10/23/2025
First New Templates of the Season!
As is often the case when a new surf season rolls around in Hawai'i, we start looking at new fin designs. This year is no different.
We wanted to investigate a higher-aspect ratio fin design that optimized lift generation. We had this idea for a new type of quad set design that aligned with our now-proven BLENDED-WING design. The BLENDED-WING concept takes the fin's profile and bends it roughly halfway, creating two distinct facets. The bottom half is used to initiate the drive into a turn, while the top half powers out of the turn. With a high-aspect-ratio fin design, more drive is often needed to activate the turn. To accomplish this, we add a small back fin roughly the same height as the bottom half of the main fin. This back fin is shaped in such a manner as to not interfere with the turning ability of the main fin. This requires a fin with more base and less tip, but with a soft tip for fluidity.
Let’s introduce the GR8 (great) quad setup! This setup features the GR8-613BW (6 1/8”) main fin and the GR8-338 back fin. You’ll notice we’ve chosen a much larger (taller) main fin to boost lift generation. To balance this, we’ve included a smaller back fin, which helps keep the turning smooth while adding some extra power. Also, the back fin’s design makes it pretty flexible in terms of placement. We still recommend a tight fin cluster for this setup.
The initial v1 design of the GR8-613BW has 55º of rake, but after building the first prototype, we are now considering increasing the rake to add more projection to the setup. The next v2 version will have 52º of rake. We looked into more rake, but it affected the fin's aspect ratio and, hence, lift generation. We were looking for something between the rake of the Q2-500 and the BW-500. The GR8-338 back fin has a much steeper rake to enhance its function.
The design of the main fin was also driven by the goal of making it an excellent twin-fin choice. This drove the need to balance the design between turning ability, drive, and projection. The design also features a "base forward" design, meaning that as the fin gets larger, the base stays pinned at the back of the fin. This results in the fin's center of effort moving forward as its size increases, helping keep the template balanced with the box placement.
Currently, there are three templates for the main fin: GR8-513BW, GR8-568BW, and GR8-613BW. You'll notice that they are all taller than would be the norm for our designs.
We are in the process of producing some test sets so we can get these into waves for feedback. Once we receive the ride reports, we can start refining the design, if needed.
Stay tuned!
Sanded Australia Lancelot Pearson
