Paddleboard fins owe their existence to fins used on conventional surfboards. It was not until 1935 that the concept was first pioneered by American Tom Blake, and later, the modern surfboard fin was truly realised in the 1960s by Australian George Greenough. Initially, a single fin was added, then twin fins emerged in the late 1970s and tri-fins in the 1980s. All these additions were made to advance the rider’s need to be more radical and find control where it was needed.
THE PRIMARY HARDWARE FACTOR YOU CAN CONTROL
Paddleboard fins are not just vital to the performance of your paddleboard, but they also provide a degree of freedom of control over your board's overall handling. They are the only significant variable factor you can alter to enhance your paddleboarding experience.
• More speed
• Greater directional control
• Increased manoeuvrability
HOW DOES A PADDLEBOARD FIN FIT TO A PADDLEBOARD?
The fin's heel is slotted into a slender fin box, and the base is pushed firmly into the box track.
The fin is then secured using a single screw that slots into a base plate in the box-track.
Depending on the design, this is firmly secured, either finger-tight or using a screwdriver or hex key.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A PADDLEBOARD FIN?
Ultimately, directional control is the primary purpose when:
• Wanting to keep the board travelling as straight as possible
• Have control when turning
HOW MANY FINS DOES A PADDLEBOARD HAVE?
Conventional paddleboards for paddling only have one fin and are called single-fin boards. This is because they are primarily dedicated to travelling in a straight line with minimal emphasis on turning. These fins may range from 9" to 7” long, as used on hardboard race and touring paddleboards or inflatable race and touring paddleboards.
When three fins are added, boards are called tri-fin. This usually applies to a SUP board that may also be used for or dedicated to wave riding, where turning is a critical element of the discipline. These fins will tend to be shorter in length than on single fin boards, with the central fin being the longest and the outer ‘side-bite’ fins being shorter (5-3”)
Specialist SUP surfing boards sometimes have quad or five-fin setups.
The fins are usually 6-3” short and designed for radical moves and optional setups.
WHAT LENGTH PADDLEBOARD FIN SHOULD I USE?
For boards of 14’, a 9” fin is generally best, and as you move to a shorter board, the fin length can decrease; for a 12’6 board, think of using an 8” fin.
WHAT SHAPE ARE PADDLEBOARD FINS?
Rake Fin: A swept-back racked fin provides adequate directional stability and smooth, long, drawn-out turns. It is most commonly supplied with inflatable stand-up paddleboards. These fins offer good all-around performance and are classified as ‘weed-free’ because weed and debris generally slide off.
Pivot Fin: An upright design which offers high top-end speed with less drag but unpredictable turns.
They can also have issues hooking up on weeds and debris, so you must use them in clean, open waters, which is uncommon for paddleboarding. A variation of this is a touring fin with a thick chord (depth), which fits between a raked and angulated fin design.
Angulated Fin: A fin without curvature but angulated backwards provides less drag than a pivot fin while retaining weed-free status and controllable turns over flat to choppy waters. It is ideal for racing, touring and recreational paddling. Mistral provides this style of performance fin with all of its inflatable paddle boards.
FIN CONSTRUCTION
Polycarbonate: Polycarbonate is commonly used with inflatable SUP board fins. Depending on a particular additive, they have varying degrees of flex, which can be a good safety feature when grounding and for general handling. The stiffer they are, the more high-performing they will be. We use a stiffer polycarbonate material.
Fibreglass: A common material that is robust and ideal for most fin applications. It can be heavy for longer fins over 6” but is adequate for shorter fins.
Carbon Fibre: The holy grail of paddleboard fin material, resulting in a lightweight performance fin. Our high-end race and touring fins are made using a resin transfer mould (RTM) to produce all-carbon paddleboard fins with precisely engineered raked back angle that minimises snagging on debris, ensuring trouble-free navigation through various water environments, which may include reed, seaweed and other debris. This paddleboard fin upgrade enhances the handling of your SUP during touring and day trips. Designed for maximum lateral stability and minimal drag, our 8" carbon race and touring SUP fin offers superior performance over flat or choppy water. It's the perfect match for paddleboards up to 12’6, providing optimal control and responsiveness. For exceptionally rough waters if paddling a 12’6 board, consider our 9” Silver Tip carbon SUP fin model for enhanced stability and control despite slightly increased drag.
Composites: A mix of carbon and fibreglass.
PADDLEBOARD FIN POSITIONING
In the case of a single fin board, the further forward you position the fin, the more manoeuvrable the board will be, but this will depend on the length of the fin box and its position as to how much range of positioning you have. Set for back, the board will tend to travel straighter.
