fins for kitesurfboard

russiandangle · Since 28 Jun 2019 21 Posts Park City, Ut

Hey all,
just picked up a 5'1" evo he with pads and a set of fins in a quad setup. Do fins make a big differences when you kite with the surfboard, or is that more of just a surf thing? Took the board out in SoCal but have not had a real chance to test it in the river swell yet.

shred_da_gorge · Fri Jul 24, 20 9:18 am

I think it's a debatable topic. I feel they make a difference. I switched from the stock plastic FCS-II fins that come with Slingshot boards to the FCS-II Performers and love them. (I bought the five-pack when I was experimenting between setups on an Angry Swallow with five finboxes).

Recently on my Celero (thruster) I was running the Performer center fin with the two plastic leading fins and switched them out to fiberglass fins that came with my wife's SUP. We had a big day a few weeks ago and it seemed to me the board held better when pushing harder in turns on wave faces. Yesterday was my first day on a new Mixer (quad) and the stock fins are still in their bag; I upgraded fins on the advice of experienced kiter friends but also have friends who tell me it's all in my head.

Incidentally, FCS-II sells a legacy finbox converter kit which comes with some rubber spacers and a bunch of set screws. I picked this up when I got the board on the advice of some folks who lost fins and use the set screws to lock the rear of the fin in place (front not necessary). This came in handy when stealing my wife's fins because they're not FCS-II, and I've had several weeks using the conversion with the spacers and screws with no problems - it's a good kit to have handy if you're on that system.

Edit: it's called the "compatibility kit", sometimes known as "tab infill kit", handy for set screws and wrench alone:
https://www.surffcs.com/products/fcs-ii-compatibility-kit

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Fins makes a HUGE difference in the performance of a board.
Use the Search function on this forum - many discussions on this topic.

Is there a performance aspect you want to address?

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

Yea, rough guess is that about 50% of your surface is fins when you are planing. So,mthey can make a big difference depending upon how you ride.

russiandangle · Since 28 Jun 2019 21 Posts Park City, Ut

Honestly, Im not sure if im missing anything with the stock fins I have as a quad set up. So far the board feels great.

shred_da_gorge · Fri Jul 24, 20 10:13 pm

My first surfboard was a North quad and I thought it absolutely sucked until Ken Lucas told me the big fins go on the front not the back... ;-D

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Ho-Toe · Sat Jul 25, 20 4:39 pm **Fins are overrated**

Take them off! Laughing

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4RzMWlugk

Matt V · Sun Jul 26, 20 7:09 am **Re: Fins are overrated**

scottm · Since 12 Jun 2006 108 Posts Stoked

According to my custom shaper (stretchboards.com), who is one of the biggest and most respected names in the surf/tow/kite/big wave community, "fins are 50% of the wetted area of your surfboard". So, you decide if you want half of your performance dictated by crappy flexy molded plastic fins. I don't. I run full fiberglass, custom, hand-shaped by (stoned) US surfers in San Diego, Fins Unlimited fins. YMMV, especially if you are some combo of not-heavy, cheap-azz, and un-picky.

shred_da_gorge · Tue Jul 28, 20 7:09 pm

Also my vibe on the Mixer (quad) vs Celero (thruster) is the quad brings me back to my windsurfer daze, driving the fins hard for speed, and I track my sessions and proved the Mixer's faster. The Celero is more upright stance like prone surfing, and I really didn't get what everyone was raving about until I had a big day with shoulder- to head-high swell and the longer, drawn-out carves made sense - either the Slingy literature was accurate or it filled my head with preconceived notions (either way I'm stoked on both boards for their respective uses). The strap placement seems intentionally different too.

So my point (other than an unsolicitated board review)? If you're riding a quad you may want to borrow good fins and feel out if it's worth the upgrade for you. If you're riding a thruster it may not be as big an impact.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

If you want to know if fins make a difference to you
Take the trailing fins off the board and go ride it. On a thruster take the single back fin out and put in a stubby or leave it out and ride as a twin fin. See if you can feel the difference. If you can’t you should go back to a tt. Yes, they can make a difference. And a good fin can change a boards ride almost as much. They are relatively cheap compared to other gear and make a difference so why not try/borrow some and find out for yourself?

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

Pete · Since 29 Oct 2007 836 Posts Opinionated

At 185lbs, I notice a huge difference in fins. Both in the ability to go upwind, and holding in on waves. I only ride in the ocean and on waves, so maybe that is the difference.

I strictly use Future Pancho Sullivan fins. Anything else lets loose to easily for me.

YMMV

lewmt · Since 04 Aug 2010 182 Posts MT Stoked

Ride strapless (FW Vader -thruster) - talked myself into buying Quobba fins. Actually noticed a pretty good difference. Upwind better & great hold. Smashed 1 into a rock & after going back to the old fins will be getting another set of Quobbas. I'm kinda solid but definitely not great -skillzwise- so take my suggestion FWIW.