Fin Setup For A Sharpeye Disco

for me in those conditions i just use carbon fiber front fins and bamboo rear fins for release and flex in carving turns.

 

What don't you like about the M5? I like they have little rake which makes them turn in relatively short arc (I don't know how much "inner foil tech" really helps, but the hype is it also tightens arc)...tight turns lets you get the most bang for your buck in small waves. The M5 aren't nearly as drivey as fins with a bigger base, but the larger arc it takes to make a turn on, let's say, the AM-2 isn't worth it, imo.

personally, if not the M5, I'd love to try Kelly's fin, the K2.1. They're spec'd at super pivoty/tight arc turns and plenty of drive (despite the lack of IFT). Unfortunately, all versions of this fin set are pricey. Glass and green flex go for around $60 and the performance core go for around $100 (I'd probably get the PC because they're much lighter...and look cooler

Julian Wilson's sig model (JW-1) also looks promising - not quite as good as the K2.1, but better than the M5.

Finally, there's Jeremy Flores sig fin...interesting, but FCS failed to put the actual specs on their webpage.

 

well, according to the FCS comparison chart, both the M5 and PG5 have the exact same dimensions. Only difference (other than material) is the PG5 lacks IFT (maybe why they rate it a longer turning arc). Anyway, imo, you'd be going backwards with the PG5....and paying more.

 

OP, you might want to try a twin finner set up(MRTFX) if you are some mushier conditions. I have loved mine on wider tail boards. I have tried my buddies disco and have run both am2 (orange PC medium template) and the nexus mediums. Both worked really well. The nexus was better on the mushier stuff and the am2 is prolly better when the waves have more push. Then again the am2 fins are my standard go to fin in FCS.

 

I did like the drive on the AM fins, but the turning arc was, indeed, very wide...I just felt they'be be better on a larger, open faced wave. Of the 2 above, the Nexus look like a better choice...but they're also $130 a set (make the $60 K2.1 look like a good deal)

 

Hello, I too ride the Sharpeye Disco in the majority of WB surf, and after a year of experimenting with fins for this board, I am finally starting to dial in what works for the disco and what doesn't. First lets see how 2 major aspects of fin design relate to how it rides:

Base: the larger the base, the more drive you get, especially off your bottom turn.
Rake: radius of turn. The more raked out a fin is, the longer the turning circle is, and less-raked fins are more pivoty with a shorter radius.

I ride futures but since the WCT and the k2.1 are the exact same template, I can say I don't like he WCT in a small wave board, because it just doesn't like to engage the rail at lower speeds. It feels loose and slidey, but not flowy at all and, IMO, hard to connect through sections since it doesn't project down the line well. The WCT/k2.1 works best in a high performance shape in well-shaped chest-head high surf, when most of the surfing is done in the pocket and not pumping down the line trying to connect flat sections together. Also since the disco has a wide tail, a fin with more rake would help stabize the tail If you find yourself surfing fun, waist high shorepound or low-tide shallow shwackers, as well as keep your speed up which is essential in small waves. I have gone through am1 and finally YU templates and have found that the solid base, good amount of rake, combined with a thinner tip makes the disco loose AND drivey, depending on what part of the wave you're on. I surf with Tony Butler a lot and he rides the Julian Wilson fins in his Disco. And in terms of materials, it won't make too much of a difference, although honeycomb is slightly flexier and more lively in small stuff, but I prefer the slightly stiffer techflexes at the moment.

 

I also ride a disco and found the m-5 didn't ride well in this board. I tried the k2.1 and didn't like them either because I ride CB, a steeper wave, and they didn't have alot of hold and are really stiff. I'm also 5'10 170 and maybe the k2.1 were to small for me. Instead of going with the bigger k2.1 I tried my old G-5's, that are a plastic composite with medium size and good flex, to work surprisingly well. Then in larger surf I use a large PC-7 that worked great in chest high bigger. It just depends where you ride and how big you are. Good luck!

 

20 years in the water and can barely feel the difference when even dropping a tiny sized down fin into a tri-fin's rear slot....let alone the difference in rake and foil between a carbon fiber mb 69852-xyz to a bamboo reverse foiled tri hauled 67quantum82.......

Just sayin.......fin's are not going to make much if any difference, especially in mushy, non-responsive, slow surfing waves.

 

Thats is what I used to think. Not sure what you ride and how but if you want performance instead of just out for a cruise, proper equipment makes a huge difference with so many types of boards today.

 

true, to an extent. Really poor waves are gonna have you nose-riding, longboard style with no turns, no matter what board or fins you have.

However, on those days, if I do score the rare nugget that lets me get in a turn or two in, I prefer my board to be able to turn as quickly as possible. If I want, I can always draw out my turns on super pivoty fins, but super raked fins don't really give the option to turn on a dime.

 

Fins can make a huge difference in those conditions…maybe it is that older mindset since everything used to be fixed but there is a lot of variety that can enhance or detract from a session. Its not the end all be all by any means, but it definitely has an effect.
[FONT=Calibri,sans-serif]
[/FONT]

You said earlier that you have never tried the 2.1s and yet you speak about drawing out turns on super pivoty fins…which fins do you speak of that you have actually tried?


I also agree with the guy that didn't care for the 2.1s…I feel like they are way too loose and have made a bunch of boards that I have tried them on, twitchy. Its most likely me sucking but I can't get those things to flow well at all.

 

I also said (in the same post), I own the M5. I also rode the old G-3000 for several years (loved them)....and the Eric Arakawa (Future) for several years, which are basically the same as G-3000. All are in the upright/pivoty range. The difference in sweep between the K2.1 and the M5 is only 1 degree (G-3000 only half a degree).

Granted, rocker and tail shapes factor in, but, in my experience, rakey fins basically force me to turn wide, whereas upright fins suggest a tight turn, but give me the option.

maybe "twitchy" fins are for people who turn alot. If you just like flowing, more rake may be better for you...or just ride a longboard

 

After 30 years I can tell fins DO matter...big time. Don't think so ? Take 'em off

Waterbaby ,,, what do you weigh ? I've used the TC Redline in my squashed down shortboards like the Disco (blakbox ,Monsta ) for a few years now. Upright template Lot of base,, little rake ... get tons of drive out of these without feeling sluggish or "tracky" board feels very responsive. I go 6'1" 185 ish . Good luck !

 

6'1" and 175 lbs, here.

Just bought a set of PC-7 gonna try next week, but, yeah, those TC look rad...might have to buy a set of those, too Since my weight is in between sizes, deciding on either the red or aqua-line. Both appear to have about the same performance specs; red-line having slightly less sweep.

Kinda like the thought of IFT on the aqua-line. Don't know how much influence IFT really has on turning performance, but it's proven to give slightly less drag than flat sided (not so important in pushy surf, but could make a difference in weak waves).

 

Why didnt you buy your K2.1s? Ill be interested to hearing actual feedback from you after you ride them instead of consulting with your comparison chart...

 

It was already stated that the k2.1 didn't ride well in the Disco. Inless your referring to something else. Not sure what board is good for the k2.1. Maybe your typical shortboard, anyway, here in snc guess we don't get the push needed to take advantage of them.