Vector Force Fins Hum

[GdBoyTyler]

I bought a set of Vector Force fins (437’s) about 2 weeks ago. I’ve use them for 10 sessions in waves ranging from 3’ and mushy to 7+’ (faces) and breaking top to bottom.

The Vectors worked great in waves up to head high. When the waves got bigger than head high, the fins would hum during any hard carves.

When I was surfing Trestles on Sunday, I did a hard bottom turn with the plan of kicking out of the wave, I heard the humming and then my board slid out. I originally thought I hit some kelp, which caused my fall.

When I was surfing on Tues. at HB, I did a hard cutback, at the apex of the turn, I heard the humming and then my board slid out. I’m blaming that fall on the fins. I did a couple other turns that day where I had the fins humming, but didn’t fall - but I also wasn't pushing as hard.

The Vector 437 fins are based on the F4 template. I’ve used the F4 fins on the same board in good surf in the 7-9’ range (faces), where I was getting some good hard carves with no humming. So now I’ve switched back to the F4’s and returned the Vectors. I’m glad ET Surf in Hermosa Beach has a good return policy.

GdBoyTyler

 

[TRI FINS ARE DANGEROUS]

They hum because they don't know the words.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

 

[LeucadiaEight]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by TRI FINS ARE DANGEROUS:
<strong>They hum because they don't know the words.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">i don't know if it's the beers talking, but LOL!!!

cornball humor is humorous <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[ridindapuka]

Tyler,

Two questions: Did your board feel any faster in the small under head high waves? Did you try a larger back fin in the overhead surf to prevent sliding out?

 

[surflab]

ok tfad......that was just funny <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

 

[GdBoyTyler]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by ridindapuka:
<strong>Two questions: Did your board feel any faster in the small under head high waves? Did you try a larger back fin in the overhead surf to prevent sliding out?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No the board did not feel any faster in waves under head-high. I did use the Vectors on a good 3-5' day at Trestles and the board felt great. It was a light crowd and I got plenty of waves. It was probably the best I had surfed small waves in years. But that was most likely due to the rippable waves at Lowers and not the fins.

The Vectors I used did have a larger center fin, a JC1. So the larger fin did not help to prevent the sliding out.

GdBoyTyler

 

[ridindapuka]

Ty, thanks for the input, I guess I almost bought "your" set last night. I was asking Tyler why one set had a JC1 and the other had a F4 for the back fin...Maybe I don't need to try them.

 

[GdBoyTyler]

Glad to help out.

GdBoyTyler

 

[hyme7of9]

If they hum then it's time to get the sandpaper out if they're glassed in.Do the new ones hum?Adios.Hyme

 

[Charles W. Beer]

Thatnks for the tip Tyler. Not gonna waste my $100 on their crap! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[Shawd]

were the fins RTM blacktips or G-10?

 

[GdBoyTyler]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CFR:
<strong>were the fins RTM blacktips or G-10?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Vectors were not RTM's, they were the blue plastic fins. I don't know what G-10's are.

GdBoyTyler

 

[Shawd]

G-10 is an epoxy and glass panel that fins can be made from.Future does alot of testing with material.I asked if the fins were G-10 because you said you paid $100 for a tri set.(G-10 is expensive and hard to shape fins with)If you paid $100 for plastic fins future fins is ripping people off.Even Slater fins with carbon aren't that expensive. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

 

[JJR]

Humming is usually a result of a flat spot on the trailing edge of the fin down near the base. Spinning out can be a result of too stiff of a fin,lacking "tip flex" and/or not enough rake in the template...or combo of both. Review your materials, choose accordingly! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[GdBoyTyler]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CFR:
<strong>I asked if the fins were G-10 because you said you paid $100 for a tri set.(G-10 is expensive and hard to shape fins with)If you paid $100 for plastic fins future fins is ripping people off.Even Slater fins with carbon aren't that expensive. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I never said I paid $100 for the set. Beer said he wouldn't waste $100 on their crap.

I paid $58 for the plastic Vectors. I think Future was charging around $150 for some custom made Vectors and around $80 for the RTM version.

I had gotten a set of the RTM Vectors mail order from Fiberglass Supply. However, the RTM version fit real loose in the fin box and I sent the fins back without ever trying them out. I called Todos Santos Inc (Futures main distributor)about the loose fitting RTM Vectors and they said that was an early run that I received.

The plastic Vectors fit real snug.

GdBoyTyler

 

[digity]

I heard just the plastic ones hum, it is a problem that is being resolved now.

the blue fins i have are fiberglass and they are insane, they work really well in punchy beach breaks as well as mushy point surf.

i also have the 6.5 larger vector fins, they are better for bigger surf. both of these fins seem to have less drag and you can really push hard and they give a nice boost without spinning out.

i think your problem may have been due to the plastic fins.

 

[Halcyon]

GBT,

I had a look at the blue molded vectors you're talking about in the surf shop the other day.
I make fins and I have to say that the mold doesn't look like a good one to me. I'd get in touch with future and tell them you're not happy with the damn things humming and see what they say. Don't be an unhappy customer. Do something about it and get back to us on the forum.

Mahalo, Rich

 

[Surf_Alias]

Hey Digity,

Aren't you the guy that said you know Knowaves? I looked for that thread but the thread was deleted.

Anyway since you vouch for Knowaves and Knowaves is full of crap, I extend that opinion to your opinon on equipment. You probably never even tried any vectors. I think you just read the catalog and parroted the catalog description.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

I would not necessarily blame the fins.

It appears the fin or fins were stalling during the hard turn.

A stall may either be a buffeting stall or a steady stall. In the case of thin section fins (even double foiled) the stall would be of the buffeting type.

Buffeting stall is effectively an intermittent and unstable stall caused by fluctuating flow separation over the fin.

I suspect all surf fins will suffer from this condition if pushed hard.

The humming is possibly a resonance effect between one of the the elastic resonance modes of the fin and the excitation caused by the separating flow.

A typical "cure" is to make the fin stiffer in the particular vibration mode that is resonating.

However, a stall is a stall none the less, and better designed fins would better alleviate stalling and buffeting. The double foiled fins of moderate thickness - which the Vector force fins are evolving toward - would be better able to withstand stalling at high angles of attack, and the unstable flow separation once stalling commences.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[blakestah]

It is real hard to make a decent side fin stall.

The rear central fin acts as a limiter. When you turn too hard, the center fin stalls. This stall causes the board to rotate and straighten before the side fin stalls. This is why a tri-fin is so much more stable than a 2 fin - the center fin corrects BEFORE the side fin stalls.

Now, you can still stall it, but you gotta push it pretty hard, if the fin is decently shaped.

If you want to feel a stall take out the center fin, and turn hard.

I haven't seen a Vector Force Fin yet, nor do I know anyone who has tried them. But the fact that they are circulating rumors about fin boxes ripping out "supposedly because the fins generate too much force" doesn't speak well for them.