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surfresearch.com.au the catalogue : surfboard fins

the catalogue : surfboard fins

The fin, or skeg

is a hydrodynamic blade attached on the bottom of the board

at the tail

.

For hundreds of years, Polynesian surfers rode their surfboards without fins, and in the early twentieth century, the fin-less Hawaiian surfboard was exported around the world.

Shallow, long based skegs, were introduced by Tom Blake in 1935, but it was only after the development of the lightweight fibre-glassed balsa board that the fin became integral as a defining feature of the modern surfboard.



By providing drag, in fact slowing the board's speed, the fin gives direction and stability, vastly improving the rider's control.

Fin Performance

1. Any discussion of surfboard fin performance must first be based on an understanding of surfboard dynamics.

Critically,

surfboards are

planning hulls, as noted by Lindsay Lord (1946),

planning on the meniscus, the barrier between the surface of the wave and the air.



Conversely, the fin is hyrodynamic, that is, it travels through the water, and thus performs according to displacement hull principles.

2. The assessment of surfboard performance is essentially subjective, the rider invariably refering to the feel of the board or fin, and the vast majority of surfers' knowledge about boards and fins is "incorrect, inaccurate, and unclear."

For example see the current wikipedia entry.



3. With a change in the design, dimensions, or position of the fin on a surfboard, the rider invariably reports a change the feel of the board.



4.

The difficulties associated with a "technical" analysis of fin performance and considerable, and a "large influence on the design relates to aesthetic considerations and perceived market expectations."

- Anthony Livanos (Faculty of Engineering University of Western Australia):

Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation of Two Surfboard Fin Configurations.

.members.iinet.net.au/~livanos/CFD_report/Report.doc

History



While the first use of the surfboard fin is commonly accredited to Tom Blake (Hawaii) in 1934, t

he contributions to

fin design

by Blake and Bob Simmons (1946-1949) are substantially over-rated.



The first use of a fin, skeg or keel on a surfboard was probably over one hundred years earlier by the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island; combining traditional Polynesian design, imported from Tahiti, and European boat-building.

In 1821,

Dr. David

Ramsey described their surfboards as a flat board about 3 feet long, on the upper side smooth and on the under a ridge like a keel.

See

Surfriding on Pitcairn Island.

Extracts from The Scrapbook of the Log of the Ship "Surry", Pitcairn Island, April 1821 , page 7.



The most significant work was by George Downing, Woody Brown and Wally Froiseth in Hawaii, and Joe Quigg in California in the late 1940s.

They were followed by George Greenough (1965-1970) and Simon Anderson (1980-1983).



Dimensions

The standard dimensions are

height

(or

length

or depth), base, span, and distance set from the tail.

Other rarely considered specifications are surface area (often noted on sailboard fins), thickness and the foil or cord.

See below.

Fin Nonsense, 2014:





Surfersvillage Global Surf News

29 May, 2014 - DESIGN: In some of the most challenging conditions ever seen for a women’s ASP Tour event, Aussie golden gal Sally Fitzgibbons has emerged victorious over Steph Gilmore while riding the new FCS II system and the JW Medium fin template.

Over the course of the event competitors were forced to adjust from the long open face walls of Cloudbreak to the funnelling barrels at Restaurants.

Mixing backhand tube riding with powerful carves ...





Steve Wilkings Photography

http://www.stevewilkings.com/default.php

Select: 1932 and Search. 1932

Bill Wheeler Keel Fin

A prone board fitted with a white long based keel fin, mounted with four metal L-brackets.

An ACME News service photo of Margaret Olson holding a new type of surfboard designed by Bill Wheeler.

Photo was taken May 10, 1932.



circa 1934

Tom Blake's Nub - Keel Fin

solid timber

2 x 12 b @ 4 inches (Approximation)

Tom Blake's first fin with Big Surf Handle

Photograph and hand written caption

by Tom Blake. Surfer Magazine,

March 1981, Volume 22, Number 3,

page 37.

Of all the hundreds of pre-1935 photos I've studied at the Bishop, the Hawaiian State Archives, and on the mainland, I have never seen a legitimate photo of a board with a fin prior to Blake's1935 fin - it just didn't happen before 1935, regardless of what others say.



- Gary Lynch : Australian Surfers Journal Vol 3 No 1 Summer 2000 page 10.

circa 1935

Nub Fin/ Keel

Tom Blake

solid timber

2 x 12 b @ 6? inches (Approximation) Photograph: Bjorn DeBoer :

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 68

circa 1943,

Tom Blake Twin fins,

Timber

4 x 12 b @ 2 inches (Approximation)

Hollow timber board.

Note fin camber.

The feet are Tom Blake's. Uncredited photograph,

Australian Surfers Journal

Vol 3 No 1 Summer 2000 page 10.

1942

Keel Fin - Pacific Systems Homes

Redwood - varnished

2 x 14 b @ 3 inches (approximation)

Waikiki Surf Board Model

Pacific Systems Homes Inc, L.A. California Spencer and Annette Croul Collection

Blackburn, page 60

1946 - 1947

Simmons' Radius Fin - Rounded Keel

Wood and fibreglass

6 x 12 b @ 2 inches (approximation)

Bob Simmons' Laminate Board, USA. Hoffman collection

Blackburn, page 72

1948

Simmons' Twin Fin

Wood and fibreglass

6 x 12 b @ 2 inches (approximation)

Bob Simmons' Laminate Board, USA. Dick Metz Collection, Dana Point, California.

Blackburn, page 73

1949

Simmons' Twin Fin

Wood and fibreglass

7 x 10 b @ 3 inches (approximation)

Bob Simmons' Balsa Board, USA.

Note concave tail section.

Hoffman Collection.

Blackburn, page 77

1949

Simmons' Radius Fin - Rounded Keel

Koa Wood and fibreglass

3 1/2 x 13 1/2 b inches Surfer Magazine

The Malibu Fin Appendix

Volume 17 No 2 July 1976 , page 69

circa 1949

'Hot Curl' Laminated Fin

Laminated timber and fibreglass

7 x 6 1/2 b @ 1 1/2 inches. Pod 8 1/2''

Warringah Surf Permit 1960-1961 : #1099 23. HOT CURL SURFBOARD / SOLID TIMBER - approx. 10', late 1940's, replica fin taken from the original (recently broken)...

Notes, dimensions and photograph :

Sydney Surf Auction,

Mona Vale Hotel, Sydney, 30 October 2005

Catalogue No. 23

Thanks to Mick Mock

circa 1950

Timber Addition

8 x 10 b @ 0 inches (Approximation)

Fixed to board, if not laminated, by fibreglass.

Possibly added post production to a solid timber board.

Note broken tip.

USA Photograph :Bjorn DeBoer

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 68

1953

Simmons' Removable

(Wedge fit into channel)

Marine Plyood

4 1/2 x 6 (b) inches Surfer Magazine

The Malibu Fin Appendix

Volume 17 No 2 July 1976 , page 69

1955

Butterfly Fin

Laminated Timber

8 x 7 b @ 4 inches (Approximation)

Velsy-Jacobs Surfboards USA

Futuristic in template and concept

Revived 1978 Photograph : Bob Meistrell

Longboard Magazine

Vol 12 No 1 March -April 2004 page 33.

circa 1957

Wood fin,

8 x 9 b @ 1 inches (Approximation)

Okinuee - Hollow malibu board adaptation.

Note base support and nails.

Brisbane Australia, Darryl Homan collection

Photograph : Michael Simmons

Australian Surfers Journal

Vol 3 No 1 Summer 2000 page 38



circa 1959

Hatchet fin and two Moon keels,











circa 1958-1965?

Dorsal Aluminium Screw-on Fin

Cast aluminium with s ix screw-holes, three each side.



Fin blade: 7'' x 7'' base

Fin and base: 8" x 8.5" base

Base: 1" height x 8.5" length x 1.5" width



Found by Mark Jackson in 2018 at a Wollongong garage sale in a box with two used fibreglass fins from lifesaving paddle boards.



Consistent with the collection, this fin was possibly made to be screwed onto timber surfboard, or even a timber surf-ski, possibly used by a surf lifesaver.

The fin was perhaps cast in the late 1950s following the introduction of the Malibu board to Australia in late 1956.



However, the template and the foiling of the fin is advanced for the suggested 1958, these not becoming standard features until the mid-1960s.

Thus it might have been intended to screw onto a foam board with a very wide stringer (at least 1.5") or into a suitably located block of wood inserted in the blank before glassing.



The construction, although much larger, is similar to bolt-on fins, or skegs, used on water skis of the period.



The remnant screw head in one hole suggests the fin was affixed and used on a board at some time.



Dimensions and images contributed by Mark Jackson, with many thanks.





1959

D Fin

Laminated Timber ?

8 x 9 b @ 0 inches (Approximation)

Very ealy foam (polystyrene?) Malibu board by

McDonagh Surfboards

Red 1961-2 Surfcraft registration,

Warringah Council (Northern Beaches), Sydney.

1960

Roger "The Duck" Keiran Fin and Wedge Finbox

Wood fin 11'' x 4 1/4'' base x 8'' span

(height actually 13'' but allowance for fin box insertion).

Fin box, fibreglass 7'' x 2 1/2'' and 1 1/2'' deep. Note that the fin base and finbox lengths are not consistent and the fin maybe a replacement. Images courtesy of Mick Mock, Sydney Surf Auction 2010, Catalogue #103.

1960

Downing Gun Fin

Wood and fibreglass

10 x 8 b @ 2 inches (approximation)

George Downing Surfboards, Hawaii. Ed and Randi Economy Collection

"...one of ten shaped by George Downing and was his personal board. Stripes on fin were used to identify boards that went out to sea as these were pre-leash days. This was a common occurrence at Sunset beach in the early 1960 's."

Blackburn, page 73

1960

Rounded D fin

laminated fibreglass

8 x 10 b @ 1 inches (Approximation)

Note in timber fin stringer and decals.

Greg Noll Surfboards USA Photograph :Don Blanch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 68

1960

Rounded D fin

Laminated chop-strand mat

Red pigment

Australia

8 x 10 b @ 1/2 inches (Approximation)

1960

Square fin

Laminated Ash and Walnut, Fibreglass

8 x 8 b @ n/a inches (Approximation) Cary B. Weiss Collection

Photograph : Douglas Congdon-Martin

Schiffer page 58.

1960

Popout (Square) fin

Molded polypropelene

9 x 89b @ n/a inches ( Approximation)

Designed by Gerry Williamson for Malibu Plastics, USA.

Aluminum box

The fin was removable, floated and designed to release if heavy contact.

The design was used in Australia by Dunlop Surfboards, circa 1964, see below.

Photograph :Uncredited

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 7 No 6. November/December 1999 page 85





1962

D fin

Bennett Surfboards #385







1962

D fin

Scott Dillon Surfboards



1962

D fin

The Surf Shop

Albert House, King George Square, Brisbane, Phone 35-1012



Early 1960's restored 9ft 3" stringer-less (!) with wooden D-fin, about 8.5" deep.



Dunlop Surfboards

Brookvale - St Marys, Sydney

1962

Dunlop fin box, circa 1963-1966. Vary the fin to different surfs.

Remove it for easy transportation.

Fin is held firmly in position with specially designed nylon slot attachment.



1960

Greenough

Laminated fibreglass, dimensions?

George Greenough's second fin circa 1960, on a balsa kneeboard built 1959...

"wood shop at school...the first flexible, high aspect ratio fin I tried."

Originally the board had a conventional fin of the period.



A Greenough Scrapbook

The Australian Surfer's Journal ,Volume 2 No 2, Autumn 1999, pages 82-84.

1962

Greenough Twin Fins

Laminated fibreglass

Dimensions?

Photo: George Greenough; Crockett: Switch-foot, page 175

The (balsa spoon) board was built in 1962, originally as "a twin fin, but as time went on, I moved the fins closer together, and it kept working better and better.



Eventually, it turned into a single fin!"



1963

Square Fin

laminated fibreglass,

yellow resin stripe decor.

JohnSaffron Surfboards

1963

D Fin

laminated red wood and balsa with thin glass

bead.

8 1/4 x 10 b @ 2 inches

# 24

Balsa Malibu



1963

Original gel-coated D fin

Keyo Surfboards.



Contributed by Graham in October 2019 .

See Sutherland Shire Surf Craft Regulations, 1963.



1963

Early Cutaway or Dorsal or Dolphin fin.

Chop strand mat

9 1/2 x 12 b @ 0 inches

Surf Craft Sticker

Red Surfcraft permit 1968-1969 #1540.

Randwick Council (Southern Beaches), Sydney

Crude fin with extended base to tail.

#120

Shane Surfboards



1963

Reverse D.

Reverse- Phil- Pixie- Fin



Ron Surfboards: Narrow (gun) tail).

Leg-rope hole.





1963

Gothic Fin



Gordon Woods Surfboards

Note leg-rope hole.



1964

D fin, Scott Dillon Surfboards

Shaped by Bob 'Keno' Kennerson

Fibreglass

9 x 8 b @ n/a inches ( Approximation)





1964

Wooden D fin, Mick Dooley Surfboards



Fibreglass and laminated wood panels.

9 x 8 b @ n/a inches ( Approximation)



The white section is severe water staining.





Image thanks to Scott Wiggins, December 2019.

1964

Tunnel Fin

Sam [Egan] Custom Surfboards - Merewether Surf Shop.



Laminated fibreglass

8 x 18 b @ 4 inches ??? (Approximation)







1964

Tunnel Fin

Sydney?



Images thanks to Snazzy, 2019.







1964

Reverse Rounded D.

Reverse/Phil/Pixie Fin



Wallace Surfboards



1964

Reverse D.

Reverse/Phil/Pixie Fin

10 1/2 x 9 b @ 9 inches

Laminated 10oz cloth.

Set at the tail step.

#190

King Surfboards Step Tail

1964

Rounded D fin

9 x 19 b @ 2 inches (Approximation)

1964

D fin

Multi timber laminate

Resin Bead

9 x 19 b @ 2 inches (Approximation)

McDonagh Surfboards

1964

Twin Keel Fins,

Pigmented chop strand mat

Minimal foiling

4 1/2 x 9 1/2 b @ 1 inches

# 50

Barry Bennett Surfboards Belly board

,

1963-19644

Jackson Surfboards J Fin,

Laminated fibreglass

Minimal foiling

9 x 10 1/2 b x 13 1/22 s @ 0 inches

(estimated)



1964

Dorsal,

Laminated fibreglass

Deep foiling at rear near base

9 x 10 1/2 b x 13 1/22 s @ 3 1/2 inches

Barry Bennett Surfboards

,

1964

Bat Fin

Laminated fibreglass

8 x 11 b @ 3 inches (Approximation)

Dave Sweet Surfboards USA Photograph : Don Balch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 70

1964

Tunnel Fin

Originally by Richard Deese.

-Thanks to Paul D. Gross

Image - Hustler Fin

Laminated fibreglass

8 x 18 b @ 6 inches ??? (Approximation)

Ski & Dive (Surfboards) USA Photograph : Don Balch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 70

Australian Advertisment (from unsourced clipping) circa 1965...

The Fabulous Tunnel Fin

Bombora Surf Shop Box 2216 GPO Sydney

"The greatest breakthrough in surfboard design since

the introduction of the short board in 1956"

- Includes review by Dennis Olsen

American Surf Guide April 1964.

Cost by Mail Order 59/6 + 3/6 postage.

Aust. Patent : 435221/64

1964

Greenough

Laminated fibreglass, Dimensions?

Velo Balsa Spoon Fin circa 1964.

The board was built in 1962, originally as "a twin fin, but as time went on, I moved the fins closer together, and it kept working better and better. Eventually, it turned into a single fin!"

George Greenough in

The Australian Surfer's Journal

Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999, pages 84, 86 and 87.

1964

D fin: Nat Young Model .

Gordon Woods Surfboards, 1964. 1965

Dorsal fin: Nat Young Model .

Gordon Woods Surfboards, 1965.



The board's owner suggested this was originally a 1964 D-fin that had been reshaped.

This is improbable, but note the straightened edge at the top of the fin, evidence that the fin was regularly ridden right to the beach, dragging in the sand in the shallows.



1965

Gun fin

Checkered timber laminate with deep glass bead

7 x 13 b @ 8 inches (Approximation)

Flippy Hoffman's personal board

Dewey Weber Surfboards, USA Photograph :Bjorn DeBoer

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996, November/December, page 69

1965

Noserider (Nuuihwa adaptation?)

Two colour laminated fibreglass

91/2 x 11 b @ 2 inches

# 87

Gordon & Smith (Australia) Surfboards Noserider

1965

Greenough Stage I

Laminated fibreglass

10 x 7 b @ 2 inches (approximation)

First fin (left) by George Greenough fitted to a conventional surfboard, early 1965.

The board (approximately 9 ft, probably a Hayden) was shaped and/or ridden by Algie Grud.

The fin on the right is common for the period.

Photograph & Notes: George Greenough,

The Australian Surfer's Journal ,Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 page 105.



1965

Rennie Yater Fin by Tom Morey's Skeg Works

Barry Bennett Surfboard, 1965

Polypropylene

8 x 9 1/2 b @ n/a inches (Approximation) Advertisement:

Tom Morey Skeg Works

235 W. Santa Clara Street, Ventura, California.

Surfer

July 1965, Volume 6 Number 3, page 69 .





1965

Rennie Yater Fin by Tom Morey's Skeg Works

Peter Clarke Surfboard, 1965.

Keith Paull Model

Polypropylene

8 x 9 1/2 b @ n/a inches (Approximation)







1965

Fin Stabilizer (on D fin)

???

8 x 9 1/2 b @ n/a inches (Approximation) One of several experiments encouraged by Tom Morey's Noseriding Contest at Ventura in July 1965. Unaccredited.

Bill Cleary:

"Nose Riding - A sport within a sport."

Surfer Magazine,

November 1965, Volume 6 Number 5, page 33.

1965

Offset Fin Boxes (additional control skegs)

Polypropelene

8 x 9 1/2 b @ n/a inches (Approximation)

Another experiment encouraged by Tom Morey's Noseriding Contest.

Unaccredited.

Bill Cleary:

"Nose Riding - A sport within a sport."

Surfer Magazine,

November 1965, Volume 6 Number 5, page 33.

1965

Yater #2

Polypropelene

8 x 9 1/2 b @ n/a inches (Approximation)

Note Wonder Bolt at fin base

- a stainless steel capstan that tightened against the rear of of a fin box. C. R. Steck Collection

Photograph : Douglas Congdon-Martin

Schiffer page 59.

1965

Hatchet fin by Weber 7x 11 b @ 5 inches (Approximation)

Weber Performer

Dewey Weber Surfboards USA

1965

Hynson Dorsal - Red fin

Laminated fibreglass

9 x 9 b @ 4inches (Approximation)

Gordon and Smith Surfboards USA Alan Seymour, Pacfic Coast Vintage Auctions

Blackburn, page 228

1965

Straightback

Laminated fibreglass

10 1/2 x 10 1/2 b x 10 1/2 s @ 4 inches

Scott Dillon Surfboards

1965

Cooper Fin

Laminated fibreglass

10 x 10 b x 10s @ 2 inches

Max Gill Surfboards



Possibly attributed to Bob Cooper.





1965

Waveset range of fin designs.





1966

Dorsal Fin- Wonder Bolt

White polypropelene.



Con Surfboards, Santa Monica, California.

Surfer, January 1966

Volume 7 Number 6





1966

Nylon Dorsal - Dolphin

Keith Paull Model

Peter Clarke Surfboards.



1966

Dorsal - Dolphin

Red pigment laminated fibreglass.

9 x10 b @ 3 inches.

Slight foiling to rear edge.

Australian copy of Hynson Dorsal (Red Fin)

Gordon and Smith Surfboards USA

#169

Barry Bennett Surfboards

1966

Flow-thru Fin

Laminated fibreglass

10x 10 b @ 1 inches ??? (Approximation)

White Owl Surfboards USA Photo: Don Balch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 70

1966

Tiger tail fin

Laminated fibreglass

12 x 8 b @ 5 inches (Approximation)

Tiger Espere

Greek Surfboards USA Photo: Don Balch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 70

1966

Weber Turbo Fin

Laminated fibreglass ?

11'' x 5'' b @ 4 inches (Approximation)

Factory Powered by Weber Noserider Model

Weber Surfboards USA Image cropped from

Warshaw : Surfriders page 77

Photograph by Leroy Grannis

1966

Nuuhiwa Noserider Fin

Laminated fibreglass

8 x 10 b @ 2 inches (Approximation)

Nuuhiwa Noserider Model

Bing Surfboards USA Hoffman Collection

Blackburn, page 130



1966

Weber Hatchet Fin

Dewey Weber Surfboards : Performer.



Surfer, May 1966, Volume 7 Number 2, page 14.





Surfer , Volume 7 Number 3, July 1966, page 1.

1966

Hobie Interchangeable Fin



Fin "A" (easy turn fin) - the board will turn easier with less effort, especially good for small surf and the surfer who turns a little further forward on his board.



Fin "B" (standard HOBIE) - good all-around fin which gives good positioning for conditions not suiting Fins "A" or "C."



Fin "C" (speed fin) - this fin is not correctly named, as it does not enable the board to go faster, nor does it make the board slower.

The speed fin allows for more powerful turns from further back positioning on the board.

This is an excellent fin for larger waves and whip turns.

Further experimentation may be carried out by reshaping any one of the above fins.



1966

Hobie Bolt-Thru

Molded Polypropylene

10 x 10 b @ 1 inches ??? (Approximation)

Removable fin that is fixed by a bolt in the deck.

Precursor to to Tuttle Sailboard fin box system.

Corky Carroll Flexible Model

Hobie Surfboards USA

1966

da Cat fin

Molded ABS

8 x 8 b @ n/a inches (Approximation)

Micki Dora da Cat Model

Greg noll Surfboards, USA

Base tounge and indent to lock into corresponding fin box. C. R. Steck Collection

Photograph : Douglas Congdon-Martin

Schiffer page 58



1966

Dunlop replaceable fin and slot-box.



Vary the fin to different surfs.

Remove it for easy transportation.

Fin is held firmly in position with specially designed nylon slot attachment.



Surfing World

Volume 8, Number 4, November, 1966

1966

Greenough

Laminated fibreglass

10' x 8" base

Velo SS MKII fin 1966. 10' x 8" base

Photograph? and Notes: Paul Gross:

"Far-out Flexible Surfboard

- Wave of the Future ?"

The Australian Surfer's Journal

Volume 1 No 4 Spring1998 page 18.

1966

Midget Farrelly Fathead

12 1/2" x 8" base @ 7 1/2'',

Laminated fibreglass. Catalogue #00000350

Photograph by Garry Crockett, with thanks. Midget was supplying a variation on this design in 1995.

See below.





1966

Wedge Special Kneeboard

California



1967

Greenough

Laminated fibreglass

Dimensions?

Surfboard flex fin 1967.

Board shaped?/ridden by Danny Hazard.

Photographs : Al Lees,

Notes : George Greenough.

Moving Forward

A Greenough Scrapbook : 1960 - 1970

The Australian Surfer's Journal

Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 page 73.

1967

UFO

Laminated fibreglass

12 x 7 b @ 5 inches (Approximation)

Rick Surfboards, USA Photo: Don Balch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

page 70

1967

G &S High Performance (Skip Frye)

Gordon and Smith Surfboards, USA.

With much experimenting and testing with the fin, the High Performance low area fin evolved.

In March, it made it's debut on the Skip Frye Model and was available at no extra cost on most of our other boards.

Surfer , November 1967, Volume 8 Number 5, page 4.



1967

G &S Hy-Performance (Mike Hyson)

Gordon and Smith Surfboards, USA

- thanks to Paul D. Gross

Laminated fibreglass

11 1/2 x 11 b @ 9 1/2 inches

# 26

Gordon and Smith (Australia) Vee Bottom



1967

G &S : Bobby Brown Stingerless

Gordon and Smith Surfboards, Caringbah

1967

F fin

Laminated fibreglass

12 x 4 b @ 9 inches (Approximation)

Richard Harvey (Crusader Model?)

Ron Wade Surfboards ? Richard Harvey interview

Surfing World Volume 11 Number 1 1968 Margan and Finney, page 167

1967

Eliminator fin

Laminated fibreglass

12 x 7 b @ 6 inches (Approximation)

Eliminator Model

Greek Surfboards USA



1967

Eliminator by Greek- Hatchet fin





1967

Greenough Stage III ?

Multi-colour fibreglass laminate

13 1/2 x 8 b @ 9 1/2 inches



George Rice Surfboards: Stringer-less V-Bottom

7ft 8" x 24"

Pod: 16"



1967

Greenough Stage III ?

Fabric laminate



Kenn Surfboards, Gary Birdsall shape.



Although the board is probably from 1966, this fin appears to be a later replacement, hence dated 1967.



Note the deep rail-lap cut.









1967

Fins Unlimited Fin and Finbox

The f irst version of Fins Unlimited ( with Chase Parker Bahne , 1967 ) r emovable moulded fin and fin box

The fin is fixed by a rear bolt only.



11'' x 10'' base x 12'' span @ 9.5'' .







Surfer, July 1967, Volume 8 Number 3, page 21. 1967

Fin Foil

Karl Ekstrom Co., La Jolla, California.



It'll turn your board into a Noserider!

The FIN-FOIL* lifts the nose for noseriding • it stabilises the board for powering through soup • it can be adjusted to the degree of noseriding you prefer • it has rounded edges for the greatest safety • made of high temper aluminum, anodised in a mellow gold finish for durability against weathering • foils can be easily removed • comes complete with solid brass fittings and easy instructions for attaching. Only $8.50.





1968

Wonder Bolt and fin box

Weber Surfboards, USA.





1968

Nose-Lifter by Surf Reseach

Mike Doyle - Rusty Miller



International Surfing

January 1968

Volume 3 Number 6, page



1968

Greenough

Laminated fibreglass

Dimensions?

Surfboard flex fin 1968.

Board shaped by George Greenough,

ridden by Terry Keys.

Probably Wilderness Surfboards.

Photograph and Notes : George Greenough, The Australian Surfer's Journal

Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 page 72.

1968

Greenough Stage III ?

Dappled fibreglass laminate

13 1/2 x 8 b @ 9 1/2 inches

#107

WM Surfboards Pin Tail Vee Bottom



1968

Greenough Stage III ?

Dappled fibreglass laminate

Wallace Surfboards.





Note leg-rope hole and the fin tip has been worn down by riding the board through wet sand in shallow water.



1968

Finger fin

Fibreglass laminate

9 x 6 1/2 b @ 9 1/2 inches

#111

Scott Dillon Pin tail

Probably not the original fin.



1968

Wide-base fin

Dave Jackman Plastic Machines (Surfboards)

Auckland, New Zealand.

Dappled fibreglass laminate

Deep-vee pintail

1968

Butterfly fin by Scott Dillon

Fibreglass laminate

Estimation: 9 x 6 1/2 b @ 9 1/2 inches Scott Dillon convex bottom, ridden by Dr. Robert Spence.

Also tested by Nat Young and Bob Kennerson Surfing World

Volume 10 Number 4,

March-April 1968, page 43.

1968

Flex fin

Fibreglass laminate

10 1/2 x 9 1/2 b x 15 s @ 10 inches

#303

Hayden Surfboards Pin tail

Internal rovings.



1968

[Bennett Surfboards]: WaveSet Advertisement

Look for a precision tolerance injection molded fin box bonded into the board with resin and glass.

Look for two 10-24 stainless steel flat head socket cap screws which secure the molded ABS or poly fin into the board.

Look for an interchangeable molded fin by Greenough, Yater, Bing.

Look for an interchangeable fin system that offers 30 combinations of shape, color and flex.

Or just insist on W.a.v.e. Set .. and save time looking.



Colors: Red, Blue, Black, Clear, Blue-Black, Blue-Yellow, Red-Yellow.



Designs: Greenough Stage III, Yater #2, Bing #1, O'Neill #1



W.a.v.e. Set

A product of Water Apparatus and Vechicular Engineering Corporation

188 Harbord Road Brookvale



Surfing World September 1968, Volume 11 Number 3 page.

Clear as the sea around us!



Introducing our Phase III mini fin.

Designed to allow controlled tail drift and radical nose rides.

It measures 6" deep, has an area of 22 square inches and weighs 150 grams.

It too is made of transparent Lexan.



1968

Fins Unlimited Advertisement :



Here they are.

Six totally new color additions to the Fins Unlimited Line.

Clear as crystal.

With colors of the rainbow.

More beautiful than anything that has come before.

Made from a unique transparent plastic called Lexan.

So strong it virtually defies breakage, more durable than any fin on the market today.

But beyond its uniqueness and beauty ... a function in design.

Functionally designed.

Designed to compliment the riding capabilities of contemporary surfboard design.

Designed to fulfil your most crucial demand.

We offer these fins with our removable fin assembly, consisting of a high strength channel bonded into the surfboard into which the fin is held securely by a nylon crosspin in the front and a 1/4" 20 stainless steel socket head bolt in the rear — Combined win a tacking taper to eliminate all play in the assembly.

We create so that you may be creative.



Fins Unlimited

PO Box 161, Del Mar, California.



Surfer , Volume 9 Number 5 page 35, November 1968.



1969

WaveSet: G &S Hy-Performance (Mike Hyson)

Bennett Surfboards.



Reportedly: At some point the fin was broken in half and been glued back together.



1969

Waveset: Skipp Frye's New-e-free fins

Waveset fin box (?)



Surfing, circa 1969, page 31.

1969

Greenough Stage III - Wave Set

Laminated fibreglass , Dimensions?

Moulded: tapered wedge base, fixed by two screws, into nuts set in the moulded box.

Greenough Stage IV by Wave Set Fins, circa 1970.

Photograph : George Greenough, Notes : Paul Gross



Australian Surfer's Journal

Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 page 73.



1969

S.A.F.E Set Fin Systems

The fin is the most important part of a surfboard.

All manoeuvres are dependent on the fin for successful surfing.

A fin moved forwards or backwards a small distance will alter the performance of the board.

S.A.F.E. set fin systems have now introduced after many months of testing a sliding fin system.

Now for the first time it is possible for you to experiment by moving the fin forward or backwards to suit yourself.

See for yourself the difference fin positions make to your surfing by ordering one on your next board.

S.A.F.E. set fin systems, clear or coloured, shatterproof, replaceable poly-carbonate fins.

19 Sydenham Road Brookvale 93 6699.



Surfing World Volume 12 Number 1 1969.

The address was the same as Keyo Surfboards.



1969

Safe Set Fin (Large) and Box

Moulded Plastic

11 x 8 1/2 b @ 10 inches

#69

Keyo Tracker



1969 -1970

Waveset The Finger Fin

Moulded Plastic



Decal image forwarded by Robyn, with thanks, April 2014.



1969

Safe Set Fin (Small) and Box

Molded Plastic

8 1/2 x 7b @ 9 1/2? inches

Possibly re-shaped

#67

Surf Design Mini Gun

Dick van Straalen



1969

Thomas H. Morey and Karl D. Pope III:

Patent: Surfboard with removable skeg, 21 January 1969.







1969

Farrelly Surfboards



1969

Farrelly Surfboards : Speed fin.

1969

Egg Pivot Fin

8 1/2 x 4 1/2 b @ 5 inches

#45

Geoff McCoy Egg

Keyo Surfboards

1969

Side Slipper Fin and Box

8 3/4'' x 6'' b @ 6 1/2 inches

Molded black plastic

Notched Fin box with plastic clip lock

#217

Side Slipper

Keyo Surfboards

1969

Adjustable fin and fin box with fore and rear locking clips.

Burfrord Surfboards, South Australia.

Contributed, with thanks by Mike Brown, Adelaide, January 2007.

Mike noted

The Burford fin box and fin has no stampings.

I reckon Don had these made up.

My Arnold/Lynch boards which have the same set-up are identical,

but some fins have 'Made in Australia', others haven't.







Surfer, Volume 10 Number 4, September 1969.

1970

Greenough Stage IV: VWS- Variable Wave Set Fin and Box

Adjustable (two screw) George Greenough Stage IV by WaveSet.

Images thanks to snazzy, January 2019 .









Click for large version.



1970

Vari-Set by Waveset Fins,

Newport Paipo Boards, California , 1970

1970

Adjustable Fin and slotted wedge fin box.

Fin : 8 1/2" x 6''b x 9 1/2'' span

Black, molded "glass filled nylon".

Rear post-production legrope hole.

Finbox : 12'' @ 5 1/2''

Image below.

When new, the system used several plastic locking clips that filled the exposed section, see above.

The fin and box probably manufactured by Simplex Fins, South Australia.

Advertising image and text below.

Probably copied from a Waveset (USA) design circa 1968.

The design was short lived and was replaced with the universally adopted Bahne box.

1970

Simplex I Fin system.

"No bolts, keys or any hardware.

So simple, the fin can be changed in seconds.

The precision box allows

six positions over a five inch adjustment span.

Three fin shapes in glass filled nylon,

colours green, blue, red, yellow, white and black.

SIMPLEX Fin Systems

142 Gawler Place, Adelaide, 5000 Phone 23 5505"

Surf International

Volume 3 Number 3, circa 1970, page 2.

1970

Simplex II Fin system.

SIMPLEX Fin Systems

142 Gawler Place, Adelaide, 5000 Phone 23 5505"

Surf International

Volume 3 Number 3, circa 1970, page 2.



Ad: Tracks, May 1971.







1970

Simplex Fin system with box-plugs.





Fat Albert - John Arnod Surfboards, Adelaide. SA.

JA's low cost pop-out model, similar to the Shane Standard and the Wallace Junior.

One example:

5'6" x 20" x 3" in yellow pigment and unusually fitted with a Simplex fin-box with box-tabs, said to be an idea of Wayne Lynch.

1970

D fin - Coolite Timber Adaption.

Timber

1970

Greenough Stage IV - Wave Set

Moulded, Dimensions?

Segmented base that slotted into a moulded box and fixed by clips.

See Twin fin I 1971, below..

Greenough Stage IV by Wave Set Fins, circa 1970.

Photograph : George Greenough, Notes : Paul Gross

A Greenough Scrapbook : 1960 - 1970

The Australian Surfer's Journal

Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 page 73.

1970

Guidance Fin System : Twin fin I

Unknown construction

5 x 7 b @ n/a inches (Approximation)

Note the symmetric foil. Photo: Don Balch

LONGBOARD Magazine

Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December page 70



Paul D. Gross reports, with thanks...

Guidance System fin boxes circa 1970.

A copy of Wave Set's adjustable system using a segmented or notched base with the fin held by moulded plastic clips.

Both systems were to be rapidly replaced by the Fins Unlimited ( Bahne) system, circa 1971."







1970

Keyo Twin fin in Fin-boxes



Below:

Fin-box and Fin Tabs on the base.



1970

Bill Barnfield's Fins Unlimited Finbox

The design rapidly becomes an industry standard, and is still in use in modern Malibu boards and sailboards.



1970

WaveSet: Hollow Greenough IV



Surfer : First Annual End of the World Issue.

Volume 11 Number 2 page 2, May 1970

and page 9:





Keyo Surfboards: Fin Box







1970

Twin Fin 1

Fibreglass

a. Ron Wade Surfboards

b. Peter Clarke Surfboards



Note:

Both boards have holes drilled through the fins for attaching a leg-rope.

The difference in the fin shapes

The unusual scooped-chamfered tail on the Clarke, regularly used on wide tail vee-bottoms in 1967-1968.





1970

Twin Fin 1

Fibreglass

Left : 6 1/4 x 4 b @ 5 1/2 inches.

Right : 6 3/4 x 4 b @ 5 1/2 inches.

Clear laminate with fin patch

High aspect Greenough

Toed in to nose, but tip-out not symmetric, probably due to non-expert repairs

Note the fins, probably original, have been heavily damaged, possibly trimed and reinforced.

#134

Farrelly Surfboards

Farrelly

230 Harbord Road, Brookvale 2100, NSW, Phone 939-1724. This is the first removable , sliding fibreglass fin unit in Australia.

It can be found on Farrelly surfboards, Midget has always preferred glass

fins refusing to install substitutes and he has this patented system that will

revolutionize fin systems all over the world.

This fin system is installed in new boards at no extra cost. Surfing World

Volume 13 Number 5, circa May-June 1970, page 39

1970

Farrelly Fin and Finbox







1971

WaveSet II - fin and box, and clips.

Images courtesy of Bob Groves and Alex Williams, 2018.



Alex noted:

Thought you might appreciate these shots of WAVE set MK 11 from 1971? ish.

They where from a UK board maker Bob Groves who shaped boards and blew foam from mid 60’s on.

Now in his mid 80’s he is passing on some of the things that have been stored for years.





WaveSet clips.



The clips helped to lock the fin in the base and they closed the gap,

theoretically to reduce turbulence.



1971

Surf ski fin and fin box

Fin features a segmented base that slots into a molded box, and clicks back to lock.

This example is missing the plastic clips that close the slot.

Australian version of the Guidance Fin System - see above.

Molded plastic.

5 1/2'' x 6'' b x 0'' span @ n/a inches

Symmetric foil.

Image right - male notched fin base.

Close up fin base,

note MADE IN AUST.

Fin box 12 inches.

Image left - molded female box

Close up of slots in fin box.



1971

Fins Unlimited:

Vari-glass Channel and Twin-fin Channels



Glass fins and other good things from the people who make Bahne Surfboards.



Surfer

March 1971

Volume Number page 4.

1971

Greenough Stage IV

Fibreglass laminate

8 1/2 x 4 1/2 b @ 6 inches

#44

Hutchinson Surfboards

1971

Twin Fin 1

Red pigment chop stand mat,

5 3/4 x 4 b @ 4 inches

Tipped, Toed, note standard symmetric foil.

#71

Walsh Surfboards, Narrabeen.



1971

Twin fin I

Multi colour laminate fibreglass

7 x 4 b @ 4 inches (approximation)

#106

Pat Morgan Surfboards



1971

Twin fin I

Multi colour laminate fibreglass

6 x 4 b @ 4 inches (approximation)

Shane Surfboards



1971

Twin fin I

Multi colour laminate fibreglass

7 x 4 b @ 4 inches (approximation)

McGriggor Surfboards

1971

Tri fin

Laminated fibreglass

Centre fin : 5 layer laminated fibreglass

8 1/2 x 6 b @ 4 1/2 inches

Side fins : 5 layer laminated fibreglass

3/4 x 2 b @ 6 1/2 inches .

Note the rail fins' as ymmetric foil .

#211

Shaped by Dan Calohan , Plastic Fantastic Surfboards, USA.

1971

Tri fin

Three way fibreglass laminate

Single fin fixed in internal fin box.

8 x 6 b @ 5 inches

Two wide base side fins

2 1/2 x 2 1/2 b @ 8 inches

#9

Bob McTavish Tri Fin

Bennett Surfboards

1971

Internal fin box.

Fibreglass laminate

Single fin fixed in internal fin box.

Barry Bennnett Surfboards, circa 1971. Estimated : 8 x 6 b @ 5 inches

Photograph Sydney Surf Auction,

Mona Vale Hotel,

Sydney, 25 - 26 September 2003

Catalogue No. 20

Thanks to Mick Mock.



1972

Internal fin box.

Fibreglass laminate

Single fin fixed in internal fin box- base plug?



Egan Surfboards, Newcastle, circa 1972.

Shaped by Peter Cornish



Note the hole for a leg-rope and the stress marks in front of the fin.



1971 Pat Morgan Keel Fin

Three way laminated fibreglass, 5 x 10 b @ 1 1/2 inches (estimation)

Image, with thanks, by Darren Johnston.

4.75'' x 26 " base @ 0''

TRACKS March 1973 Number 30 page 29 (?).

Design: Pat Morgan Pintail Keel 7ft 7'', Finlength: 24'' (?)

Twin Keel 6ft 2'' x 20'', Fin length: 21'' (?)

1971

Tri fin

Fibreglass laminate

Single fin 8" x 6" base @ 5 1/2 inches and two rail fins

- blue laminate

Possible post production?

Bob Cooper Surfboards: Summergun









1972

Pat Morgan Keel fins



Thanks to Snazzy, 2020.

1972

Pat Morgan Keel fin , (second generation?)

Three layer l aminate,

white , mauve, white

9'' x 13 3/4'' base x 0'' span. @ 3''

Thin with light foil on trailing edge.

1972

Pat Morgan Keel fin , (second generation?)

Two layer laminate,

white and mauve

10'' x 14'' base x 0'' span. @ 3'' (estimated)

Thin with light foil on trailing edge.

Image supplied by George of Geelong, November 2009.



1973

Keel fin

L aminated fibreglass

4'' x 24'' base x 0'' span @ 0''





1971

Tri fin

Fibreglass laminate

Single fin 8" x 6" base @ 5 1/2 inches

- green laminate

Post production two wide base side fins

2 1/2" x 2 1/2" @ 12 1/4 inches - white.

1972

Tri fin

Fibreglass laminate

Single fin, with legrope hole.

8 x 4 b x 8 span @ 5 inches (estimated)

Two wide base side fins

3 1/2 x 2 1/2 b @ 13 inches (estimated) Dolphin Surfboards

South Australia?

-probably not a professional manufacturer. Image emailed by George from Adelaide, October 2008.

1972

Rubber fin

6 1/2 x 4 1/2 b @ 8 inches

Fixed through board with wedges, shown.

#34

Coolite

Midget Farrelly Surfboards

1973

Fins Unlimited Finbox.





Don't get stuck with one fin in one place!

Tim Lynch, Gordon and Smith Surfboards (detail)

Fins Unlimited, Encinitas, California.



See:

The Bonzer.

Surfer, Volume 14 Number 3, page 4.

September 1973.





1973

Bonzer fins

See:

The Bonzer.

Surfer, Volume 14 Number 3

September 1973.

1973

Bonzer fins

Bing Surfboards, California.

Campbell Brothers

1973

Pipeliner fin

Plastic molded fin in fin box for a juvenile board, approximately 5ft 4''.

No dimensions. Fin image forwarded by Sammy S., October 2011.



1974

Twin-fin Fish

Gordon and Smith Surfboards, California, USA.







1974

Bonzer fins

Original design by Cambell Bros. USA

Centre fin : black and clear laminate

7 1/2 x 5 1/2 b @ 6''

Bonzer / Keel fins : blue/white/blue laminate

2 x 9 1/2 b @ 12''

#180

South Coast Surfboards



1974

Nat Young

Bennett Surfboards

1974

Long-base Keel fin



Bruce McKean Surfboards

Mooloolaba, Queensland.



Free Flight Surfboards

Ballina NSW

Phil Myers



Estimated: 8'' x 12.5'' base x 0'' span. @ 3.5''







1974

Klemm-Bell Surfboards Bonzer



1974

Weber S/b Bonzer

Centre fin box : 8 inch @ 4 1/2''

Centre fin :

Moulded wide base, thick profile, rear fin tab.

7 1/2 x 5 1/2 b @ n/a inches

Bonzer / Keel fins : 2 1/2" x 9 1/2'' base @ 9''

Not toed in, parrallel to stringer.

Tipped out at 45 degrees

Thin, not foiled.

Clear laminated.

#198

Weber Surfboards, USA



1974

Skipp Surfboards, Wollongong

Bonzer



1974

Bonzer

Centre fin: 10" x 6" base



Goodtime Surfboards: Scooped-deck Knee-board

Shaped by Brian Austin

5'6'' X 22''

1974

Mike Hynson Dolfin

Fibreglass and decoration

8 x 8 b @ n/a inches (Approximation)

USA

Base tongue at rear C. R. Steck Collection

Photograph : Douglas Congdon-Martin

Schiffer page 59



1974

Jackson Swallow-tail Spooned-deck Kneeboard

Hand shaped laminated fin in fin-box.

See: Jackson Surfboards

1975

Carabine Kneeboard Fin & Aluminium fin box

Fin : 8'' x 3 1/2'' base x 10'' span @ n/a

Aluminium fin box 15 1/2''

Advertisement: The Modern Aluminium Sliding Fin Box

by Pete and Geoff's House of Surfing (Geoff Wakefield Surfboards)

5 Good Street, Granville NSW.

Phone 682-1420.

Surfing World Volume 22 Number 1, October 1975. Dimensions and photographs at:

Surf's Up At Gerringong Board Display, August 2005.

Thanks to Scott Andrews

1975

Terry Fitzgerald Design: P/N TF.1

PO Box 93 Byron Bay NSW Australia

Hot Buttered Surfboards, Brookvale.

Height: 8''









1975

Crozier Kneeboard Fin (Copy) & Flex tail

Copy: Donkey Dick Fin (NZ)

8'' x 3.5'' base x 10'' span @ n/a ???

Fin box 15.5'' ???



Photograph supplied with thanks by David Smythe, New Zealand January 2006.



In April 2018, Charles Carter noted:

The yellow and pink fin was shaped by me! I had Roger Titcombe cut it from a blank using a template of the rather damaged original that came with the board. The fin shape was referred to as a Donkey Dick back in the day. (edited)





1975

Mark Warren

Plastic, Box Fin

Made in Byron Bay MW1

18mm







1975

Simon Anderson Power -board (Moulded) Fin

Moulded plastic, 8'' x 3 1/2'' base x 6'' span @ n/a ??? [ estimation]

Four screws into recessed fin box.



Top of moulded fin-box, identification and leg-rope plug.

Images supplied with thanks by Noddy H., May 2014

1975

Mike Hynson Wings Fins



5.5" base x 6.5"

6.25" base x 7.5" +29% area

6.5" base x 8.25" + 59% area



Burlington fiberglass and Reichold resin ...

Hand foiled by a veteran crew.



By Rax Works Inc, Encinitas, California.



International Surfing

v11 n6

December-January 1975

page 4.



1976

Laminated plywood



Ocean Foil Surfboards, Victoria.

1976

Pat Morgan Keel Twin fin

Laminated plywood

5" x 8" b @ 2 inches



1976

Dick Brewer Wide base

Blue laminated fibreglass

8 x 5 1/2 b @ 7 inches

#25

McCoy Surfboards

1976

Ashley Spoon Flex Fin.

Ashley Surcrafts, later Ashley Kneeboards.

17 Anderson Street, Torquay, Victoria.



1976

Shaun Tomson and Single Fin Quiver.



International Surfing

Volume 12 Number 3,

June-July 1976, page 65.

1977

Mark Richards' Twin fin II

Three colour laminated fibreglass

6 x 5 b @ 7 inches .

Mark Richards Surfboards, Byron Bay.

#40







Following its brief period of popularity in the early 1970s, the twin-fin retained some enthusiasts and the design continued to be refined.

By 1976, the asymmetric foil, with the flat on the inside, had become the accepted format for twin-fins, and was later applied to the rail fins on three-fin boards, notably Simon Anderson's Thruster , see below.

Regardless of technical considerations, given the three possible options setting the foil, this method is the most aesthetically pleasing.

1977

Michael Cundith Slotted Twin fin II

Estimate - 6 x 5 b @ 7 inches

Sky Surfboards, Byron Bay.

Photograph : Don Blach.

Surfer Magazine, June 1978.

Volume 19 Number 2 page 62.

1978

Michael Cundith Slotted Twin fin II

Estimate - 6 x 5 b @ 7 inches

Sky Surfboards, Byron Bay.









1979

Star Systems Twin fins,

Mark Richards Model

Gordon and Smith Surfboards (USA) Surfing Magazine May 1979.

Volume 15 Number 5, page 9.

1978

Butterfly Fin

Molded plastic

Fin box.

6 x 5 b @ n/a inches???

Honey Surf, Gerringong NSW

Previous version Velsy-Jacobs Surfboards, USA circa 1955.

#73 No.1

Gordon and Smith Lazor Zap

1979

Asymmetric Twin Fins

Chris Brock and Bob McTavish at Sky Surfboards:

The fins can be set (asymmetric) or moved and down the boxes depending on wave size and wave conditions.



Tracks , April 1979, page 39.



Presumably set up for a natural-footer, the backhand fin is at the front of the fin-box.





1979

Twin Fin Boxes

Bob Copper Surfboards, Coffs Harbour.





1980

Michael Anthony Channel Power Twin-fin

Springer Surfboards .

1980

Peter Drouyn Asymmetric Twin Fins

Photograph : Jeff Hornbaker.

Surfing Magazine,

September 1980

Vol 19 Number 9 Page 87

1980

X fin

Scott Bucknell,

Race Surfboards, Hawaii

Photo:Jim Russi

FROM WHERE?

Bill Barnfield http://www.ragingisle.com (noted Hawaiian shaper - ) emailed in December 2005...

The X-Fin was created by Scott Bucknell of Race Surfboards in Haleiwa, Hawaii.

He had a shop on Kam highway across from mine for a long time but not anymore, but he still lives in the area.



1980

Twin fin boxes

Knee-board: Crozier Surfboards





1980

Adhesive Trailing Fin on Twin-fin

Plastic



Sky Surfboards, shaped by Darryl Bulger.



1980

Jet-wing Twin Fins.

Earth Rise Kneeboards

Steve Artis









1980

Shorline (Twin) Fin.

Height: 5.5"

Base: 3"

Australian Made





1980

Surf Lock T Fin Thing

Distributor: Chris Beacham .





Tracks, September 1980, page 10.

Photo and review: Martin Tullemens



1981

Thruster

laminated fibreglass

Three fins 4.5 x 4.5 b

The rail fins are asymmetrically foiled, as if twin-fins.

Design by Simon Anderson.

Energy Surfboards, Brookvale.



See:

#95





1981

Drifta Mk 3 (Tri-fin)

Laminated fibreglass

Centre fin: 7.5 x 4.5 b @ 4.5 inches (estimation )

Rail fins: 2 x 2.5 b @ 8.5 inches (estimation )

Design by Terry Fitzgerald.

Hot Buttered Surfboards, Brookvale.



Reprising the short lived Tri-fin of 1971, see above, n ote that the Drifta Mk3 rail fins are flat on the outside and foiled on the inside, reversing the common format.

Terry was a smart guy (he went to university) and he did his homework- "technically," this should be the correct foil template for rail fins.





1981

Drifta Tri-fin with centre fin-box.

Laminated fibreglass.





Note the side or rail fins have the familiar foiling- flat on the inside and foiled on the outside, in contrast with the Drifta Mk III above.

Also note the rail fins are parallel to the stringer and not tipped in.



1981

Nat Young Tri-fin.

Centre Fin:Greenough Stage IV by Nat Young

7.75'' x 5'' b x 7.75'' span @ 7.75''

Side Fins:

4.75'' x 4.25'' b x 6.25'' span @ 12.25 inches

Note the side fins are set off the rail:

Front @ 3.75'' and Rear @ 2.25''



Also in tri-fin format with fin box. - Not shown.





1981

Peter Townend Bi - Fin

Bronzed Aussie Surfboards/

G & S Surfboards

Asymmetrical board template and corresponding asymmetric fin placement.

Surfer Magazine, October 1981 Volume 22, Number 10, page 42.

Photograph : Guy Motil

See:

Peter Townend : Two, Two, Two Boards in One (Bi-fin.)

SURFING Magazine, June 1981 Volume 17 Number 6 page 27.

Bob McTavish : The Asymmetric Story

Seanotes Magazine, 1978

1981

Tri-fin Adaptation.

Late-1970s single fin with added f in-boxes to update the board to Simon Anderson's new Thruster design.

Probably by a novice surfer, the rail fins are tipped out from the centre line.





1981

Omni Fin (Uncredited)

Plastic

Surfer Magazine,October 1981

Volume 22, Number 10, page 43.

Photograph : Michael Hicks

" The Omnifoil consists of a bracket which attaches to the rear of the fin box, and suspends two diamond-shaped foils. These foils may be easily adjusted upward or downward to create tail lift or bite. The upward position makes for a hydrofoil effect, allowing the tail to ride higher in the water. The downward adjustment works in the opposite manner, acting essentially the same as a bigger fin for use in big or choppy waves. The asymmetrical positioning of the foils to enhance certain types of backside and frontside turns, is presently being explored."

Precedent by Mike Dolye & Rusty Miller, circa 1967.

circa 1982

Multi Fins (Uncredited)

Laminated fibreglass, fixed and boxed.

Surfing Magazine, March, 1990

Volume 26 Number 3, Page 102. Included in an article titled

Dubious Achievements :

"Following Simon Anderson's development

of the thruster in 1981, surfboard

designers everywhere decided that if three's

to be, four will score, five's no jive, six's the

pick, seven's heaven, eight'll be great..."



1982

Bonzer Tri Fins.

Design by Kent Manning

Bare Nature Surfboards, Byron Bay.

1982

Thruster with Fin-box.

Design by Terry Bishop

Gordon and Smith Surfboards.

Note the trailing fin is slightly smaller and narrower in the base.







1982

High Velocity Thruster Fins.

Kym Thompson

Water Cooled Surfboards



Tracks

October 1982, page 27.



1982

Jet-wing Thruster Fins.

Energy Surfboards







1983

Jet-wing Thruster Fins.

Nat Young Surf Design



Fixed rail fins - Centre finbox.







1983

Jet-wing Thruster Fins

Daniell Kneeboard





Rail fins in finboxes - f ixed centre fin.



1984

Starfin [Winged Keel]

Molded plastic

Fin box.

6 x 5 b @ n/a inches??? " developed by Ben Lexcen in 1984, it was my concept (and) his design, we worked on it together."

(plus date ajustment and update of weblink)

http://www.cheynehoran.com.au/starfin.asp

- Cheyne Horan, email July 2013., many thanks to Cheyne. #73 No.2 Gordon and Smith Lazor Zap

1984

Jet-wing Quad Fins.

Ocean Rhythm Surfboards, Raglan New Zealand. Image contributed with thanks by Muzza, June 2013..



1984

Jet-wing Tri Fin.

Nat Young Fall Line Surfboards

Shaped by Nat, the period centre fin may be a replacement, six channels.



1984

Col Smith Hydro Three Fins.

Sheely Surfboards

Newcastle

Channel bottom with step-tail



1984

Quad Fins.

Glenn Winton: Sea Flight Surfboards

1985

Quad Fins.

Wave Torque Surfboards

1985

Express Kneeboard Quad or Four Fin.

#206

Following the success of Simon Anderson's Thruster in 1981, several variations in fin placement and size were tried, one being the Four fin by Glen Winton from the Central Coast, NSW circa 1981.

(Nat Young's Fundamentals, page 102).



1985

Friar Tuck Kneeboard 4 Fin (Quad)

#343

White laminated fibreglass

5 1/4 x 5 3/4 base x 7 1/2 inch span

Fitted with rear fin cams.

Dion Chemicals 10 inch Fin boxes @ 14 inches.

White laminated fibreglass

2 1/2 x 3 1/2 base x 4 inch span.

Dion Chemicals 6 1/2 inch Fin boxes

@ 21 1/2 inches

Fitted with front fin screws - brand?

1986

Thruster with centre fin box



#31



1986

Friar Tuck Kneeboard Twin Fin - 4 Fin (Quad) Boxes



White laminated fibreglass



1988

Friar Tuck Kneeboard 4 Fin (Quad)

Slotted

White laminated fibreglass





1988

Aragon Kneeboard 5 Fin

Bruce Greig: Five Fin Fever

Laminated fibreglass: t wo fixed keel fins and three fins in boxes.







1989

Thruster tri-fins by Good-Bad Man



Steve Wilson Surfboards

Evans Head, NSW.





MULTI-FINS



1987

Wing Fin

Molded plastic

Thruster centre fin by Multifins

Fin box.







1987

Zip Fin

Moulded plastic

Thruster centre fin by Multifins

Fin box





1987

Turbo Fin

Moulded plastic

Thruster centre fin by Multifins

Fin box.



1987

Ski Fin

Laminated Fibreglassed

Commonly used on wave skis.

Fin box.

1987

Ski Fin

Moulded plastic

Thruster centre fin by Multifins

Commonly used on wave skis.

Fin box.

1986

Quad Split Wing Assymetric

Moulded plastic by Multifins

Quad fins

Fin boxes. Image supplied, with thanks, by John Mattes, July 2009.

1986

Split Wing Assymetric

Moulded plastic

Thruster side fins by Multifins

Fin box.



1986

Multi Fin Systems

Sticker, courtesy of Snazzy, February 2019.





1987

Morey Boogie : Mach 20 RS with Retractable Skegs

The first-generation Mach 20 RS was considered the top of the Morey Boogie line.

The unique retractable fins could be raised and lowered using the levers on the deck and lock gently into place.

They had plenty of "give" in case they collide with objects, for example rocks or a swimmer.

Advertisements claimed that fins offered 'hard edge control on steep, hollow waves', that one or both could be engaged before takeoff, and that they could also be left up 'for speed and spinners'.

1988

Fin Cam

Finger adjustable fin screw.



1988

Tri-Fin: Split Centre and Two Cutaways

Glenn Jenkins: Custom Classics Surf Designs

?



Image thanks to Snazzy, January 2019.







1988

Tri-Wing Fins

Kneeboard by H ot Stuff Surfboards



1988

Strapper Surfboards:

Scooped Deck - Turbo Fins







1989

Boomerang (tm) Fin

Manly, NSW



Height: 6.25" x 2.75'' (base) x 3'' (span)





1989

Bladz - The Fin Concept

B.M. Surfboards , Gold Coast, Queensland

B. Milch







1989

Skurfer Winged Long-base Keel Fin

??



1990

Fin and plug decals.

Town and Country Surfboards, Australia.



1990

FCS removable fins and plugs # 81

Channel Islands Surfboards

by Al Merrick



1994

Proteck: Power Flex, by Surfco Hawaii.

Flexible leading and trailing edges designed to reduce fin cuts.

Available as Performance (solid core) Power Flex (medium core), and Super Flex (flexible core).



1995

Malibu Tri Fins

Glassed plywood centre fin.

All fins boxed.

1995

Midget Farrelly Fathead

Laminated fibreglass and cloth

Fin box.



1995

Nat Palmer Tear-drop Fin

Laminated fibreglass and cloth

Twin-fins in boxes.

Munro Surfboards



1998 Swivell Fin

Available in four sizes (115,110,100 & 85mm)

Moulded plastic, Adjustable Fin Plug.







1998

Advanced Steering Systems

(USA)



2007

Shredda Steering System

Shredda fin setup, inspired by jet fighters, was designed by Don Smith; a Gold Coast plumber and a former Palm Beach surf shop owner.

https://360guide.info/surfing/shredda-fin-setup.html



Australia's Multi-Keel Surfboard Steering System

Shreeda Surfshop

1395 Gold Coast Highway

Palm Beach Queensland 4221

Australia

Phone +61 755687779

Fax +61 755687778

email: info@shredda.com

web: www.shredda.com



Image thanks to Snazzy, 2020.





1998

Ex-Fin

Laminated fibreglass and finboxes.

Race Surfboards, Hawaii.



1999

Tom Wegner

Laminated fibreglass and timber

Pigmented glass bead

Matching tail block



2000

FCS H2 Fins

FCS H2 Medium Fins Size: Base: 4.22 in. 107 mm

Depth: 4.65 in. 118 mm

Surface Area: 13.95 in.² 9000 mm²

Sweep: 36.5°

Cant: 10°

Toe Angle: .5°



2000

Honeycomb Core Fin

LSD Surfboards?



2002

XT Turbo Fins

Laminated fibreglass

Strapper Surfboards, Torquay.





2004

Turbo Fin

Molded Lexan resin

Fin box.

9 1/2'' and 7 1/2'' models

Note Weber Turbo Fin, circa 1966 - above.



2008

Alifin - Rabbit Ear, Butterfly fin.

www.alifins.com.au

Aluminium

Two blades, each 4 1/2'' height x 4 1/4'' base x 6 1/2'' span.

Depth 4''.

Fin box.

Also avaialble to fit FCS plugs.

9 cm, 10 cm and 12cm models. Note Velsey Rabbit Ear (circa 1955) and Honey Surf Butterfly Fin (circa 1978) - above.

Image left:

Alifin - Rabbit Ear, Butterfly fin, 2008.



2010

Captain Fin Co. Futures Fins

Dane Reynolds Summer Teeth

Thruster set.

Medium size.



2014

Diamond Fin (format )

John Curby

Noosa, Queensland.



Clearly made for experimental testing; apart from the two central fin-boxes, each rail fin has three sets of FCS plugs to significantly vary the fin toe-in.



2015

Slide Fin

Scott Peberdy





http://www.slidefins.com/au/

Outereef Surfboards Australia.

Slide Fins engage like fixed fins for traditional bottom turn power and drive across the wave.

The fins only fold in one direction, thereby providing a strong tail to build speed.



Upon approaching your top turns, the wave pressure shifts to the opposing flexible face of the fins, forcing them to release and fold flat.



With the fins released and folded against the board, you are free to continue your slide maneuvers with low tail resistance.

Surf freestyle and slide like a pro!



2015

Twin Fins

Nicos Surfboards

Ocean Grove, Victoria.

Custombuilt: 8' 11" x 19.5", twin rear fin set up with single side fins .

FCS plugs/compatible.





2010

Asymmetrical Four Fin - design by Peter Downes



A symmetrical surfboard made by the McTavish crew to my design.

6'6" x 22" x 3"

Unique one off board designed for goofy foots.

Based on experiments that I did back in the 70's, this board works amazingly well backhand and forehand.

The fins on the forehand side are parallel to the stringer, and combined with the diamond tail on the same side, provide great down the line projection when you crank off the bottom.









2018

Quobba Fin

Western Australia.

Available as single or double plug - FCS compatible



https://quobbafins.com/

2019

D-fin Finbox

Pieter Surfboards, Newcastle, Australia.



Inserting a standard 10" fin-box in the rear of the board, and grinding off the one end of the box, facilitates easy fitting for long based D fins and allows it to be set right at the pod.



Contributed by Pieter, June 2019.

http://pieter.com.au/







2020

Various Types of Fin Plugs

Thanks to Snazzy, 2020. the fins of george greenough

sailboard fin catalogue

References

1. John Kelly : Surf and Sea pages 120-124

2. Uncredited: Malibu Fin Appendix, in SURFER Magazine, Vol 17 No 2. 1976 June/July

3. Uncredited: Time Machines, in SURFING Magazine, Vol 25 No 2. 1989 February

4. Paul Holmes: The fin - that which drives us, in LONGBOARD Magazine, Vol 4 No 5. 1996

November/December

5. Mark Fragale: The Morey-Pope Thought Factory, in

Longboard Magazine Volume 6 No 7 January/February 1999 pages 92 - 99.

6. Paul Gross: Moving Forward - A George Greenough Scrapbook: 1960-19670,

in The Australian Surfer's Journal Volume 2 No 2 Autumn 1999 pages 68- 121.

7. Paul Gross: Inventions: Tom Morey, in The Australian Surfer's Journal Volume 3 No 1 Summer

2000, pages 80 - 89.

Relevant Definitions



HEIGHT (INCHES)

BASE (INCHES)









SPAN (INCHES)

@ (INCHES) FROM TAIL

fin / skeg

stabilizing wing attached to the bottom of the board, usually at the tail.

Dimensions are length (height or depth), base, foil and surface area (sailboards).

First use credited to Tom Blake (Hawaii) circa 1934.

Some commentators also recognize the contribution of Woody Brown and George Downing.

fin area

surface of the fin, usually one side only, rarely quantified for surfboards but often calculated

on modern sailboard fins.

fin base

length where the fin intersects with the board.

fin box

A fabricated structure inserted into the board that allows fin replacement.

Some models allow the fin position to be adjusted.

Apparently there was some experimentation was during the solid wood era. but the most significant application was experiments in the mid-1940's by George Downing and Wally Froiseth in Hawaii.

They made a test board with a removable fin slot and rode it with different fin designs in different positions, and without a fin.

Their conclusion was that the finned board had superior performance, virtually regardless of fin design.

(Kelly, page 121)

The first production models appeared in the early 1960’s in the USA.

Since many boxes were limited to the manufacturers' sole fin design, the impetus to manufacture boxed boards was enhanced by the cost advantages in freighting finless surfboards.

This was certainly a consideration for the larger Californian manufacturers in the mid-1960's, for whom the East coast was a major market.

At first fins were not universally interchangeable as each manufacturer used a different locking system, but in in 1965 Tom Morey at Morey-Pope Surfboards developed the TRAF system of molded fins, available to a small number of Northern California board makers.

In 1966 the design was improved by the introduction of thr Wonder Bolt system, again by Tom Morey.

In February 1968 Morey introduced the Waveset box and a range of molded fins for general use.

This design was essentially copied by the Safe Set system.

The most popular and significant fin designs were by George Greenough who produced three models - Stage I, III and IV.

In the late 1960's, continuing reductions in board dimensions saw extensive fin design experimentation, with some designers focusing on sideslipping, note Skipp Frye's New-e-free fins, circa 1969.

The original Waveset box was too bulky relative to the smaller boards and circa 1970 it was updated with a male notched fin base slotting and locking into a molded female box.

This design was replicated by Guidance Fin System and other manufacturers.

In 1971 Bill Bahne (USA) introduced his Fins Unlimited fin box, that by 1974 was to become universally adopted and replicated.

It is still in current use.

It's huge success was a direct result of the box's ability to accept laminated fibreglass fins of a multitude of designs.

Note that ...

- many riders considered the fibreglass fins superior in performance to molded plastic.

- the fibreglass fins could be manufactured by any experienced laminator.

- the fibreglass fins could be easily reshaped and repaired.

- they were interchangable with boards from different manufacturers.

In Australia in the early 1970's Bahne's design was manufactured in fibreglass (see #83), but this was shortlived as the large scale production of molded boxes substantially reduced the unit price.

In 1974 an Australian company, Wakefield Surfboards, unsuccessfully attempted to market an aluminium model.

With an expanding number of fin designs in the late 1970's for kneeboards, waveskis and the twin-tin surfboard, boxes were available in a variety of lengths to either fit small based fins or allow maximum variation in fin placement.

Many Thruster designs of the early1980's featured two fixed side fins and a short centre fin box to allow the rider some variation in fin selection and placement.

In the 1980's the fin box was an important feature of sailboard design.

They allowed extensive fin experimentation and were also fitted into the deck as the mast track.

As surfboards became finer and thinner in the late 1980's the use of fin boxes in shortboards almost disappeared, but in the early 1990's a fin plug system for surfboards.was developed (initially by FCS, subsequently by others).

Further developments in the 1990’s include bolt-through boxes for sailboards (Tuttle, USA and others).

Updated May 2006, thanks to Nick Van Brugge.

fin dimensions



HEIGHT (INCHES)

BASE (INCHES)









SPAN (INCHES)

@ (INCHES) FROM TAIL

fin cam

finbox screw, hinged with a finger grip and fitted with a rubber grommet that allows fin

adjustment by hand, as opposed to the normal method with a screwdriver.

fin height

the length of the fin measured perpendicular to the bottom of the board.

See Dimensions, below.

fin index : a list of significant fin designs to be catalogued, italics indicate unlisted designs.

Tom Blake Keel/Nub

Bob Simons Round/Radius

Simons Twin

Matt Kevlin Raked Round/Gun

(Dale) Velzy-(Hap) Jacobs Dee-fin

Velzy - Jacobs Vee/Butterfly

Square/Angular

Phil (Edwards)/Reverse/Pixie,

Nose-fin

Dave Sweet High-drift

Ski and Dive Tunnel/Tunnel Hustler

Greenough Stage I

Dave Sweet Bat-fin

White Owl Flow-Thru

Mike Hynson Dol-fin

(Donald) Takyama Blade

Greenough Stage II

(Reynolds) Yater

Dewy Weber Hatchet

Greenough Stage III

Migdet Farrelly Cutaway

Richard Harvey F-fin

Greek Surfboards Tiger Tail

Skip Frye New-E-Free

Gordon and Smith Hy-Performance,

Rick (Stoner) UFO

Greenough Stage IV

Mike Eaton Twin Fin #1

Steve Lis Fish (twin)

Tri-fin

Pat Morgan (Australia)/D. Barnham (USA) Keel

Malcom and Duncan Campbell Bonzer Keel

Jeff Ho StraightBack Radial-cut Flex

Michael Cundith Radial-cut Flex

(Dick) Brewer Wide Base

(George) DowningTrailing Edge

Mark Richards Twin Fin #2

Boomerang

Bob McTavish Fence

Wave-ski Cutaway

SimonAnderson Thruster

(Cheyne) Horan/(Ben) Lexan Keel/Winged Keel/Star

Jimmy Lewis Cutaway

Canard

Glen Winton Four-fin/Quad

Bobby Owens Football

Slotted-fin

757-fin

fin placement

measured as the distance from the rear of the fin base to the tail or back of the board.