Tuning Hobie Turbo Fins

[-scallywag-]

There is a pretty good post/test on the hobie forum....I think it was done by a local member "roadrunner". Also lots of good info on lubing/adjusting your drives too.

It seems like the conclusion was that although running the fins "tight" makes the fins harder to push, it did not increase the top speed.

After messing around with the settings alot, I decided I like to run mine pretty loose.....alot less peddle pressure with no loss in speed.

[dsafety]

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

There is a pretty good post/test on the hobie forum....I think it was done by a local member "roadrunner". Also lots of good info on lubing/adjusting your drives too.

It seems like the conclusion was that although running the fins "tight" makes the fins harder to push, it did not increase the top speed.

After messing around with the settings alot, I decided I like to run mine pretty loose.....alot less peddle pressure with no loss in speed.

Thanks Scally,

I found the post on the Hobie site. If Roadrunner is right, and it appears that he knows what he is talking about, most of the posts prior to yours have been passing on bad advice. I have asked Roadrunner to join this discussion when he has a chance.

As for me, I think I will start out with the fins set loose. Thanks for the heads up.

Bob

[Iceman]

I decided I like to run mine pretty loose.....alot less peddle pressure with no loss in speed

This makes sense in the way the fins propel you. The stiff fin would create more resistance, but not more forward momentum. The slight cupping and bend seems like it would give you more forward momentum without working as hard. The forward part of the fin is always equal due to the stainless mast.

[Nic D]

I have mine set in the middle some where... and I like them that way

[dorado50]

I prefer them tight. The harder the workout the better I feel.. Bad advise? I'd say more like personal preference Bob.

[Nic D]

Originally Posted by dorado50

I prefer them tight. The harder the workout the better I feel.. Bad advise? I'd say more like personal preference Bob.

I don't think its bad advise...

I haven't read the thread spoken about above, but wouldn't make sense that you either are pushing more water or less water?

The way I think physics work is if you peddled two different sets of fins, (one tight and one loose ) at the same pace the tighter fins would move more water than the loose fins.

Now in my albeit small brain, its logical that that tighter fins would require you to spend more energy. The loose fins would require you to peddle more times to move the same amount of water as the tighter fins. So it turns out to be less reps but harder or more reps but easier. Your pick!

I'll stay with the middle of the road in this case.

[dsafety]

As a person who has spent a lot of time on sailboats I will add own my small brain opinion. The Hobie fins are really foils just like sails or airplane wings. You get lift or in the case of the fins, forward thrust.

On a sailboat, when the wind is light, you want a lot of curve in the sail. When the wind is strong, you flatten the sail and get more speed. I cannot explain the physics but it just works.

One of the things mentioned in the post on the Hobie site was that kayaks never reach a speed where the "flatter is faster" rule works. I have no idea if that is a true statement but if it is, it makes sense that having a fin with more curve will provide more thrust.

I should not have labeled other's opinions as "bad advice" so if anyone was offended, please accept my apology. What I should have said is that we now have a different theory to consider.

When everything settles out, the difference between one setting and another is probably in the noise and will not have much of an effect on the average guy's day on the water. On the other hand, if you take into consideration that some guys, Skallywag comes to mind, put thousands of miles on their yaks every year, having your gear set up so it provides the most most efficient propulsion could save a lot of wear and tear on the body.

Bob

[dorado50]

I kinda figured you were a sailboat guy.