turn fins

[888race]

Darren

I am sorry you need a new runabout, boy a fin sure is a lot cheaper , but if you roll up a hydro let me know what side fin you used. I hate when my boat doesn't handel well take it back to the factory it must be a lemon

[mercguy]

I have rolled them up the wrong way a couple of times, that never turns out to well.

Man, some of you guys take jokes really serious dont you.

ya, seems the wind last weekend wanted to "roll up" my CSH on the back stretck....kinda a pain to drive a hydro on its left sponson and still go straight!!!!!

[mercguy]

I am sorry you need a new runabout, boy a fin sure is a lot cheaper , but if you roll up a hydro let me know what side fin you used. I hate when my boat doesn't handel well take it back to the factory it must be a lemon

believe me Paul, there is NOTHING wrong with my runabout!!!!!!

[MN1]

What would a FE Hydro use for fin depth and would it be angled or straight?
Mark Nelson

[modracer7b]

Darren, My experience with fin placement on a flat turner has been that it varied with each boat. I usually start about where my throttle is and move it back until the bow starts trying to go away and then settle at the last point before the bow trys to go away. The further back it is, the less chance there is of it breaking lose if the bow pops up. I preferred a wide square bottom fin with the bottom parallel to the water when the boat is hanging on the straight. I also found that angleing the fin into the boat at the bottom also helped. Lastly, I also ran a bottom fin in a spot that would basically work without the side fin. This was for breaking lose recovery. The bottom fin usually worked best slightly trailing the side fin. Length also varied by boat, but I did find that to long would hook and give you one scary ride.

Mark, We ran Ken's fin angled on his FEH. Actually, we preferred angled side fins on everything.

Bill Rosado

[sam]

What would a FE Hydro use for fin depth and would it be angled or straight? Mark Nelson

Mark, I use a straight down 6 X 6 on my Pugh FE, but that is probably excessive on most boats. I think fins are like props .... what works for one person on one boat may very well not work at all on another similar boat for someone else. Your weight, the boat's weight & center of mass, how & where you kneel and how you move around may be big factors in how a boat responds to a particular fin.

There is no magic fin or fin placement for all

Like props: test, test, test and test some more

[Charlie13]

Hi Ryan Just thought you would like to know. Girls must always be in front cause guys are always chasing them.
Charlie Miller

[Ron Hill]

7-b

In their day...Eddie Lawson, A.J. Foyt, Broc Glover, Rick Mears....True POETRY IN MOTION... these guys made their driving look "EASY"... The BIlly Rosado's days of runabout dringing...he could turn a runabout, without a fin, better than most everyone could with a fin....

Mercguy...you one heat of CSH, last Sunday, (even though you jumped the gun), was a great heat...you drove with precision....If you eve saw 7-B, trust me...the guy got speed where speed wasn't...

My hat is off to 7-B, because I've seen the mountain... and he's it...I never raced against him....but I know dame well had I, I'd have to treat him with serious respect!!!

I for one, would like to see bottom fins MANDATED...But that is ME...Ron Hill!!!

Mercguy...Do what my OLD MAN told Jimbo....many years ago...Don't listen to anyone...figure it out yourself......

Add:

RJ West offered us a powerhead for 45, last weekend....Chad and I knew It would be better than what we had...but we talked it over and figured we need to run our or ship....If we EVER win in 45 SS, it will be because we figure out what it takes...it won't be from borrowing stuff ..

AND, RJ, if you are reading this...We really felt good that you offered us a powerhead...You are a great asset to Boat racing and we feel lucky to be racing with you and your brother....even though he wouldn't sell he his pro!!!

[MGallagher]

Darren,

Flexible! Not too much, not too little. And, on an angle. Not much info, but that is what I have written down in my notes.

Matt Gallagher
58J

[Brian10s]

I'll help on the Hydro

Daren,
here is all my hydro turnfin secrets.
Straight down with a curve at the bottom. Ussually, about so long and it hangs off the back of left sponson but you might want to try it on the right sponson

There, that should settle all this contraversy.
Now back to boat numbers at Dayton!
I can see it now, in the pits, "Those numbers are illegal, no, wait maybe legal! Taste great, no it's less filling!"

[Dave M]

Depth Etc for FEH

What would a FE Hydro use for fin depth and would it be angled or straight?
Mark Nelson

I would reccomend on a CMH and larger the fin depth be no more than 4.5" measured at the lowest point of the fin up to the rear (where the bracket is mounted) of the sponson bottom. You can sweep it back to get desired depth if your height adjustment is used up.

I use a straight down fin, bevel on one side, no curve or angles. The thing sticks it in the corners, and does not flex, flex is bad in FEH. My boat is like a Roper.

Dave

[mercguy]

Darren,

Flexible! Not too much, not too little. And, on an angle. Not much info, but that is what I have written down in my notes.

Matt Gallagher
58J

thanks for the "secret tips" Matt!!!!

[mercguy]

question reworded.......

I guess I should reword my question. "Suppose" a guy/girl built a new boat on their own and did not have a fin to start with.......where would they begin? That is what I meant, but, just in case, you guys/girls did not understand..........you might not want to be on the outside of me in the turns!!!!

no seriously, there have been some good responses here, thanks guys, see ya in Dayton!!!!!!

[tommat]

Turn Fins

I have done some pretty extensive testing with different types of turn fins over the years. For my application running D-Mod, I found that a 1/4" steel 4 X 12, double cut leading and angled back at 21 degrees works really well on Apel type boats. I run the fin at 10 inchs deep. The boat is very stable and I have never had it come out of the water (unless I was extremely out of attitude). I found that running that deep did not impede performance or speed. Corners like the boat is on a rail!!

[ryan_4z]

7-b

[..If you eve saw 7-B, trust me...the guy got speed where speed wasn't...

My hat is off to 7-B, because I've seen the mountain... and he's it...I never raced against him....but I know dame well had I, I'd have to treat him with serious respect!!!

Ron, I think the 7-B you are referring to was Chuck McCabe. John 2-Z