I've got a couple of questions about fins for use with my 98 Ltr Gecko.
I've had this board for a while and have mainly used it with an old 32cm G10 Torquay fin when using a 5.7 sail which works well. Happy with the performance with that combo.
The board came with a 34cm fin from the factory.
I would also like to use this board with my 6.7 NP V8 in less wind. Last outing on this board I went out with the 6.7 and the stock 34 fin. I was disappointed that I wasn't powered up as much as I thought I should have been with that combo. So, I bought a 34cm Tribal freeride fin with a view to solving this problem. I haven't had a chance yet to use the Tribal with the 6.7 but I was keen to hear views on the following: -
1. Will I notice a difference between the stock fin and the Tribal?
2. Is the 34 Tribal big enough to use on this board with the 6.7 or should I have gone bigger?
FYI, I'm about 75kgs.
Cheers for any helpful advice.
Firstly I don't know this board or it's width so I'm having a bit of a guess. A 34 appears a bit small for the sail size unless it's for speed sailing off the wind. A 36 might be better but take the 34 for a few plays. The difference between your stock and the Tribal will be noticeable and you'll never go back. Time to trade up the Torquay too. Great fin in its day but the Tribal are just sooo much better. Enjoy
Nice board ,on my 100 litre board I used a 36 drake with my 7,0 ,found it a little too big as a carbon it gave me too much lift
so i use a tectonic 35 now which is perfect for 6,3 & 7.0 .bare in mind I am 93 kgs ,so i think your sizing is pretty good .at 34 .I agree with kato the tribal fin is a great up grade .I'm thinking the only way to know is by riding it .I tried a 40 on mine one day ,was good up wind ,but couldn't get it down happy sailing .
I don't have a gecko but have a 100l and a 130l Fanatic Blast (weigh similar to you) and the stock choco fins are very ordinary. In very heavy chop or small waves they can help a little to reduce spin out via their rake but to feel powered up & dialled in you defiantly need a better selection of fins. I use g10 flying objects nitro (pointer style that I got at a good price) in a selection of sizes to match sail size but revert to a weed fin if Im sailing very over powered or bad angles. Im no expert but the right size fin makes world of diferance and id say for your 6.7 you might need a 35 or 36.
Howdy partner!
I have a 105L with 63cm overall width like yours but... probably much less tail width.
The board is great in the waves but poor as a fast freeride unless control is a priority.
Anyway, tried 36cm with 7.0 and it wasn't working. Problem is the board lacked volume and width out back to fully leverage the sail regardless of fin length. So it felt slow and draggy, hard to stay upwind. Only worked when fully powered.
In your case, while the board's volume is slightly less than mine, the board is meant to take on more sail as rails stay wide as they reach the back straps.
A strong 34 should work well. Stiffer thicker fins provide more drive and solid input while slimmer fins feel more rubbery with less low end. A stiff fin may spin out quicker than a flex fin though. So in your case going to a "better quality" fin should improve performance and work better with a 7.0. In less powered conditions 36 may give you a bit more boost to stay on a plane when it gets light.
for 100l/64wide slalom board I used a 35 carbon fin, even 37 if underpowered on a 7.0. Yours is a bit narrower at the back, the 34 seems right, but maybe you can go even a bit bigger. See if you can borrow a carbon fin just to feel the difference.
OW, is that a powermax fin?
ion my old 90x59 AB+ I used Tribal WeedSpeed 29 all day long 5.5-7.0. I think that the 34 will be great so try & report back. It's easy enough to go bigger or smaller build your tribal fin collection. if you can find a power box carbon fin give it a whirl. Dave
OW, is that a powermax fin?
ion my old 90x59 AB+ I used Tribal WeedSpeed 29 all day long 5.5-7.0. I think that the 34 will be great so try & report back. It's easy enough to go bigger or smaller build your tribal fin collection. if you can find a power box carbon fin give it a whirl. Dave
Yeah mate, the Tribal fin is a Powermax. Will report back after I get to use the 34. Don't know if I can afford a carbon fin
I've got another couple of fin questions.
For my 2020 JP Superide Pro, 235 x 70.5 x 7.5 kgs, came with a JP 40cm Tuttle G10 fin. Recommended sail range according to JP is 5.4 - 8.5. Rider weight 75kgs.What sized quality G10 fins would be idea for use with 6.7 V8 and 7.7 V8?
I only have a one cent worth . Depends on the board rails and type of fin . I use sharp rails and get away with smaller fins .Generally what I have noticed is a pointy fin grips and works better than a sweeping fin by at least 2 cm or more . They give more lift when going fast . I wouldn't say carbon is better than G10 . Is a Ferrari better than a Nissan GTR ? I've had both good and average . I'd say pointers are better in every way except turning especially in rough water . Because I'm only in flattish water nowadays , I only use pointer fins . On a sharp railed board 40 cm pointer sounds about right for 6.7 and 7.7 V8s . I use those sails but I'm heavier and like big fins for lift .
I only have a one cent worth . Depends on the board rails and type of fin . I use sharp rails and get away with smaller fins .Generally what I have noticed is a pointy fin grips and works better than a sweeping fin by at least 2 cm or more . They give more lift when going fast . I wouldn't say carbon is better than G10 . Is a Ferrari better than a Nissan GTR ? I've had both good and average . I'd say pointers are better in every way except turning especially in rough water . Because I'm only in flattish water nowadays , I only use pointer fins . On a sharp railed board 40 cm pointer sounds about right for 6.7 and 7.7 V8s . I use those sails but I'm heavier and like big fins for lift .
Cheers. I don't know much about fins (or anything windsurfing come to think of it) but I assume this stock fin is not "pointy". If that is correct, why would they sell this 70.5 wide board with this type of fin? Is this board only for use for big guys or gals in big wind and choppy seas?
That's a funky looking fin . It kinda looks pointy but is swept back .
I really can't comment .
Saying that , it is the upper class model and JP make some good expensive G10 fins.
Generally boards come with fins on the large size , nobody wants a spinny outy board .
That's a funky looking fin . It kinda looks pointy but is swept back .
I really can't comment .
Saying that , it is the upper class model and JP make some good expensive G10 fins.
Generally boards come with fins on the large size , nobody wants a spinny outy board .
Righto thanks. So you said one fin for both 6.7 and 7.7? I was thinking that's a bit of a gap and therefore to maximise the potential of the board it may be a case of a different sized fin for each sail? Not necessarily?
Too many variables to answer . You just have to try . For example , on my biggest board with a 9.4 V8 I use a 55 , 50 and 45 cm fin . 55 if it's borderline planing , 50 when comfortably powered and 45 when the water is flat and I'm trying to go fast ,a 28 cm Fangy when it's shallow .
As a side note , the Fangy 28 has more anti spin out qualities than my 55 cm pointer but doesn't produce the lift.
I have 3 62.5 wide boards.
OFO determines fin.
FW has 38 cm OFO, uses 25 freeride fin.
Speed Slider has 40 cm OFO, uses 34-36.
Slalom proto has 43 cm OFO, needs 40 cm minimum, can handle more.
There are more to fins that just the length ... the thickness and chord make significant differences ..
I broke my 32cm slalom fin, bought a trendy racing fin in the same 32cm length as a replacement ... felt like it had about the half the lift of the original OEM fin .. might be great for racing pros at 40+knots, but quite different for racing with mates.
I've just gone from a 52G10 to a 44carbon fin on my big slalom board. 44 blows me away that it works with the same sail but better faster. Lockwood fins.
We're going to have this yearly conversation about fins .
What makes a good fin , stiff to push off or flexy creating lift ?
It can go round and round in circles for pages , then the lupoids get involved saying the earth is flat .
I purchased a beautiful Curtis 48 cm CR 10 carbon fin from the US . It is beautiful , super stiff and very light . I soo wanted to love it but it felt dead . I usually sell unwanted fins , but it's too sexy . I could be persuaded to sell it .
My advice is to try as many fins as you can and keep the ones you like .
Everyone is different .
Gordon, powermax are a powerful fin for their length. You should be OK if properly powered up. Would be perfect in the 105 fox otherwise
I've got another couple of fin questions.
For my 2020 JP Superide Pro, 235 x 70.5 x 7.5 kgs, came with a JP 40cm Tuttle G10 fin. Recommended sail range according to JP is 5.4 - 8.5. Rider weight 75kgs.What sized quality G10 fins would be idea for use with 6.7 V8 and 7.7 V8?
Your stock fin should work well for 6.7, for 7.7 you could go a bit longer like 44. Check with fin calculator and JP themselves to double check.
Your stock fin is wider up top giving some good low end torque. Then, gets slimmer towards the tip to give top end control and easier jibe arc correction.
I've got another couple of fin questions.
For my 2020 JP Superide Pro, 235 x 70.5 x 7.5 kgs, came with a JP 40cm Tuttle G10 fin. Recommended sail range according to JP is 5.4 - 8.5. Rider weight 75kgs.What sized quality G10 fins would be idea for use with 6.7 V8 and 7.7 V8?
Your stock fin should work well for 6.7, for 7.7 you could go a bit longer like 44. Check with fin calculator and JP themselves to double check.
Your stock fin is wider up top giving some good low end torque. Then, gets slimmer towards the tip to give top end control and easier jibe arc correction.
Thanks mate, appreciate the advice.
Gordon, powermax are a powerful fin for their length. You should be OK if properly powered up. Would be perfect in the 105 fox otherwise
Mate, It would be interesting to see how you fit a Tuttle to your PB Fox