Understand the shape, size, and position of this underrated piece of SUP equipment!
In this article, we discuss how you can best choose your SUP fin size, shape, and position on your board to improve your paddling performance.
Electronic Fins are an exciting new option for SUP owners, outfitters, and renters. With an electronic fin you can power through the wind, paddle longer distances, and get back to shore safely. Learn more about the Boost Surfing fin and how to get on the pre-order list by checking out the section below!
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For a quick overview of SUP fin shape, size, and position check out this video below:
Fin Box
A fin box is where the fin slides into the underside of the board.
There are Universal Fin boxes (or US Fin boxes) FCS Fin boxes, and Futures Fin boxes.
Most SUP boards come standard with universal boxes which means after-market fins will work with most boards.
Surfboards and some SUP surfboards come with FCS and Futures fin boxes.
And some inflatable boards have a slide-in fin system with a clip to secure the fin into the box. These are especially popular with price-point iSUP's on the market today.
It’s a good practice to find out what fin box your potential board has before you purchase. This information will come in handy if you want to purchase an aftermarket fin or need to borrow one from a friend.
Length
The average fin measures around 9" for cruisers and touring boards, 3” to 7” for surf, 9” plus for racing boards, and 4.5” for river SUP boards.
The longer the fin, the deeper it extends into the water, the better the tracking it provides for the paddler. Tracking is defined as how straight and how far a paddle board moves through the water with a single stroke.
A board with low tracking with bob side to side in the water forcing you to switch paddle hands frequently. A board with optimal tracking will move far and straight with just a single paddle stroke without forcing you to switch hands very often.
The shorter the fin, the worse tracking you will have, but greater the maneuverability.
The correct choice in length will depend on the environment you will be paddling in and the type of paddling you will be doing.
Setup
Fins can come in a variety of setups. It depends on the type of board you own and the amount of fin boxes installed.
On SUP surf boards, or flat water boards, you will typically find the option for a single fin setup, a thruster setup (three fins) or a quad setup (four fins) with some variation on this industry standard.
Single fin setups are most common for flat water paddling or longboard/SUP surfboards as they provide the best tracking over long distances with the least amount of drag.
Thruster fin setups provide an additional two layers of contact on the water and are common in inflatable boards or SUP surfboards. The two extra side bites help the board to track even better and will provide stability on a hard bottom turn in the surf.
Even with the added tracking you will not find SUP racers using thruster setups as it can create too much drag in the water and slow their times.
Quad fin setups are typically not found in flat water boards. Instead, you will see them in SUP surfboards. This is because they provide ultimate maneuverability on the water which is important for hard bottoms turns on a wave. But on the flat water, they don’t tend to track well. Instead, you will find yourself bobbing side to side instead of in a straight line.
Styles
Touring/Racing
Racing and touring fins have more overall surface area. And they are more block-like in construction as opposed to curved.
In addition, they have a wider base and are usually longer and extend deeper into the water.
They are shaped this way to provide better tracking (the ability to paddle straight for longer periods of time) and stability in the water.
However, with more stability and tracking comes a tougher time turning the board.
The wider base and more surface area mean you will have more drag side to side when executing a pivot turn.
Examples of racing and touring fin:
Standard Fin/Surf Style
Most paddle boards come standard with a 9” black plastic fin. This shape provides an almost perfect balance between stability, glide, and maneuverability.
These fins are still relatively wide at the base which makes them good (but not great) for tracking with less surface area as it extends into the water from the base to allow easy turning.
Where they might fall short is in long-distance paddling and in choppy water.
Without that extra length, they do not track as well as a race fin and with less surface area they are more vulnerable to instability — especially during a side chop in windy weather.
Examples of a standard fin:
River Fins
If you plan on paddling rivers you're going to first want to invest in a river fin.
River fins are made of flexible materials and are much smaller in length – coming in around 4.5" as opposed to 8"+.
This is due to the fact that you will be paddling with obstacles commonly found in rivers such as rocks or fallen trees, as opposed to lake or ocean paddling.
To get a good idea of what River SUP is like, hear it first hand from the godfather of the whitewater Dan Gavere:
You don't want to be peacefully paddling along and suddenly come to a short stop by hitting a rock or stump. This will cause you to lurch forward, lose balance, and possibly fall in.
The flexible materials are important for the same reason — if you hit something the fin will bend instead of break.
Example of river SUP fins:
Brief Summary on Length + Style: Large touring/racing fins with higher surface area are a bit slower (especially when turning), but provide more stability and tracking. While smaller fins may not be as stable especially in rough conditions, but are quicker (especially when turning).
Electronic Fins
Boost Fin: Catch Waves With Ease, Power Through the Wind, Make it Back to Shore Safely, And Have a Whole Lot of Fun On Your SUP While Doing It!
Have you ever dreamed of exploring the water with ease, unrestricted by fatigue? Have you ever been caught in the wind or a current on your paddle board and struggled to get back to shore? Ever struggled to get through the white water while paddling in the ocean? Or have you thought how nice it would be if you had a way to relax while paddling out on the water?
If so, today, we introduce you to a game-changer in paddleboarding: the Boost Fin. This brand-new fin has captured the imagination of water enthusiasts everywhere, amassing over 11,500 pre-orders on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Why is this the case? Let’s find out…
A Breakthrough in Paddle Boarding
As we've already gone over, fins are an important part of your paddle boarding gear. They keep your SUP board tracking straight in the water. Aid in balance. And help improve performance in different environments. But with Boost Fin, it’s not just an important part of your gear – it’s a whole new way of enjoying time on the water. Whether you want to catch waves, make it back to shore safe in a strong wind, or hit that extra gear on a flatwater straightaway, with Boost, you can do it all.
Boost Fin hooks up to any Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) in just five minutes to transform your SUP into a powered device. It’s as simple as watching a short instructional video that guides you through the straightforward installation process. Once installed, you’re ready to head to the water.
Take Control of Your Adventure
Controlling your Boost Fin while on the water is easy. The handheld controller that can be secured to your wrist is designed for convenience and control. With one push of the big button, you'll get a long boost, transforming your paddling experience. A quick tap on the small button gives you a two-second surge, just the kick you need to overcome a challenging current or a sudden gust of wind. Or if you want to turn it off and save the battery life of your fin, no worries there either. Whenever you need the extra speed, the Boost Fin is there to provide it for you.
Explore, Relax, and Reset
There are three distinct modes to suit your paddling needs. Choose the SUP Assistance mode for leisurely exploration, providing up to 100 minutes of assisted paddling. Or, if you're fighting against tough weather conditions, the wind/current resistance mode offers up to 40 minutes of extra power. And when you just want to relax and enjoy the view, the Trolling mode gives you up to 70 minutes of effortless cruising.
Paddle further than ever before. With Boost Fin, you can double the distance of your regular paddling, letting you explore more of the world around you.
Want to Give It a Try?
If you’re a SUP adventurer who is looking for a new way to explore the waters around you, the Boost Fin is the perfect accessory to get you out there. Or if you’re a SUP instructor who is looking for a way to keep your students safe, knowing that even beginner paddlers will be able to get back to shore safely, this is the perfect accessory for you.
Either way, Boost Fin is here to redefine what it feels like to paddle on the water. With Boost, you can go further, explore more, and have fun. Get on the pre-order list today to secure your very own Boost Fin!
Fin Position
One aspect that is often overlooked is fin position.
Placing your fin forward (or more towards the nose) will allow you to turn easier. It reduces the drag a fin has moving side to side when you want to make a quick turn.
A backward position will stiffen up your board allowing you to track straight for a longer period of time but will make it more difficult to turn left or right. The reason for this is the same as above, a fin that is placed towards the back of a board will increase the drag moving side to side.
Both of these positions are great for performance paddling situations such as racing – staying straighter and faster over a long distance or surfing – turning your board quicker on a wave. But for the average cruising paddler, placing the fin in the middle position is the best spot.
When it is placed there, you will have a good balance between maneuverability and tracking.
Conclusion
Even with all this extra information on fins, if you do stick with a standard 9" fin that is good for flat water and SUP surfing then you will do just fine.
But for those of you who want to take their SUP skills to a different environment or activity – make sure you have the correct equipment to match before heading out.
To understand more about fins, boards, and more head to our Knowledge/Resources section where you will find additional articles full of information regarding SUP!
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