Jirvin, im guessing the resin sanding prevents any immediate oxidation n leaves particles for it to key into?

Use a similar technique to solder to aluminium. but instead of resin use solder flux on the sandpaper, but it doesn't need to be very coarse.

powersloshin said..
For very shallow places like budgiwoi I cut the fin last 3 cm, then found that sometimes it was collecting clumps of weed when starting with a sinker board (probably due to my poor technique). So I rounded up the last third of the leading edge, giving a little more rake to the bottom. Now waiting for the next opportunity to give it a test.

Before:



After:

Hope it works.
I don't think it's your technique as Andrew and I have the same issue. Mainly shallow dredge starts where they pick up mud and weed. Worse in a S or SSW where you are trying to start at the shallow end with big lulls and you're starting on the bottom. Port tacks starts. There were no worries starting out in the choppier/ windier / deeper end.
If it's deeper with clear wind they are great! My go to fin for choppy LG this year.
I've been using Tribals and they are great powered up and don't have that issue but I miss the lift / upwind / fun factor of the Fangy's in our patchy average conditions.
I used to get around the weed pickup issue when starting by getting my rear foot in the strap asap ( usually lying in the water and waterstarting). I found a little pressure on the fin helped but you still need a decent gust to lift you up out of it. I've got lazy , hence the tribals. I don't seem to have the issue with the bigger ( 24FF or cutdown 24cm ( 21.5cm FF ) but they are a bit deep for Budgy.

I tried the FF speed version today at LG, it's much thinner and lighter than the regular version. I had a 22 cut to 21 on RS2 (90 lts/60 wide) and 6.6 Koncept. Wind around 13 to 17 knts. The fin feels smooth and potentially fast, but I was underpowered most of the time. It is solid in the chop. Had a bit of trouble going back upwind when underpowered, but any weed fin would.

Yesterday a bit more wind, was out with the 5.7 Koncept speed sail and rs2. I pushed it as hard as I could, had a couple of self correcting short slides and another 3 that needed a bit of help to get back on track in the chop. Also lost the fin once while jybing at high speed after bear away in super shallow water, but that one could be because I hit something. I did 88 kms, my best alpha ever and almost my best hour, so overall happy with the fin. I cannot push it for speed because it does not fit my smaller board, I got it for the rs2 and it has become the 'favourite' fin for these conditions that have thick weed sections (need high rake) , chop (need grip) and very shallow areas (has to be as short as possible).

I need also to mention that the 'normal' 20 that I cut to 17 has been exceptional on Wednesday with my little JP and 5.2 speed sail. It did not slide once, went upwind and over the weeds like a truck. Could have done more if I did not break my harness. That one also has become the 'default' fin in LG for my board

Not really sure, next step will be to try the 20 cut to 17 with a bigger sail on the small board, if it cannot handle it will work on fitting the speed 22 and give it a go.

Young Jake also had a good day at Liptons using the swindy modified fangy fin, increased his PB by 2kts and he's now 3rd in the alltime Australian 15year old rankings. Of course some of that may be due to using the wavewands 38cm board, but the swindy modified works very well in it. You'll get better feedback talking to Jake. I watched Jake and Alby racing across the boat channel in the chop, Jake won.

This season's winner for the 'Most Damage to a FF in a Single Crash' goes to Lombok.
I don't think I have heard the whole story, but somewhat mysteriously and obviously quite suddenly Lombok ran out of water. Those of you who have attempted to damage a FF previously ( not looking at you Tricky), will appreciate the amount of effort Lombok has put into mangling both the fin and board. I am amazed he walked away from this with nary a scratch!

warranty voided ?????

Holey snapping duck poo !!
Think I will lighten up on my Fanys treatment, thats a crap load of carnage
Is that the dedication required to get those PB's ?? if so I am impressed

All you need is a portable vice, flap discs and a heap of wet & dry

Very,very nice Peter. I am very impressed Man you are living the life atm... Now hurry up and get back here so you can do a fin for me.

Nice work on the leading edge Peter, I'm convinced that the curve actually helps shed the weed earlier, with less chance of build up on a normally straight edge.

is that a fangdom
Nice work on the repurposed Shirt Pete

Finally got to try my fangy 28 (ex Swindy) in appropriate conditions today

8.5 ezzy on old starboard freeformula 168 85cm wide. not a lot of wind.... knew I would be working and pumping most of the session.
Tide on the way out so decided my normal 48cm fin was not going to have enough depth

my mate tony uses the 28fangy on a similar board and has nothing but praises for them

Still went out thinking not enough wind to get a weedy fin working well. Getting myself ready for a ****ty time on a weed fin.

Could not believe I just beach started in the shallow water and was away like I had a 48cm fin under me. Heaps of upwind power. No spin out in the whole session.
Only thing I couldn't get was that lifted onto fin feeling like you are flying over the chop you get with a pointer. Sailed until I started hitting the sand bars

What's not to like smiles all round

Very happy
Cheers Jeff