Posted on March 26, 2018 by
We’re not going to lie – most people have a tough first time installing their paddle board fins. That’s why we’re going to give you a simple step-by-step guide (for inflatables and hard paddle boards) so you will have no problems securing your fin.
In addition to fin installation, we explain the 3 different ways to position your fin on a hard paddle board. Find out which fin position suits your paddling style below.
There are no tools involved with installing your inflatable’s snap-in fin. No screws, no tools, no fuss. All you need is your snap-in fin and your inflatable board.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9XKoBqYeF8
To install your hard paddle board’s fin, all you need is your fin screw, plate and superbolt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw_Qb79Xk-4
For hard paddle boards, the fin box is big enough to give you freedom on where you want to place your fin. Do you position your SUP fin all the way forward, back or somewhere in between? There is no right answer because each placement has its benefits depending on what type of paddling you’re doing. Here are the three methods for fin placement:
Best for: Surfing
Placing your fin all the way to the front of your fin box (closest to the nose) will make your SUP feel more maneuverable and responsive. Therefore, we recommend you use this fin placement when SUP surfing. You want your paddle board to be responsive when you’re going down the line in order to do cutbacks and for ease of catching waves. The trade off is that your SUP will not track well and your speed will decrease.
Best for: Long distance paddle boarding or when you want to increase your SUP’s tracking
*Tracking: Your SUPs ability to naturally go straight
Securing your fin all the way to the back of your fin box (closest to the tail) will increase the stability of your SUP and your board’s tracking & speed. The trade off is that it will be slower to maneuver. This is a good placement if you’re paddling longer distances on the water and want to maximize your tracking and speed of your board.
Best for: Any conditions where you want a mix of tracking and maneuverability
This fin placement will give you the best all-around SUP performance and make it easy for you to start paddle boarding like a pro. It will give you control, stability and speed as you ride on the water. This is the standard fin placement for recreational paddle boarding. We recommend starting with this placement, then experimenting with other placements when you’re ready.
Posted in Gear GuidesPaddle Boarding Tips & Tricks
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