Being a traditional form of the sport, longboarding leans heavily on the past to inform its designs. The classic raked fin template is an excellent example of a simple design that has stood the test of time thanks to it's incredible versatility in different surf conditions.
"Rake" refers to the amount of sweep to a fins profile. If the angle of the leading edge of a fin is more vertical we say it has less rake and vice versa. More rake is usually equated with smoother bottom turns with less stall at the flats. This is because much less water is pushing against the sides, resisting your movement as you turn your board in comparison to larger and more upright templates. This is not to say they are better or worse than the other shapes of fins, more so that they are different. All surfers have their own way they see themselves surfing in their minds' eye and the board and fin combined help to create that image.
Some longboarders love that bottom turn stall and rely on it to get up to the nose. Others may be surfing more critical waves and need to cut hard into the wave to make the drop. But those surfers who love smooth, arcing turns will find the rake fin one of the best templates around for that kind of effortless glide.
If running side-bites (smaller side fins on a longboard) then most riders prefer a 7-8 inch center fin. However if you're running a single fin, one rule is at least an inch of fin per foot of board. Following that, a 9 inch fin would work well for a board between 8-9 feet. Many people like to ride a size up, say a 9.5 or 10 inch on a 9 foot board. Other surfers find that a bit cumbersome. Try a few types of fins to find your preference.
Buy this fin here. Shown is the Classic Raked Longboard Fin by GT Surf.
Some shapers suggest this template is ideal for pintail longboards or round tails. Others use fins with a generous rake on their squash tails. There are no rules. There are only feels.
Riders who choose to run a single fin without side bites will gain a touch of speed as they leave out a little resistance from the side fins. However, to those who've only ridden 2+1 or other 3 fin setups, switching to a single fin only will change their style a bit. As the board pivots more instead of cutting into the face, big sweeping bottom turns are a fabulous way to deal with all of that energy, or with pocketed noserides higher up on the face. Fin setups, board shape and materials of all your gear play a huge role in defining your surfing experience.
Fins are made out of lots of materials from plastic to wood, but among the best materials available is fiberglass. GT Surf fins are made with fiberglass and like all proper fiberglass fins, they are handmade. Glass surf fins offer a secure feeling underfoot as they flex just enough but not too much. Often with cheap quality fins or fins that come with the board, surfers will notice the flex of the fins on larger waves...exactly when you want your gear to perform as you anticipate. This creates slide out.
Fiberglass fins have the correct amount of flex for the template, and this can be dialed in simply by changing the thickness of the fin template for different styles or boards. For instance, some fiberglass fins are purposefully made with more flex to add a little looseness to an otherwise stiff setup. Fiberglass is also more durable and sure to last customers longer than plastic or "FRP" fins.
Surfers who purchased longboards but never played around with swapping the center fin may be shocked to feel the difference in ride after a few adjustments. For starters, moving the fin backwards or forwards in your fin box does make a huge difference. To feel this, push it to both extremes in one session and make some big turns.
For surfers who feel like their turns may a bit clunky, swapping out that fin for something with more forgiving rake may be a way to get an unfair advantage on changing their flow. All in all a heavily raked fin for log riding is an essential part of an longboards kit. There will inevitably be days where the waves favor a more flowy, fast and carvy sesh and a larger template would not shine nearly as much in those conditions.
We've got plenty of high quality fins for longboards and shortboards here at Group Therapy Surf. Thanks for taking a bit of time to read this. We aren't a big corporate company, simply a couple friends with a lot of stoke who decided to make the best products we could for the sport we love. Sign up for our email list at the bottom of the home page for coupons and stuff.