stewart (SF?) has one of those fins.

I tried it on his 11'2 the other day while out surfing and (when taking into account the placebo effect and powerbalance band) felt did did provide a little lift when you just started to take off on a wave and just a bit lighter and loser in the turns.

Have not tried for downwind but may be good.

DId you beat Belly on his Albatross? He is quick even though he is just but skin and bones.

In light wind I think Belly would whip my ass he just floated of with the ripples. Really was a social paddle so hard to tell and literally my 6 or 7th downwinder.

Time will tell and if I can load 3 bags of cement on to his board to bring him close to my weight I may have a chance.

Jeez I love this forum

Ask question get good advice Thanks guys

Bigger fin and standing forward helped heaps went much better today

Asked for fin Got 2 offers legends

Phill I am hearing you about the weight. Funny think was I was quicker than Belly on the 16 footer today. Dramas with his steering helped me

You will be glad to know the 14 footer surfs a treat not the loosest thing in the world though. Caught a few at Mettams on the way down the coast. Was a worry to see Belly on the DC16 wiping out snapping a leggy and board heading towards rocks All good in the end

How tall? 6 2 not much pudding to loose.
Steering the board one foot right back lean over, went okay on my backhand with a slalom windsurfing fin from 2002.
Cheaparses at naish supply a 02 windsurfing fin with a 2.5k board In 2010 WTF??????
Yes enjoying the board will try different fins next week

Yes, the stock Glide Fin is not great.

I've been mucking around with the Glide 14 in small surf a bit, and you can quite happily catch unbroken waves (with any fin in), but once you're going, and you want to put in some turns, there's no questions that raked surf fin / dolphin fin, of any description feels better.

Oliver - regarding steering the board in small surf - you have to run back near the tail, and turn it from there, and run forward throw in a paddle stroke if you need to. Going forehand, just get you back foot toes over near the rail, to get weight on the inside rail.

OK, now it's time to go and get some relatively solid waves.

(after this, lets get back on topic.... fins.... )
Oliver, BMI is only a guide. If you have a lot of muscle mass, you can pop up as obese. I think half of the AFL footy players pop up on the low end of over weight. The AFL boys are measured by skin folds. Far more accurate.

But yeah, 108kg is no light weight !!

Here's 3 of the best AFL Prime Movers, and we can probably all agree they are not overweight !!
Jonathan Brown 195cm, 102kg, BMI 26.8 (low end of over weight)
Lance Franklin - 196cm, 101kg, BMI 26.3
G Ablett Junior - 182cm, 88kg, BMI 26.6

25+ is overweight
30+ is obese

I tried a few other players, they are mostly 26.
Without checking the calcs / stats, I estimate that the NRL boys are more in 27 - 28 BMI range.

My BMI is currently at 28 - maybe I have light bones?

It's not me saying this - it's medical experts.

Have you tried surfing your 14' yet hilly?