Spinout (yeah!) / fins

Spinout (yeah!) / fins

Post by t.. » Wed, 19 Jun 1991 02:14:09


I'm sure this topic has made the rounds once or twice, but not in
the last six months...

I just started sailing coyote this summer and I am plagued by spinout
problems.  I've been sailing an 8'10" SeaLevel custom in ~5.0 weather
with 1-3 ft chop.  Oh yeah, my fin is a 10.5" slotted pointer/slalom
type fin.  Anyway, often when I get any air (usually involuntarily)
or bounce around I experience catastrophic spinout and end up dragging
my ***in the water until I recover or have to waterstart.

Do people have suggestions on techniques (probably the problem) that
might be helpful, or more appropriate fins for the conditions?

Thanks, tom

 
 
 

Spinout (yeah!) / fins

Post by Hens Vanderscho » Wed, 19 Jun 1991 04:31:43

Quote:

> ......  Anyway, often when I get any air (usually involuntarily)
> or bounce around I experience catastrophic spinout and end up dragging
> my ***in the water until I recover or have to waterstart.

> Do people have suggestions on techniques (probably the problem) that
> might be helpful, or more appropriate fins for the conditions?

> Thanks, tom

I had this problem for about half a season...  Now when I catch air, whether
I tried to or not, I pull my feet towards me so that I land in a direction
slightly downwind (bear off in the air).  You need to be very aware of
rounding up while airborne.  Often a slight twitch of the rig forward will
also help.

Keep your fin nice and smooth with 600 grit wetsandpaper.

 - Hens

 
 
 

Spinout (yeah!) / fins

Post by Moni Sama » Fri, 21 Jun 1991 05:33:28

Before each session I check my fin for any nicks and sand them out with 400 to
600 grit sandpaper. Any nicks or rough spots on the fin will greatly
encourage spinout.

Moni

 
 
 

Spinout (yeah!) / fins

Post by Kirk Lindstr » Wed, 26 Jun 1991 00:47:31

Quote:
>Before each session I check my fin for any nicks and sand them out with 400 to
>600 grit sandpaper. Any nicks or rough spots on the fin will greatly
>encourage spinout.

>Moni
>----------

I agree here after doing plenty of reseaarch during low tide at Coyote.
For instant repairs, sanding makes a BIG difference, but you also lose
some of the fin shape.  I've found that if the nick isn't too bad, then I can
wait until I get home and fill it in with Locktite 404 and then sand it out
the next day.  I've even rebuilt a squished fin tip this way with good results.
Locktite dries softer than the  material Rainbow uses for fins so it sands out
well without taking too much of the original fin.

I showed a buddy this yesterday who has built boards and he suggested I get some
powdered glass to make the rebuild even stronger.  I will also experiment with
TAB Plastics in the future on the recommendation of my neighbor who ownes an
auto body repair shop.  Epoxy is too brittle and quickly chips out.

-Kirk (I hate ROCKS where there should be water!) out