turn fins

[mercguy]

OK, I got osome good info on the w/s topic, now I am curious about turn fins.

I have seen some truly "knarly" fins on alot of boats on the East Coast and some widely different shapes. I have read Sam Hemps comments on the fin and placement and have learned alot, but am still curious, especially the fins on runabouts. It seems that "us racers" out here on the West Coast have some seriously basic fins, while you guys on the East Coast have some "trick" fins. Help us "cavemen" understand PLEASE!!!!! Probably why you guys/girls get around the course faster???

[jsilvestri]

Daren,

I use a basically straight fin roughly 4.5" wide and about 4.5-5" bellow the bottom of the boat, measured off a straight edge from the transom. This may very depending on how high your boat floats. I locate the center of the fin roughly 36" forward to the center of the fin measured from the transom. I also use a small trailing fin mounted on the transom positioned to the left side of the bottom. This has always worked well for me on both small and big tracks.

[Gunjumper]

Worm... Any input?

Ed Runne can attest to "trick" fins... His brothers' midevil weapon entered AND exited his calf last year... all while the boat was stationary on the cart! Rich now has to have more foam around his fin than on the floorboard while on the beach, as per mothers and scorers. It sure is a scary looking piece of stainless, but what a spray it puts off!

[ryan_4z]

I've heard about guys doing alot of work with fins. Placement, size, depth, shape. But in all my years of racing I've learned one thing that stands true about side fins. They're for girls. Real men roll 'em up.

[mercguy]

I've heard about guys doing alot of work with fins. Placement, size, depth, shape. But in all my years of racing I've learned one thing that stands true about side fins. They're for girls. Real men roll 'em up.

hey Ryan, are you "roling up" your hydro?????

[modracer7b]

Driving a Runabout

A true runabout driver should be able to rollup a rollup & outside chine a rollup with or without a fin and run a flatturner through calm and rough water. Until you can do it all ways successfully, then your not really a complete runabout driver. Boy, this rollup only stuff sure gets tired. You might as well pull the boat trailer with a horse.

Bill Rosado

[mercguy]

hmm.........

A true runabout driver should be able to rollup a rollup & outside chine a rollup with or without a fin and run a flatturner through calm and rough water. Until you can do it all ways successfully, then your not really a complete runabout driver. Boy, this rollup only stuff sure gets tired. You might as well pull the boat trailer with a horse.

Bill Rosado

I guess I am NOT a "true runabout driver" according to you Bill, so should I just sell my "side finned" CSR and stick to hydros??????? That "roll up" statement is a bunch of bull****..........

I did not intend this topic to be a "roll up" issue, so move on..........

[Brian10s]

Darren,
I'll bail you out.

Fins on a Hydro can be anything from a POS that you slapped on to a work of art that you can shave with. I have heard people tell me, a slick fin will gain you 10ft a lap. Doesn't sound like much until you get the door slammed in your face.

I have been playing with fins for years and have found that what works great on one boat, isn't so great on others.

I would buy/rent/steal several different ones and just try, try, try.

Heck the fin I am running on my Roper right now, started out as a copy of Joe Silvestri's Roper fin. I borrowed it, liked it and traced it. I am on gen5 now but it is still about the same.

Hope to see you soon, and don't worry about all that "roll it up vs flat it out" stuff. The worse thing about a runabout is finding space for the cooler and fish finder.
Just kidding!! Don't everybody blow a gasket!

[mercguy]

Darren,
I'll bail you out.

Fins on a Hydro can be anything from a POS that you slapped on to a work of art that you can shave with. I have heard people tell me, a slick fin will gain you 10ft a lap. Doesn't sound like much until you get the door slammed in your face.

I have been playing with fins for years and have found that what works great on one boat, isn't so great on others.

I would buy/rent/steal several different ones and just try, try, try.

Heck the fin I am running on my Roper right now, started out as a copy of Joe Silvestri's Roper fin. I borrowed it, liked it and traced it. I am on gen5 now but it is still about the same.

Hope to see you soon, and don't worry about all that "roll it up vs flat it out" stuff. The worse thing about a runabout is finding space for the cooler and fish finder.
Just kidding!! Don't everybody blow a gasket!

thanks Brian, maybe I will not slam the door on you in Dayton.......JUST KIDDIN!!!!!!! (I am not fast enough to do that) I do not drive that way anyways.......

[Dave M]

Good Grief

The man was asking questions about fins and y'all turn it into a battle royal. No wonder there are three organizations in boat racing.

Maybe this will help end that stupid petty arguying :

Real "People" race boats.

Guys, Gals, Kids and anyone else who wants to.

Darren,

I find on the hydro and the runabout of mine, that a more straighter design works best. I think Lee Tietz carries these. For the runabout, I have a pattern I could trace and send you or give to you in Franklin if you want.

Dave

[pops67g]

No magic here!

You could probably wear out the bolts changing fins looking for just the right one, but there isn't a magic one that will cure a poorly designed, ill handling boat.

[mercguy]

reading TOO FAR into the topic!!!!

I never said I was having handling problems...never do! All I asked is how the fin was designed and determined to work good on the particular hull...................was looking for info on placement, design, shape, etc......

[mercguy]

thanks Dave!!

The man was asking questions about fins and y'all turn it into a battle royal. No wonder there are three organizations in boat racing.

Maybe this will help end that stupid petty arguying :

Real "People" race boats.

Guys, Gals, Kids and anyone else who wants to.

Darren,

I find on the hydro and the runabout of mine, that a more straighter design works best. I think Lee Tietz carries these. For the runabout, I have a pattern I could trace and send you or give to you in Franklin if you want.

Dave

I asked a "basic" question and now it gets all turned aroud sideways and backwards..............sheez! I thought this would be a good topic for others to learn off of also. I will not ask anymore questions.........

[ryan_4z]

hey Ryan, are you "roling up" your hydro?????

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.

[kws]

Sorry merc, I have gotten a good laugh out of this and it has been at your expense so to speak . but it reminds me of a race this summer and Paul Rhinelander sp?)
had his fin and bracket off trying to get it set better. he was sitting beside his boat laughing. I asked him what was so funny (he had a tough weekend) he replyed that allmost everyone that walked by had a different suggestion
and thats just putting on the bracket. with out getting into your question of fin design