Big Wave Quad fins

[kool-aid]

I've used both the Padillac and the EA quads extensively.

I like the Padillac quads in guns that are a bit more chunky, and I use the EA quads in pretty much everything else. I find the EAs to be a little bit more predictable.

I plan to try the JJF and Billy Kemper future big-wave quads this year. I'm stoked to see that Futures is releasing more big-wave quads, and I have a feeling the Kempers will be great at OB.

 

[freeride76]

Why's that KA?

 

[Bob Dobbalina]

I have those Danny Hess Noriega Quads from True Ames.
They're big, but I didn't feel like I couldn 't turn in the Step up I put them in.
They are likely much more than I need for the Smedium waves I ride them in.

 

[kool-aid]

Why's that KA?

I just meant that they seem to work on any board you put them in. Felt like boards would react a bit more to the padillac quads.

 

[Duffy LaCoronilla]

When you paddle out and immediately take a 40 foot wave on the head and snap your leash, at least you’ll know that you had the right fins for the occasion.

6 foot Hawaiian Scale™

 

[Aruka]

These things are tiny! EA quads for scale. They look and feel pretty good though. Nice foils and snug box fit (giggity).

@Pyzelsurfboards just tagging you again to see if you have any input on this subject.

 

[Pyzelsurfboards]

These things are tiny! EA quads for scale. They look and feel pretty good though. Nice foils and snug box fit (giggity).

@Pyzelsurfboards just tagging you again to see if you have any input on this subject. View attachment 162792

Small fins are your friends in giant surf, but not necessary in normal bigger waves. I think of fins as wings on a plane- an old Cessna that can fly at speeds as low as 48 mph has relatively large, fat foiled wings that create a lot of lift to keep it in the air at those lower speeds (normal size bigger waves), and the size of the wings also creates a lot of drag keeping the top speed down to only around 150mph. In contrast to that an F-16 only has very small wings and a minimum speed of around 110 mph, but can attain speeds of up to 1500mph! The small wings have much less lift, but create less drag and keep the f-16 stable and highly maneuverable. Same deal for fins on boards related to wave speed and size!! Basically for bigger, faster waves use smaller fins to keep the tail in the water and aid in control

 

[Pyzelsurfboards]

These things are tiny! EA quads for scale. They look and feel pretty good though. Nice foils and snug box fit (giggity).

@Pyzelsurfboards just tagging you again to see if you have any input on this subject. View attachment 162792

Also the Kemper fins don't have a flat side like the EAs do, further increasing control at speed

 

[Pyzelsurfboards]

These things are tiny! EA quads for scale. They look and feel pretty good though. Nice foils and snug box fit (giggity).

@Pyzelsurfboards just tagging you again to see if you have any input on this subject. View attachment 162792

P.S. - I had to google those flight speeds, I am not that much of a nerd!!

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Small fins are your friends in giant surf, but not necessary in normal bigger waves. I think of fins as wings on a plane- an old Cessna that can fly at speeds as low as 48 mph has relatively large, fat foiled wings that create a lot of lift to keep it in the air at those lower speeds (normal size bigger waves), and the size of the wings also creates a lot of drag keeping the top speed down to only around 150mph. In contrast to that an F-16 only has very small wings and a minimum speed of around 110 mph, but can attain speeds of up to 1500mph! The small wings have much less lift, but create less drag and keep the f-16 stable and highly maneuverable. Same deal for fins on boards related to wave speed and size!! Basically for bigger, faster waves use smaller fins to keep the tail in the water and aid in control

Probably one of the best explanations I've heard for surfboard dummies like me

 

[money4coffeeman]

P.S. - I had to google those flight speeds, I am not that much of a nerd!!

Lol, I was like " damn this guy knows his sh#t!!".
Thanks for chiming in for us mortals!

 

[Aruka]

Small fins are your friends in giant surf, but not necessary in normal bigger waves. I think of fins as wings on a plane- an old Cessna that can fly at speeds as low as 48 mph has relatively large, fat foiled wings that create a lot of lift to keep it in the air at those lower speeds (normal size bigger waves), and the size of the wings also creates a lot of drag keeping the top speed down to only around 150mph. In contrast to that an F-16 only has very small wings and a minimum speed of around 110 mph, but can attain speeds of up to 1500mph! The small wings have much less lift, but create less drag and keep the f-16 stable and highly maneuverable. Same deal for fins on boards related to wave speed and size!! Basically for bigger, faster waves use smaller fins to keep the tail in the water and aid in control

cheers ya nerd. that pretty much lines up with my understanding and experience. i probably should have gone with the padillac template since i don't really surf truly giant stuff.

when we get some real swell i'll try the Kemper fins in my 7-10 padillac and report back.

 

[money4coffeeman]

cheers ya nerd. that pretty much lines up with my understanding and experience. i probably should have gone with the padillac template since i don't really surf truly giant stuff.

when we get some real swell i'll try the Kemper fins in my 7-10 padillac and report back.

I don't think u went wrong with that purchase. They're more of a departure from the EAs than the padi fins, so why not try something a bit more different. Like I said, I have a 7'10 as well, and I can see those working, even if it's not 20' hawaiian.
The real departure are those new JJF padillac fins, with the larger rears (as pictured at the beginning of this thread).
Wondering if @Pyzelsurfboards may be generous enough to again drop some crumbs of knowledge from the table of his true big wave riders to talk about those fins.
Rationale behind that design and if the box placement still stays the same, given the different shapes of those fins- ie would they work on the stock padis?
Ps- " I Yolo'd" the orange decked 7'6 padi from your haleiwa store this week

 

[vanrysss]

I'd be worried that those Kemper and JJF fins are gonna need a real deal big wave like waimea or Mavs to work as intended.

 

[Maz]

FWIW, my tiny Soar quads have worked great in my Keogh at 'normal' large waves, not proper big. I'd call it 10ft, so around 20ft faces.

 

[Pyzelsurfboards]

I don't think u went wrong with that purchase. They're more of a departure from the EAs than the padi fins, so why not try something a bit more different. Like I said, I have a 7'10 as well, and I can see those working, even if it's not 20' hawaiian.
The real departure are those new JJF padillac fins, with the larger rears (as pictured at the beginning of this thread).
Wondering if @Pyzelsurfboards may be generous enough to again drop some crumbs of knowledge from the table of his true big wave riders to talk about those fins.
Rationale behind that design and if the box placement still stays the same, given the different shapes of those fins- ie would they work on the stock padis?
Ps- " I Yolo'd" the orange decked 7'6 padi from your haleiwa store this week

Hi-- I had no input on the design of JJ's new big wave fins, and in fact only first saw them on the day of the Eddie last year! He rode them in both his heats that day, so i have to say he liked them! The way they are placed on the tabs means that they sit a bit further up the board (and thus further in off the rail) than where I intended the fins to be. I don't know if it's only his skill level that makes them work, or if they are some kind of leap in a better direction ?

 

[JDJ]

“Here are some experimental fins for you to ride for the first time during the Eddie.” Hardcore. JJF is next level in every way.

 

[Havoc]

Small fins are your friends in giant surf, but not necessary in normal bigger waves. I think of fins as wings on a plane- an old Cessna that can fly at speeds as low as 48 mph has relatively large, fat foiled wings that create a lot of lift to keep it in the air at those lower speeds (normal size bigger waves), and the size of the wings also creates a lot of drag keeping the top speed down to only around 150mph. In contrast to that an F-16 only has very small wings and a minimum speed of around 110 mph, but can attain speeds of up to 1500mph! The small wings have much less lift, but create less drag and keep the f-16 stable and highly maneuverable. Same deal for fins on boards related to wave speed and size!! Basically for bigger, faster waves use smaller fins to keep the tail in the water and aid in control

this explains why i like thicker fouled fins since i mostly surf small chitty slow surf. thanks for the insightful post Jon!

 

[money4coffeeman]

Hi-- I had no input on the design of JJ's new big wave fins, and in fact only first saw them on the day of the Eddie last year! He rode them in both his heats that day, so i have to say he liked them! The way they are placed on the tabs means that they sit a bit further up the board (and thus further in off the rail) than where I intended the fins to be. I don't know if it's only his skill level that makes them work, or if they are some kind of leap in a better direction ?

That is incredible...!
Thank you!

 

[kool-aid]

Hi-- I had no input on the design of JJ's new big wave fins, and in fact only first saw them on the day of the Eddie last year! He rode them in both his heats that day, so i have to say he liked them! The way they are placed on the tabs means that they sit a bit further up the board (and thus further in off the rail) than where I intended the fins to be. I don't know if it's only his skill level that makes them work, or if they are some kind of leap in a better direction ?

Wow, that's interesting. But when you set the fin positions, do you do that with a template in mind, like the paddilac quad set? Wonder what Future's process looks like? I would assume they're thoughtful about accommodating different boards with different fin positions.