Fin adjustments

[Skihack]

I was reading the Nano One settings thread, in which a BOSer stated that he was adding depth to get more tip. That got me to thinking is depth and tip mutually exclusive or inclusive when you add depth or take away depth? I mean obviously when you add length, you are adding tip at the same time. Right? If you drop the tip, then obviously you get more length than if you dropped the rear of the fin. Vice Versa, by dropping the rear of the fin you get more depth than you would if you dropped the tip. Now, if you were working with some of the older stainless EP fins which were not straight down at the top back, you would bet entirely different results.

[Gloersen]

adding depth is typically exclusive of adding length (tip). Likewise vice-versa. Some will describe a certain fin adjustment to achieve a desired ski attitude result, e.g., adding fin length will cause more ski tip pressure. Adding depth (length unchanged) will reduce ski tip pressure, typically adds speed & width but may reduce the acuity of the turn, especially toe-side.

 

Any time 1 dimension is changed it may affect the other requiring all 3 be accurately measured & set to desired change or retention.

[ForrestGump]

Adding depth while keeping length the same increases the fin ratio(fin surface area), thereby effectively adding tip pressure to the ski. If you wanted to add depth for a specific reason, but didn't want to effect tip pressure, then the correct move would be to decrease fin length when adding depth to keep the fin ratio the same.

[SkiJay]

@Skimech With pretty much any fin, when you change any one measurement, the other two measurements will change too. FDT changes affect the other measures because most skis gets thinner towards the tail. FL changes FD for obvious reasons and FDT depending on where the fin pivots in the rear of the fin block during the change. And FD changes FL & FDT due to the pivot point in the front of the fin block and the shape of the back of the fin, except in the rare case that the back of the fin is actually 90 degrees to the pivot point and ski base which is possible but rare.