MyPaipoBoards Forums

Hi Folks,

I just got my Austin paipo with two side bites and I was wondering what the difference is from using a longer center skeg. THanks!

Hi Andyz,

The major difference is probably the quick turning radius vs. the drive one can obtain from the center fin effect. Austin usually includes side bites that are more appropriate for using the board in a twin fin setup. My sidebites of choice are much smaller and my center fin ranges from 4 to 5 inches, but I have also used a 6 incher. I adjust the center fin placement according to wave conditions.
http://mypaipoboards.org/skegs/MySideBites.shtml

P.S. I live right up the road from you!

Maybe we can meet at the beach sometime. In the summer I go to Ocean City, NJ. Hope to be there this coming weekend. After that I will head back to Delaware or Maryland, haven't surfed there in a while so I don't know what's breaking anymore.
And thanks for the info on skegs. I think I might like a center skeg more.

Also, in the old forum your comments on fins were very helpful. Thanks!

Andy Z

Andy, we should make a day trip down to OC/Assateague. Will try to squeeze it in some time over the next two months but I will be on travel status quite a bit. Putting on a wetsuit again in mid-November may kill me! Planning a short trip down to Hatteras -- something like Thu/Fri to Tue, Oct 8 weekend, if you can get away. One of my paipo/surfing buddies, Rick Miale, from western NC, will meeting up for part of the weekend.

PhillyPaipo, are you up for a road trip?

I would love to take a day trip to OC/Assateague. Hope you enjoy your travels, sounds like you'll be in warm water. Can't make the Hatteras trip though, can't get the time off work.
Two questions, where can you find an FCS center skeg that is less than 6"?
Also, has anyone tried that nose riding skeg with the hollow cylinder in it?
OK, third question. For our sometimes hollow beach break here on the east coast, about what length of skeg will give you maximum drive before you hit diminishing returns? Is it that 6" inches you mentioned? Thx! Happy travels!

I am guessing your fin box layout is the same as below -- an industry standard Fins Unlimited center fin box in the middle and two FCS sidebite boxes (sometimes Austin uses Futures). For a 6 in or less center fin std box you can look for Fins Unlimited, True Ames or Rainbow Fin Company. Some of these fin companies are listed here:
http://www.rodndtube.com/surf/info/WaveRidersPage.shtml Over the past several years I have been using a 4 or 4.5 in center fin and adjust it fore and aft in the fin box depending upon conditions. Most of my center fin boxes use an easy bolt (like a Wonder Bolt) so I can make a fin adjustment in the water, or more likely, on the beach.

My standard everyday sidebites are made by Turbo Tunnel, as sidebites to compliment their big tubey center fin. You can buy them directly from turbo tunnel or on-line via eBay - both have periodic specials/deals. They are hard to find in your local surf shop. As are anything other than the standard long board fins of 8 inches and larger or thruster fins, which I consider too large for my paipo sidebites, but okay as a twin fin setup.

try, for yourself, ditching the sidebites and put in a 9" flex "greenough" style fin. it will take youi to worlds unknown...you might say, like a, stomach boarding porno!

Experiment, experiment, experiment.

On my last trip to Hatteras I started out with the same configuration I've always used - the 6" center and the two turbo tunnel side bites. It always works and has worked well. One day I decided that I wanted to go old school and surf it as a twinnie. Out came the sides and the center fin, in went the twins (3.5 or 3.75). It was ok. Slid out more than I liked but the turns were more drawn out and graceful. I could picture a day when that would have been perfect. One afternoon I was talking to one of the guys on the trip and he said "dude, try that as a thruster". Out came the side bites and center fin, in when the thruster fins, I think 3.5. Wow, what a difference. Very very grippy, I wasn't sliding out anymore and it screamed down the wave. Control seemed better, I could just go where I wanted to. It held through some pretty sharp bottom turns and when I turned off the lip it sent out an impressive spray. I stuck with that setup the rest of the trip.

For fins you can try ebay, etc. Rainbow has centers for not too much, too. http://rainbowfins.bizeconnect.com/?mai ... _fins.html

Hi Rick,
Are riding an Austin?

Since this post is about skegs, a quick question as I do not want to hijack this thread. My skeg-less boards all seem to slide out the most on a weaker horizontal type of wave. Steep, powerful, hollow is incredible. Is this what others are finding as well?

Slipping out can happen on those real slopey waves with my finned boards (e.g., Austin paipo). Funny feeling. Very easy to engage the fin(s) a split second later.

I have not had a slipping out problem with the Austin. I use it as a twin fin with the skegs that it comes with.

My side bites on the Austin are very small (~2") and center fin these days is 4 or 4.5 in.

I largely ride finless and I'm more likely to lose the edge on fatter waves. It's simply a matter of adjusting your body position to regain control and a bit of anticipation that it is going to happen as the juice-o-meter drops. In such situations it's better to ride higher up in the wave.

Bob