I'm thinking of getting a weedfin. If I usually use a 30cm freeride fin on my board for 20kts what size weedfin do I need to get similar performance ( pointing , lift etc). Does it vary with brand? I already have about 9 fins..grr most useless as they are 90's ones that only suit my Caveman board..so I will try & get one weedfin in my most used size..

Hi Sue,

I sometimes use a weed fin when I have to. I find the ride quite different. It doesn't feel as fast but somehow feels smoother as if the back of the board feels like its sucked into the water a bit, rather than out of the water with a freeride/pointer fin.

In choppy water the weed fin is quite good but in flat water feels quite boring and slow. Last Saturday I used a weedfin at Canton Beach and when planing it felt like sailing in slow motion. My top speed was only 20 knots. Of course the wind was a bit crap and no where near the forecast strength.

I too have a Select Weed fin. Perhaps thats the issue but I don't have the skill, tools or area to make my own weedfins. Perhaps I need a bigger weed fin as it feels better in stronger winds.

Hi Sue, you can go for a 30cm weed fin which will be almost the same (lift and speed) but will give you a softer feel with the board.
The measurement will be different, the overall length would be 42.3 cms @ 45 degrees. But they measure from the hull to the fin tip. Most weed fins are manufactured at 45 degrees but some offer a bit of a trade off (lift wise) at 40 degrees, ie: True ames santa barbara weed, different types of weed will be better dealt with by different angles on a fin.
Maui fin co, have a 30cm weed burner which is a great little fin and I recall getting past 31 knots for the first time at a place called "cheese graters" (that's another story). The good thing about buying a g10 fin over a polycarbonite one, is if you damage the leading edge it can be repaired easily with some wet and dry paper. Carbon and polycarbonate fins tend to shatter.

Got my first ever weed fin last Dec (been windsurfing since 1984!). Have borrowed one previously but was never too keen to buy as I like to be able to drive off the fin which doesn't really happen with a weedie like it does with a decent freeride, freerace or slalom fin. Bit the bullet as weed was much more of a problem around here early in the season compared to previous years (usually avoided weedy areas at all costs!).

Decided on a 28cm Choco Weed Freerace which appeared to be very close to the same surface area as my 28cm Fanatic Hawk fin:
http://www.chocofins.com/fins/weed/weedfreerace/

Really noticed straight away that the weed fin killed the lift and drive off the fin when using my 5.9, particularly in marginal conditions where the std curved 28cm freeride fin provided much more drive and upwind potential (weed fin also appeared to make the board less reactive). Did try the weedie with 5.3, as well as 4.5 in way too much wind and chop for my 93L board where the weed fin proved it's worth by keeping the board down on the water much better (due to decreased fin lift) as well as shedding a huge amount of usually annoying weed!

Sue,

Suggest that a 30cm weedie would probably be ok in 20knots but since it's hard to get a 'consistent' 20knts all the time, if you sail much of your time in winds up to 20kts then a slightly larger 32cm weedie would give you a bit more lift and drive without sacrificing control (you've got a Tabou Rocket 95, is that right?).

Sue, see if you can borrow a JP weedie to try, I use a 36 in my 117 litre board and have no trouble using it with my 6.7 and 5.8 race sails, does over 30 easy goes upwind well and no spinout or control issues when it picks up. most of the WA guys use these fins as well, and there is also a 31 avaliable, I only use weedies all the time you just need to run your mast track back a bit more and even maybe your straps back a hole.
the only down side with weedies is they can scar your boom grip if dragging it around the back of the board in the water.

jimbob SA said...

Sue, see if you can borrow a JP weedie to try, I use a 36 in my 117 litre board and have no trouble using it with my 6.7 and 5.8 race sails, does over 30 easy goes upwind well and no spinout or control issues when it picks up. most of the WA guys use these fins as well, and there is also a 31 avaliable, I only use weedies all the time you just need to run your mast track back a bit more and even maybe your straps back a hole.
the only down side with weedies is they can scar your boom grip if dragging it around the back of the board in the water.

I do find that my 28cm weedie goes upwind ok when powered up considering reduced lift compared to same size freeride fin and relatively small surface area, just needs a bit different technique to point with less fin drive happening.