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Fin sanding to avoid major cuts

 
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manuel



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Posts: 1158

PostPosted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:01 pm    Post subject: Fin sanding to avoid major cuts Reply with quote

I don't mind the occasional scrape or light cut but I'm wondering whether some of my fins could be smoothed out a bit. Think performance would be affected at all for a wave application?


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joethewindsufa



Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 1190
Location: Montréal

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i would have thought this is more of an issue with foils and long fins
then again wave sailors do more acrobatics Smile

i would guess on a wave fin the sharpness of the leading edge OR trailing edge is somewhat less critical

but what do i really know about that ?? Smile
(am a flat water light - mid wind sailor)

i used to sand one side of Select fins on the trailing edge - to stop the whistle
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:34 am    Post subject: Re: Fin sanding to avoid major cuts Reply with quote

I would think that if you're prudent about it and make sure you don't nick
the fin while sanding, that sanding the trailing edge some would do
nothing other than slow you down a bit, which isn't necessarily a
bad thing in a wave application.

Let me mention that I've never gored myself with a wave fin since I
started using them (probably 30 years ago), but I have gored myself
with big pointers.

-Craig

p.s. you never want your fin surface to be glassy smooth by the way.

manuel wrote:
I don't mind the occas ional scrape or light cut but I'm wondering whether some of my fins could be smoothed out a bit. Think performance would be affected at all for a wave application?

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rswabsin



Joined: 14 May 2000
Posts: 444
Location: New Jersey

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're talking about sanding down and smoothing out some of the scrapes and rough spots on fins that occur over time - then yes, I do this quite often to restore the performance of the fin. If I ding or heavily scrape a fin on rocks or pavement, I can notice the additional drag this damage creates when sailing.
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windward1



Joined: 18 Jun 2000
Posts: 1400

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Having had both my calves filleted by wave fins, from cuts by the trailing edges, I now dull those slightly with sanding. It may affect top end speed slightly, but that is not the main concern for wave fins.
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manuel



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Posts: 1158

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you. All of my fins present a variety of sharpness. The sharpest being tiny little 8cm side bites. Those are thin too. Honestly I don't think performance would be hindered in any way by rounding out the trailing edge especially for wave use. Doesn't have to be extreme either, just a bit dull so the fin doesn't go in so deep.
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