Everything You Wanted to Know About Surfboard Fins But Were Afraid to Ask
Choosing the Right Fins
- If your board feels too stiff (not enough speed) use smaller fins or fins with less sweep or more flex (see Fin Terminology).
- If your board feels too loose and slides through turns, use bigger fins, a stiffer flex fin or a fin with more sweep for more drive (control).
- A lighter rider requires less fin area to provide enough hold on a wave.
- To make a board more responsive, choose a fin constructed of stiffer materials.
- Boards with long rails and close fin clusters (known as guns) require less fin area (even guns used for giant surf use small to medium fins).
- Boards with more bottom curve (rocker) should use fins with more area, depth or sweep.
- Boards with deep tail channels need less fin area (small tips can increase the release out of turns).
- Boards with wide tails need more fin area than those with narrow tails (fishes).
- Small boards in big or powerful waves need larger or more swept fins.
- Different sized fins give the surfboard different capabilities. Switch out fins to experiment with your board and its performance.
