Dalkiewicz offers more information on surfboard fins

(Aug. 4, 2023) Ok, more information on surfboard fins. This might get to be a bit too much for some.

Admittedly when first started my thought was that things could be covered in one article or maybe two. This one is number four and there could maybe be more going forward but we will have to see.

At any rate, Simon Anderson’s three-fin “Thruster,” for better or worse, has pretty much become the standard.

This isn’t to say that any other fin set up is secondary because it has a lot to do with other factors, such as length and width of a board. Read on and there will be at least one example of what is being talked about.

Through the 1990s, Kelly Slater really made an impact in competitive surfing on three-fin surfboards.

But the boards he rode were very slight, as in quite narrow and thin. This tended to hurt the average surfer with the influence it had. It became more difficult for the more casual surfer.

In the ’80s, surfboards were more reasonable in their width and thickness and thus easier to ride for the everyday enthusiast. It’s easy for the average surfer to become influenced by what the best in the world ride but not always the best idea.

During all of this time longboards started to come back on the scene and in the mix.

The glide of these boards and the fun factor was obvious and though not every one worked out well for a lot of the surfing population, with many of these boards being single fins. It was sort of like a throwback, a resurgence of the ‘60s when every board was a longboard, except that this time the boards were more refined in general with a lot being learned during that approximate 20- to 30-year period.

One of these “learned” factors was the idea of the “two plus one” fin set up. This is two fins placed out toward the rail or sides of the board and forward of one single fin placed aft of the twins toward the tail.

With removable fins via fin boxes or channels it creates a most versatile possibility for different fin combinations, be it size or placement. Thus a board can be tuned for various riders and/or wave conditions. One, two, or three fins can be used, though most times two smaller fins are placed forward and one larger fin is placed back toward the tail.

Granted this is getting a bit too complicated for most but the versatility is there for those that want to take advantage of it. I even think that this idea can be used in shorter boards, especially in the mid-size range though it can be valid in “short” boards as well.

As an example, a good friend of mine, Ted Cogswell, was able to change the way his newly acquired board performed by changing the center fin. It required some thought on his part but the result was satisfactory.

So there you have it. These days almost anything goes. After all, surfing is what it is to you. Yes, only one fin is necessary, especially with wide tail, extremely tail rockered, nose riders.

But there’s a lot more available.

— Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City

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Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 74F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 74F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.

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