I've been itching to try out a single fin on some nice lined up days. Not quite ready to splurge without trying one but I just saw this bad boy Has anyone ever tried it or would you try it? Looks interesting. Have read that it may cause too much stress on the fin box. Don't know if I could trust it. Any thoughts??? Here's an article about it from that darn surfer mag: https://www.google.com/amp/www.surf...er-into-a-single-fin/?amphtml=1?client=safari
In what kind of board? None of my shortboards that are set up as a thruster (or 5 fin) would work very well as a single - they are set up to work with side fins...too wide in the tail, and the trailer box is set too far back. I sort of think for a board to work as a single, it involves more than just taking out the front fins. More likely than stoking your interest in getting a good single fin for lined up waves, it might just feel awkward.
True that, Mitchell. Didn't think so much about the positioning. Thought it could be fun on my modern fish or big ol groveler. Maybe I just need to find a decently priced used one online. Saw this thing on C/L and it looked hot. Upped my interest in a single. Just can't justify dropping stacks on another board right now.
I'd be hard pressed to spend $80 on a fin that may destroy my board. Also, like Mitchell said, most modern shortboards aren't really designed to be ridden as a single. The exception may be something with a pin tail.
If you want that single fin glide take that $80 and put it towards something like this: http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/spo/5896735100.html
Agree with the others. Only works with pulled in tail and a board made to be single fin. Width is critical (not just how much but position on the shape as well). You can probably pick up an old one fairly cheap. Most folks don't want them.
A few things to mention. 1) i wouldn't try that fin. I'd imagine it would put strain on the box, plus with a single fin positioning is key. I keep mine ask the way up in the box, which is much further up then a thrusters rear box. 2) i disagree that a single needs to have a narrow pulled in tail. I have a single 6'3. Not a super wide tail. But it ain't narrow either. It is pulled in however. It's fun. 3) since in my opinion your only option is to get a dedicated single, I'll offer my thoughts on it. I love my single it's fun. But it has a very delayed type of feel to it. Which isn't really a bad thing, just diffrent. Sometimes I'll see a section i want to hit, and I'm so incredibly late on it because the board just doesn't have that quick thruster reaction time. It almost makes you have to anticipate what the wave will do. Initiate the turn early yada yada. It's hard to pull off but when you do it feels really nice and smooth. Obviously the shape plays a role in this too, but just thought I'd share my experience with mine to help you decide if you really want a single or not. 4) with my standard SBs i like riding diffrent fins at times. But the difference in feel is usually subtle (depending on fins ofcourse), at leat at my ability. With a single diffrent fins are waaaaay more noticeable. So if you do try a single but don't like it, don't write it off right away. A diffrent fin can make a big difference
Thanks for the input Bass. Volume, size and plan shape wise what's your single fin looking like compared to your thruster? How about it regular fast beach break conditions - can fun still be had. Definitely something I'll be looking into in the near future.
Sure... if you just want to go straight. Well... not straight, but no snap to your turns. Singles like to be in the tube, or out on a big open face where you can use some rail.
I don't know the volume, but I'm guessing high 30s low 40s. Shape wise it's sorta fishy but with a round tail. Pretty damn thick and it's 6'3. My DD is a similar shape but more foiled out. 5'8 at 28 or 29L. Now this is where that delay comes into play i was talking about in my first post. When it's breaking really fast, it makes surfing it difficult because of that delay. It can be done but you got to anticipate what the wave will do. On lower tide fast breaking days, i usually won't ride it unless i just feel like it. It's more suited for a slower peeling day. LB isn't wrong....but i dont like generalizing boards like that. Iv gotten some snap to my turns on the single. Not on every turn, it's not its strong suit, but it can be done and can be rewarding when you pull it off
Thanks for the input, dudes. Glad to hear that some fun can still be had on them. I certainly understand that they are no daily driver substitute for our parts. But, I'm not turned off of trying one. My surfing style is a bit more cruise-y with some performance thrown in; perhaps that's why I've wanted to check one out. Maybe I should just move somewhere with a suite left point break. Now that would that be nice.
That's how my style is. Cruisey until i see a sweet section. I feel a single works well with that style. Definitely not a DD but plenty fun to feel a diffrent style board/surfing. That's what is all about. Experiencing diffrent feelings under your feet
This was a single fin i had a long time ago. Surfboards Australia from 1970s. I'm guessing it was about a 5'11" or so. I rode it quite a bit when it was soft and lined up and small to maybe chest high. It was effortlessly fast going down the line but frustrating to really do a satisfying turn. It's still hanging up in the shop that give me some booties and gloves for it 20 years ago. By the way the only reason i put that traction pad on it, is it had a really severe "s" deck and my foot tended to slip off the tail during a turn, because i wasnt riding it the way it was meant to be ridden.
