History of Marine Plywood Surf Fins
In 1934, Surf pioneer, waterman & innovator Tom Blake was inspired by a boat’s keel and proceded to put the first “fin” onto one of his surfboards in order to help control the board’s motion. From that day forward the evolution of the “surf fin” began.
1940’s
The Wooden “Duel Fin”
Bob Simmons elevated the surfboard fin’s design, first working on single fins, and then experimenting with “duel fin” surfboards. These “Simmons” shapes had two fins made of wood which resembled “half moons.”
Early 1970’s
“Modern Keel Fins” Emerge
“Modern Keels” emerged as an result of Steve Lis’ experimentation. As an avid kneeboarder, Lis came up with his progressive “fish” templates and united his boards with twin keels resembling those of Simmons’ designs, but was more specifically influenced by Bear Mirandon. These new keels were outfitted with updated shapes and foils.
Late 1970’s
Speed and Fluidity
The new “keel” fins and fish shapes inspired an array of professional surfers such as Jeff Ching, David Nuuhiwa, and Reno Aberilla.This new trend also influenced renowned shapers such as Skip Frye and Terry Martin who advanced the movement and created boards known for their speed and fluidity.
2000’s
Retro Resurgence
Retro shapes reinvigorate the surfing scene and guys such as Dave Rastovich, Tyler Warren, and Ryan Burch dislpay the ability of twin keel designs.
2015
Marine Plywood Fins Now
True Ames is providing the surfing world and especially craftsmen with top notch – perfectly foiled marine plywood fins which have proven to transcend time and provide surfers with that iconic and effortless feel. Our fins have positive buoyancy as well as that classic aesthetically pleasing look, which is sure to meet your standards.
California Classic Single Fin
The California Classic Single Fin
Nine sizes make up this collection for a wide range of choices. The medium build and rake make this design the foundation to begin to expand your quiver. All boards and designs accepted. A great all-around fin.
SMALLER SIZES ( 6” – 7.5” ) Perfect for a 2+1 center fin.
LARGER SIZES ( 9” – 10”) A favorite for both solid carving turns to elegant full control tip rides.
Latest Video Clip of Volan Fin Production
New Volan Fins
New Volan Fins!! Greenough 4-A and L-Flex
These Volan fins are fine tuned with a precision foil as well as proper flex. All fins are hand made in our factory and go through the strictest quality control. Fins made with Volan fiberglass and properly aligned for optimal weave orientation, have very high performance flex characteristics. The flex comes more in the body of the fin rather than just at the tip.
SURF FINS: Lot’s of ’em
For more than three decades Chuck Ames and the True Ames Fins team have been at the forefront of the fiberglass fin industry. Balancing a surfer-driven design ethic with an unyielding commitment to innovation and production excellence, we have forged an international reputation in the surfing and windsurfing communities as the guys who, simply put, make your waveriding vehicle of choice work even better. After all, as Chuck likes to say, “You could have the best board in the world shaped for you but, if the fins are off, it won’t go- the thing just won’t work the way it should.” Day in and day out, it is our goal at True Ames to make sure such fin failures never happen to you.
George Greenough ” All I’ve Found ” film clip
This is a classic film clip from “All I’ve Found” Highlighting George Greenough’s Knee boarding on single fin spoons.The waves in this clip are pristine. Very cool footage! Check out our selection of Greenough Fins at trueames.com Our most popular Greenough fin is the 4-A: The full base coupled with the tapering, moderately flexible tip creates a balance that transcends and complements so many aspects of surfing. Of course a unique understanding of his aquatic fish friends is the foundation here. Install the 4-A on any performance surf vehicle and you will find instant bliss. Currently available with matte finish. SMALLER SIZES ( 7” – 9” ) Use the smaller sizes for a single fin or 2+1.
SMALLER SIZES ( 7” – 9” ) Use the smaller sizes for a single fin or 2+1.
SURF EXPO 2013 / SEPT 6-8 / ORLANDO, FL
It’s that time of year again, Surf Expo in Orlando, FL is happening this week Friday 9/6 -9/8. Stop by the True Ames Booth #969. We will have a full selection of our latest surf fins and SUP fins. Lots of different fins in stock right now for your single fin, twin fin, thruster, quads, and we offer different 2+1 setups for longboards and SUP boards. our system fins are available in FCS and Futures Compatible.
For more than three decades Chuck Ames and the True Ames Fins team have been at the forefront of the fiberglass fin industry. Balancing a surfer-driven design ethic with an unyielding commitment to innovation and production excellence, we have forged an international reputation in the surfing and windsurfing communities as the guys who, simply put, make your waveriding vehicle of choice work even better. After all, as Chuck likes to say, “You could have the best board in the world shaped for you but, if the fins are off, it won’t go- the thing just won’t work the way it should.” Day in and day out, it is our goal at True Ames to make sure such fin failures never happen to you.
System Fins for FCS and Futures Compatible
Wooden Surf Fins, Machine Foiled, Hand Finished, Cedar and Bamboo
This is a short clip showing the process behind creating our new wooden fins. These fins are machine foiled and sealed with one layer of glass making the glass-on process so easy. Cedar and Bamboo are ultra light and these wood fins also have positive buoyancy, they float! The best part is that we make them here, in house
Some Single Fins
Here is a shot of a few of our single fin selection. Just some of the good ones hanging on a sheet of wood. check out our website for all of the fins we have to offer.
TYLER WARREN QUAD FINS
Tyler Warren Quad fins available in FCS and Futures Compatible and glass ons
Here is an article from the latest issue of Surfing Magazine. Tyler Warren talks about his Quadratic Egg Shape. A very Versatile board that can handle waist high to double overhead surf. 
Peter Mendia: Surfer Magazine Cover Shot
Congrats to our team rider Peter Mendia for getting the latest Cover of Surfer Magazine for the Feb 2013 issue. This is a shot from South Florida during the swell from Hurricane Sandy.
Fin Design at True Ames: The Importance of Fin Template and Foil
The outline of a fin is what determines the area and the look. The way the area is distributed on the fin is what makes fins individual and work in so many different ways. A wide base fin with a wide tip is the most stable but not forgiving. A narrow base fin with a narrow tip will be very loose and fast but unstable at slow speeds.
The fin’s sweep (or rake angle) affects the board’s ability to carve turns. A more vertical fin will make tight turns and fast directional changes while a more raked fin will carve wider arcs and handle more power through turns.
Tail width is also a factor in fin choice. Narrow tail boards do not require deep fins because there is less distance from the fin to the rail. A wide board requires a deeper fin than a narrower board. For example an 8’ egg style board that is on the wide side should use about an 8.5” to 9.0” fin. A narrow tail single fin board that is 7’6” can use a fin in the 7” to 8” range.
True Ames Surf Fins incorporate a constant foil which means you will not find any flat spots on our fins that may cause water disturbance which will ultimately cause poor performance. Our bigger solid color fins are foiled from 7/16” solid 6oz. glass sheet stock. Smaller fins do not need to be so thick to have the proper foil.
To read more about fin design and how to choose the best surf fins check out trueames.com
John Perry Surfboards: Threedom
Our friend John Perry is constantly working on new board designs and bringing some back from the archives. Check out his latest: This is a short board shape with a 2+1 setup. His Team riders Shawn and Tony are putting this board to the test. check out the article below.
Check out the John Perry Performer fin at trueames.com
The conception of the ”Threedom” fin configuration came over us, myself and one of my best mates Dave Lambertson of Carpinteria, in a garage relaxing over a couple of games of billiards In 1980, we had a circus of board designs to choose from; single fins, twinnies and now the thruster. That being said the focus of our conversation slipped right into critiquing board design. Ok, so the single fin is maxing out with no-noses, wide points behind center and wider tails. The twin fin, for those that could ride them, were slashing and skating in and out of control, if you will and then the resolve to those who couldn’t manage either was the thruster, to plug the gap, no offense to twin lovers. I always had respect for those that could rip them.
Oh….so back to the “Threedom” concept………. Dave, a sagey kind of thinker, proceeded to analyze the thruster. Apparently he said he had had an earlier epiphany before he went to sleep one night about making the side fins smaller and the back fin taller to alleviate the tension on your back foot that never seems to allow you to stray too far from the cluster. I was now mind surfing his epiphany and senses. At that time I had a shaping bay inside the surf shop called “Ocean Rhythms” and couldn’t wait until morning to draw one up. I had some outlines in mind already that might fit this new fin array and found the fin size; shape and placement had to be placed properly to meet this vision. Obviously I made Dave the first one and was glassed by Moonlight Glassers of San Diego.
Since the wave prospects in Santa Barbara in the summer are rare, we ventured deep into mainland Mexico for some testing. We hit some classic, quality waves and a bonus hurricane 10’ swell! I had brought down a thruster and we traded off the new one which we hadn’t named yet between us. I approached it with no expectation, just go for it and see where it wanted to take me. Well, it did the opposite! I took it where I wanted to go, kind of like surfing where your eyes lead you. Wow! My feet weren’t always over the fins and I could trim forward like a single fin. Cutbacks were smooth and drifted controllably, pulling verticals without losing speed and almost at will due to the side fins that are placed higher up on the rail line. Because the side fins are toe in slightly and the fins spread further apart from one another, there is low drag and lots of carried speed throughout the tail section. Needless to say, that is where we both agreed to characteristically call it “Threedom” (freedom!).
In good fun, we added the “All World’ phrase to go along with our shared venture into discovery. Obviously our take on this was not to replace a particular design, but to expand our horizons. We made about 150 “Threedoms” out of Ocean Rhythms in the early 1980’s. The board model never really was acknowledged all these years due to the explosion of board marketing and professional surfing. It is fun to share this design now since there is a new explosion of sharing all and any kind of board design. Some 30 years later, I still prefer riding the “Threedom” fin configuration which now is typically called a 2 + 1 set up. I know that there are some of you out there that have experienced the “Threedom” in the same light Dave and I have.
New 2+1 Combo Fin Sets
Wooden Surf Fins: Machine Foiled
The Tyler Warren Bar of Soap fin is designed for the small Twin fin “bar or soap board” These boards typically come in sizes 4’11” to 5’3″ and are super wide and compact…Much of Tyler’s inspiration in designing the “Bar of Soap” came from his experience riding two of Richard Kenvin’s Hydrodynamica Project boards: The White Pony and Casper. Both of these boards were inspired by the hydrodynamic planing hull surfboards created by Bob Simmons 60 years ago. Check out the wood fin selection
10″ base x 4 5/8″ depth–These wood surf fins are machine foiled to perfection. The cedar grain gives these fins optimum flex / stiffness. To make these easier for you to glass them on, there is one layer of glass on each side. Wood fins also have positive buoyancy, they float! The best part is that we make them here, in house.
GEORGE GREENOUGH SURF FINS: History of The Stage 6 Fin
Above: a photo of some of George Greenough’s original designs for the paddle fin, and a collection of some windsurf boards and molds. ( Spoon and Chopper ) He used to make almost all of his fins, boards and other equipment, and was an innovator who enjoyed creating and reinventing.
Here is a look at a timeline showing how a fin that was created for a windsurf board, adapted over time to a surfboard fin. Through trial and error, many hours in the shop and in the water, we now have the ” Stage 6.”
Late 60’s George makes the first paddle fins out of stainless steel. Sometimes these fins would take 2 or 3 days to grind and finish, but the end product was worth every second of labor for George. In fact, he was windsurfing one day and lost the fin on the rocky bottom. He came back at low tide for a few days of countless hours of searching and found the metal fin in tide pools.
1987 Greenough encourages Chuck Ames to use the paddle fin design on surfboards. The result: A thruster setup with 3 small paddle fins, unfortunately they would break off since they were glassed on with and had a very small base.
1990’s As system fin box designs developed became widely available these paddle fins were tested out again, the problem was the base of the fin was still too narrow, especially for smaller thruster setups
early 2000: The paddle fin design was now adapted to fit onto a longboard with a fin box and produced great results. True ames labeled the fin The “Stage 6” the combination of a stiff leg and active paddle to generate powerful turns, the bigger sizes were powerful on the tip.
Today: The greenough “Stage 6” fin has come a long way and is a classic model that’s been refined and perfected. From the early days being crafted of metal, to now, where the fin is light and has the perfect flex and made of high quality fiberglass.
Below: a photo of early paddle fins on a shortboard.
Greenough Stage 6 Fin By True Ames
TRUE AMES TEE SHIRTS AND HOODIES
We have some new clothing for this season.
These vintage soft tees are extra comfortable and have a stylish look. They are a 60% Cotton / 40% Polyester blend for a perfect fit.
10 oz. 80/20Zip Hooded Fleece. Ultra soft and nice and warm for those chilly morning surf checks!
SURF EXPO 2012 – True Ames Fins booth # 1266
Check out our latest fin designs at SURF EXPO this Sept. 6-8th 2012. Orlando, FL
True Ames offers a greater diversity of fin products than any other fin company. Our material experimentations have created the True Lite Hexcore fin line, which includes thruster templates that are FCS and Futures Compatible from Lost, Erik Arakawa, Hamish Graham, Timmy Patterson, and Channel Islands. Our close relationships to imaginative pros, such as Josh Farberow, Jimmy Gamboa, Oliver Parker, Daniel Graham, Ashley Lloyd, and Brad Gerlach allows us to maintain the constant flow of feedback that will continue to establish True Ames as the industry’s greatest fin resource.
Check out some of our New Surf Fins
heck out our latest fin selection. Some of our new fins include: • Tyler Warren Quad Fins • Christian Wach – Canvas Fin • Smith and Parrish Single Fin • Tyler Warren – Bar of Soap Fins
True Ames Surf Fins New Video: Hexcore System Fins for FCS and Futures Fins Compatible
Here is a quick clip that showcases our line of Hexcore System Fins. These ultra light fins are available in FCS compatible and Futures Compatible.
We use the Resin Transfer Method that allows us to construct a composite fin, inside which hexagonal pieces of lightweight coremat displace fiberglass and resin. The result is a fin that is up to 25% lighter than a normal fiberglass fin, yet retains the same positive flex and amazing drive!
Whether you are surfing small beach breaks or solid reef breaks, we’ve got you covered with a wide variety of fins to fit your board and type of surfing.
NEW COLORS FOR GREENOUGH 4-A
The Greenough 4-A now comes in 2 solid colors. Orange and Yellow. The 4-A has a narrow, flexible tip that enhances maneuverability and a flared base for increased stability and drive — an ideal combination for the point surf George fancied.
NEW BAMBOO FINS: Tyler Warren Bar of Soap Twin Fins
Ok, so we finally have the Tyler Warren- Bar of Soap, Bamboo Fins in stock. This is a new batch of bamboo machine foiled fins that we made right here “in house!” These fins have been in the works for a little while and now we’ve perfected them. A really cool thing about them is that the orientation of the bamboo grain gives these fins optimum flex and stiffness for a perfect ride. Not only are the super light but the actually float!
YATER SURF FINS BY TRUE AMES
Summer Fin Selection: Here is the break down ont these 3 unique templates… ( pictured left to right )
YATER RUDDER: This fin recently 2010 surf season has had a design overhaul. By taking some area out of the middle of the fin, Renny has now found a flex pattern that is almost optimum right away. A flex fin will be a bit stiffer from the beginning, but as it is used, the glass/resin begin to break down, and for some time, the flex will be optimum. This design targets modern long boards and the 2+1 set up. Designed for high performance turning and trimming while actually enhancing overall feel.
YATER SPOON:Every artist must grow weary of performing his opus. A catalog of splendid material, but the crowd only wants to hear the early hits. The Yater Spoon is a timeless step–deck design, and this fin has held steadfast and stable in a lot of photos that read circa in the caption. Thread to spec–a perfect replica of the original, this fin makes new logs feel old and old logs feel older.
YATER CLASSIC: It’s 1969. Okay. Ill–tempered Yater Pocket– Rockets streak straight lines across the USA. 2008: Another year for me and you. Hanging from collectors’ walls, the Pocket Rocket has nothing to do, but its fin–our beloved Yater Classic–is in mass–production. Its upright design, coupled with minimal flex, makes it a layman–friendly, all–purpose gem. Uh oh my. And uh…uh boo hoo.
T&C Grom Contest in Waikiki / May 19-20
True Ames Fins is a proud sponsor of the 15th Annual T&C Surf/Surfer Magazine Grom Contest at Queen’s surf in Waikiki on May 19-20. Groms age 12 and younger take to the waves vying for top spots in shortboard, longboard and bodyboard division. Preliminary heats run all day Saturday with the top six advancing to the next round. Lunch is provided for competitors by Genki Sushi and drinks courtesy of Naked juice, plus free Enza apples. Returning this year is a Kokua division where adults can push their 3-6 year old into waves! Day two Sunday takes you back into the surf for final heats, where this year’s champions will claim their title as top grom. Join FreeSurf for a very special “Expression Session” on Sunday. Grown-ups and keiki compete in a tandem division where fun and creativity earns top points. Wrap it up with an award ceremony with the top six in each division earning trophies and prize packs.
3 Lucky kids will receive a gift certificate for a free set of system fins from True Ames…. Good Luck Groms!!
KITE RACE / FIN DESIGN
We had a chance to catch up with Cameron Biehl, our latest True Ames team rider for kite racing. He’s actively involved in designing and making his kite race fins. Here is what cam had to say about the new CNC project and the progression of kite racing equipment.
Well into our third year of Kite-racing development, we have slowly ticked the boxes toward going faster with a higher degree of control. The boards have gotten progressively wider and thus more stable, and our rocker and outlines have developed along this same theory of control. We seem to have plenty of power in the kite when you are rigged correctly, so its more about holding on rather than creating power. Its like motorcycle racing on the water, all the power you can handle is in the twist of your wrist but its more about reading the terrain and holding on; knowing your limit is part of the game but the further down the road we go; the more comfortable we are becoming at those top speeds. Part of that is the human aspect, and part is due to our equipment.
The fins have also run in parallel with this same theory of control. A reduction from 4 fins to 3 has dramatically reduced not only tip drag, but lift in the back of the board, which can be hazardous to ones health in big breeze and big waves! We had the master hand of Chuck foil a few tri-sets for us last year and even got a couple thursday night Wins on them. Once we had figured out the geometry and area, Chuck decided to help us out with his new CNC machine and we were really able to dial in our thickness to chord length percentages as well as the dynamics (flex characteristics) of the fin. We have locked in to a specific outline dictating the stiffness and center of area on the fin. When compared to our past fins which were merely old windsurfing or hand shaped specials, the newer CNC foils have a much more “slippery” feel, but in a good, faster forward way, not like the slip sideways feeling one gets when you jump back on a surfboard after race-boarding. Also the precision potting method has allowed us to guarantee our fins are at the correct cant angle and rake, which can vary depending on the rocker line of the hull and the boards attitude when skipping over chest high chop. –Cameron Biehl
We as riders are getting more and more stoked because our equipment is not only becoming more refined, but also easier to ride! This year will be very interesting in the San Francisco racing scene as a majority of the fleet is on the box rule boards, whereas last year only about 15% of the racers pushed their boards to the limit. I am stoked to be not only riding for, but throughly working with True Ames Fins to not only push my own racing to go faster, but to create a product that the public can go out and be competitive and in control on as well!
For More pics and video check out true ames kite race fins
Peter Mendia Riding Proctor Surfboards with True Ames Fins
True Ames welcomes Peter Mendia to the team. Here’s a sick clip of some ripping going on. Also check out the 2 page spread in Surfing magazine from this month. photo: Ira Amerson.
A Few More Tubes… Some Bodysurfing Photos in Santa Barbara
A few days of some fun surf here over the Holiday Break. This day I was able to get a few more shots of some tubes
RINCON SUPER AWESOME MINI MOVIE
Rincon wintertime swell in Santa Barbara.
featuring: Brandon Smith, Trevor Gordon, Travers Adler, Dane Reynolds, Tom Curren, Dylan Perkins, Dillion Perillo, Pat Curren, and more!! surfing Rincon, California By: Morgan Maasen
Going on a Surf Trip? Don’t Forget Your Fins…
Welcome March! Now that Spring is just around the corner, thoughts of warmer waves and sunshine are in mind for many of us. Springtime is a great time for getting waves at home or taking a surf trip. Here in Santa Barbara, we’ve had a few NW swells this season… As spring winds pick up the surf can get pretty tattered from the onshore flow and water temps will probably hover in the mid-50’s. Makes for a great time to travel somewhere warm like Hawaii or Mexico, Central America or even take off to see the Quiksilver pro at snapper rocks in Australia.
Wherever you are getting waves, make sure you have the right fins. Here are a few sets of system fins that are a perfect size range for travel, from a standard size template for your typical beach or pointbreak to a solid set of fins that will hold you into some solid reef passes or deepwater waves.
ALL AROUND FINS FOR SMALLER WAVES:
Timmy Patterson: Close base-to-height ratio and moderate rake. An all time favorite. A great fin for your all-around shortboard. These fins excel in the ripable waves of Trestles.
FINS FOR MEDIUM WAVES:
Lost: A tried and tested design that has high rake and slender tip for maximum projection. The classic Lost fin template is a full size design. Longer power turns are where this fin excels. Best in point or reef waves with some size.
FINS FOR BIG WAVES:
Eric Arakawa: A Hawaiian favorite designed by the master. A medium rake / area design with a solid tip. Try these fins out during the next big swell and you will feel the difference!
We make these System fins that are FCS and Futures Compatible…
Just a few random shots from the past few days. Was really stoked to get some glassy waves last weekend. I switched it up from an old set of clear fins to these yellow hexcore set. These were the Eric Arakawa template that were working perfect in the 3-4 foot clean surf. They really excelled in the glassy conditions and were nice for cutbacks.
Then I went for a body surf in the shorepound for some closeout tube shots with the water camera. Waiting for that big swell and good lighting to get some more.
photos: Ryan Kleiner
NORTH SHORE in BLACK AND WHITE
Hawaii usually conjures up images of blue skies and turquoise waves. Sometimes taking out the color can show the true power of the surf even more. It’s not always sunny either, so on overcast days with rain squalls lighting and water color is far from perfect as are the waves. Here are a few shots from Pipe and Rocky Point on some not so perfect days. Although the color of the waves has been desaturated, the energy of the surf is raw and oversaturated…
These were during the lay days of the Vans World Cup of Surfing.
Photos By: Ryan Kleiner
HAWAII TRIPLE CROWN – SUNSET CONTEST
Here are a few shots from the 2nd day at the Sunset Contest on the North Shore of O’ahu. The swell has become a bit more manageable with lighter winds today. The first day of the contest (Sunday) saw larger windy unorganized swell with way bigger sets. Today the sun was shining and still double overhead on the sets. Swell is kind of dropping but more on the way for later in the week with less wind and should be good.
Photos By Ryan Kleiner:
( top ) Looking up from Rocky Point on Monday Morning at the contest scene. Some heavy tubes for sure…
( middle ) Contest crowd was massive on Sunday. Great weather and good swell = lots of people from all over.
( bottom ) Adam Robertson getting a good top turn in his heat.
PORTUGAL PHOTOS: SURF KAYAK TRIP
Kelly Slater Claims Historic 11th ASP World Title at Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco
OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Wednesday, November 2, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, has claimed a historic 11th ASP World Title today, clinching the year-long pursuit with his advancement out of Round 3 at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
FREE SURF ART PHOTO WALLPAPER
Battle of the Paddle 2011 Coming Up
The Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle
Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA
September 24 & 25, 2011
Dana Point, CA — The stand-up paddle phenomenon known as the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez “Battle of the Paddle” first ignited at Doheny State Beach, California, back in 2008. Since then, the ingenious formula of high-energy races and stand-up paddle (SUP) exposition has become the heartbeat of an industry and the pulse of a global lifestyle. The fourth annual Battle of the Paddle 2011 returns to Doheny State Beach September 24 & 25, and by all accounts will be the greatest battle yet.
Check Out our selection of stand up paddle race fins
How To Surf Better – Get New Fins – Get Hexcore
Looking to stay in the tube longer, surf more vertical, or just surf faster? We have a bunch of templates to fit your style, board, and surf conditions. Our Hexcore technology fins give you more drive and perfect flex. These fins are available in FCS compatible, Futures compatible, and glass on. Not only does the Hexcore perform better but is also 25% lighter than standard fiberglass fins. Try a set today and feel the difference!
Most people don’t realize that the fins on their board have a very important role in how well they are surfing. Fins that are too big are going to obviously make the board hard to turn, fins too small will slide and not give you drive. Fine tuning your fins is trial and error but when you dial in the perfect setup, you will surf better for sure. One of the main things you want to accomplish with your fin setup is to get the most drive and then turns will follow. A Hexcore fin is going to give a lot of drive where plastic molded fins will not. If you’re surfing smaller fun waves you may want to go with smaller fins to allow more release on your turn and better turning radius. When surfing bigger, more powerful waves, switch to larger fins for more drive and more drawn out turns to keep from sliding out on critical sections. The size of the fins in direct relation to the waves you are surfing is the first step. Not all fin templates are created equal! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fin templates. Here are some key point on fin design to help you choose the right surf fin.
Flex
Flex is a very important element in our designs. Many of our fins come with a tuned flex. A fin that has flex can be very different than a fin without flex. The flex concept brings to life an otherwise average ride. Cutbacks have more power and bottom turns have more projection.
Foils
True Ames Fins incorporate a constant foil which means you will not find any flat spots on our fins that may cause water disturbance which will ultimately cause poor performance. Smaller fins do not need to be so thick to have the proper foil.
Size
The depth of your fins is measured from base to tip vertically. Adjusting your fin size will affect the performance of your board. Larger fins provide more stability and control, so a larger board will need bigger fins.
Template
The outline of a fin is what determines the area and the look. The way the area is distributed on the fin is what makes fins individual and work in so many different ways. A wide base fin with a wide tip is the most stable but not forgiving. A narrow base fin with a narrow tip will be very loose and fast but unstable at slow speeds. The fin’s sweep (or rake angle) affects the board’s ability to carve turns. A more vertical fin will make tight turns and fast directional changes while a more raked fin will carve wider arcs and handle more power through turns. Tail width is also a factor in fin choice. Narrow tail boards do not require deep fins because there is less distance from the fin to the rail. A wide board requires a deeper fin than a narrower board. range.
Fishy Fins
If your looking to try some new fins on your Fish, take a look at these. From solid fiberglass to Hexcore to wood… We’ve got you covered. Our Twin fins come in FCS compatible, Futures compatible, and Glass ons.
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