EQ and others, how did you cut down your fins?

[PaulN]

I have been surfing w/out fins for awhile but am re thinking that for bigger days. After that last SW swell I had one great day and one so so day. On the so so day I was sans fins, and the offshores were quite brisk. So to remedy the situation I decided to cut down an old pair of vipers, which i did- straight across. Looking at them I now see that this may of not been the best way to go. If you cut down your fins, how did you cut them?

[surfhorn]

Usually people cut off the top side rails so the fins lay flat on the board.
But I do what real kneeboarders do: wear Duck Feet! lol

Seriously, I wear shorter Churchill Slashers most of the year (without booties) and go back to my Ducks for stronger winter surf. I like the longer blades to generate more power.

[Big Fred]

paul, i cut my duck feet about 2" and the template i used was the other fin just slid up and marked it with a sharpie and cut it with a razor knife and sanded it with a dremmal sander. did this because the new booties wouldnt fit in my summer fins and the fins were just too long and a lot of drag

[eqKneelo]

Paul-
Exacto Knife works the best. Cut the lines, then just break off chunks.

Also, use Gigs' trick... put your board on your bed, climb on with your fins on, look back and cut off anything that is near the rail (you want your fins at least a half inch from the rail.)
He also puts an arch-bar on his boards so his fins wedge into it... you can see how this facilitates his POWER TURNS.

I cut my Vipers at an angle so the blades are less than 3 inches long on the "inside" edge and barely 1 inch on the outside edge ( rail side).

I know what you mean about needing a little extra kick when it's juicy or windy.

EQ

[The Creediler]

Paul, I wouldn't cut my Vipers down, use them for skin diving! I would go buy small fins (I.E. Blunt Cuts) and then place them on your board and cut off any excess that hangs off the board. I waited to get used to small bodyboard type fins before I chopped the corners off the fin blades.

[Jack Beresford]

Good call on the exacto knife - I used a pair of hedge trimmers and it was a little "rugged."

[randiego]

HEDGE TRIMMERS??!!

Jack - you just made me spew my coffee!!

[joe]

Just put your churchills on the wrong feet and there you go

[surfhorn]

Give me a call. I have a couple chain saws greased and waiting.......

[ezak]

eqKneelo wrote:

... put your board on your bed, climb on with your fins on, look back and cut off anything that is near the rail


I don't want to know which would hurt more exacto knife, hedge clippers, or chain saw!


Oh yeah, ..... and remember to wear goggles for safety.

[Beeline2.0]

..

[PaulN]

I ended trimming them down so there is about 3 inches of fin past the toe. I used them today and they worked great. I could hardly tell that they were cut. I am going to trim them down some more, the test will be tomorrow maybe. Thanks for all of the replies.


The best part is that now I can walk in them normally in case I need to make a quick exit.

[Scott]

That's right, Paul. Isn't this the greatest surf site on the Planet!!??

[Doc Turbo]

Give me a call. I have a couple chain saws greased and waiting.......

You can always borrow my light saber, that should do the trick, and leaves a nice clean edge.

Let me know how the fins work after awhile.

[alfredo zavala]

If you go to the "Flex Spoon Forum' in the links section of our home page, then when there click on the GEAR tab on the left, there is a nice demonstration of Greenoughs' method of cutting down fins!
Check it out brah!!