The fin … albeit small, this is one of the most prominent features of a stand up paddle board. If it gets broken, you will wonder: can you paddle without a fin? Or do you need to get a paddle board fin replacement?
Well, that is what we are going to find out here!
We might also mention that some boards can come with just one fin, while others can come with more than one. Therefore, the question is: how many fins should your paddle board have?
Can you paddle board without a fin? A fin guides the direction of the board. It enhances stability and balance of the board in water. Without a fin, a stand up paddle board is like a rudderless ship in the ocean. It would just spin in circles and ride with the current. If yours breaks, get a stand up paddle board replacement fin.
Are paddle board fins important on your SUP board?
Stand up paddle board fins are so important, such that you should never even think of going into the water if your board has no fin.
You see, it is the sole of the SUP fins to help you keep your board under control with every stroke. If you decide to paddle board without a fin, your board will become impossible to control.
With that information in mind, the thing you should be asking is not whether fins are important. You should be asking what you should get between 3 fins vs 1 fin sup.
If you break your fin, you should consider getting a SUP fin replacement soon, before you go paddle boarding again.
3 vs 1 fin SUP: How They Work
How many fins should a paddle board have?
Now that you know how important a SUP fin is, how many should your board have? Well, it either comes with one or three fins. If it has one, it is just one large fin that is set up in its fin box with a screw and nut, tightened fully.
For the paddle board to run or to track, it will need the fin to move back and forth. This is why all sup boards have a channel in which the fin moves backward or forwards.
If the owner of the board pushes the fin forward, it improves the steering and turning. If he/she pushes it backwards, it helps the board to track better.
If your board has three fins, it tracks much better than a 1-fin SUP board. Also, you can remove the center fin and keep the two side fins and the board will track just fine.
However, please note you can only mind about the tracking when you are paddling on flat water. If you are paddling in wild water, you will need to move the center fin, which is the largest, forward to help with the steering.
The same also applies if you are paddle boarding in waves.
Racing fins
Racing fins mostly come in the rigid style, but it is also possible to find some that come in the flexible style. Rigid racing fins are good for tracking when racing down water.
Flexible racing fins are good for tracking in debris and rocks. When they hit a solid item, they give way therefore preventing you from falling headlong into the water. Besides, flexible fins tend to help you navigate solid obstructions in a much better way.
If you are doing whitewater stand up paddling, consider the flexible fins if there are logs, rocks and other obstacles. This fin will just flex around such, allowing you to paddle along.
The anatomy of a paddle board fin
It may look simple and small, but there is nothing small about how it operates. So what makes up the paddle board fins?
Fin materials
The paddle board fin can be made of fiber glass, plastic or carbon fiber. Of course, plastic ones may be more affordable.
Inflatable SUP fins are usually made of rubber. Basically, when you are buying a paddle board replacement fin, you can try any material that you fancy.
The paddle board fin structure
First, there is the base which is the widest and the top part of the fin, you know, the fin that goes into the channel in the board that has been designed for just that.
Then there is the tip, which is the narrow end of the fin that drops into the water. It affects how your board tracks and the speed too.
The leading edge of the fin is the front edge of the fin. It helps with the steering and turning of the board. Also referred to as the sweep or rake, it helps the board to lose weeds that it might collect as you paddle.
The trailing edge is the other edge – the back edge of the fin. It, too, slows or increases the speed of the board as well as helping in the steering.
Are paddle board fins universal?
SUP fins are not universal. Therefore, when you are looking for a fin replacement for your paddle board, you need to find one that is compatible. Of course, the channel or box on the board where the fin fits is going to guide you.
On the same note, SUP fins are interchangeable. This means you can use different types of fins on the same board. Probably that is why we recommend that you get different types of fins for your boards.
For instance, a long fin is good for balance and stability. A racing fin is good for down river paddling while other fins are good for flat water paddling.
If you have all of these fins, you can transform your board from a flat water SUP to a racing SUP in a moment.
Overall, how to put fin on paddle board is very simple. You will hardly need any assistance since it is so straightforward and it requires minimal tools.
Can You Paddle Without A Fin?
Now that we know the anatomy of a paddle board fin, the materials and the design, it is time to come to the heart of the matter.
Can you paddle your SUP board without a fin? Apparently not, unless you do not mind swaying all over helter-skelter in the water.
Since a fin can enhance the balance and stability of the board, paddling without it is almost suicidal especially in whitewater.
There are types of stand up paddle board fins in the market. Therefore, if you break yours, get a replacement fin.
If you are a beginner, get a paddle board with a large fin because such enhances the stability and balance of the board.
Racing fins are for sportsmen and women who just worry about building downriver speed. Such fins also leave the board user some amount of control.
Today, you can find many replacement paddle board fins such as the 10-Inch SBS SUP Fin that you can buy on Amazon.com.
Do you need a fin on a paddle board?
For tracking, keeping the paddle board under your control while it is at speed, you need a fin on that board.
Fins also help you to maintain the direction of the board, or where you want the board to go. If you try paddling a board that has no fin, it will go wild on you. It will keep changing direction.
Fin-less paddle boards will perform a serious spin on you, and they will be impossible to control. Advanced users find this very frustrating. You can imagine just how frustrated beginners will feel.
If you are paddle boarding in a lagoon or pond where the water is very calm, you can go finless. It is easy to control a finless board on calm water. However, as soon as there is a bit of current, the board will start going wild.
If you have a SUP with detachable fins, try it on the water without fins. The experience is going to be different, but you will love it.
Some people prefer to ride their boards finless in rivers for a freer ride. Fins also add to the weight of the paddle board. So, going finless can help you if you are planning to race your board.
How many fins does a paddle board have? 3 or 1
A good paddle board has three fins. There is the center fin, which is the main one, it is bigger and bites deeply into the water.
The side fins are smaller, but they are still very functional for your board. They help to keep the board steady on the water, preventing it from slipping sideways.
Please note, not all paddle boards will always come with three fins. Some come with just a single fin. A one-fin SUP board is very good for making turns or steering.
This is why you will find people asking whether 3 SUP fins are better than 1. It depends on your level of experience in stand up paddle boarding.
Some paddle boards with three fins also come with same size fins, all of the three. Such a board has more drag in the water, but it gives you excellent control.
Do all paddle boards have fins?
All paddle boards will come with fins from the market. They can come with fixed or detachable ones. However, whether you use it with a fin or not, is up to you.
If you are a beginner, do not go paddle boarding without fins. The whole experience can turn messy for you very fast.
However, as you gain more experience at stand up paddle boarding, you can try going finless some times. This should make your experience on the water more fun.
All paddle boards that you see in San Diego or Santa Cruz don’t have fins. Some people just love the carefree ride that you get from a finless paddle board.
Before you also decide to go finless, check the condition of the water. If there are no currents, you are going to be fine. If the water is a bit wild, you need to keep the fins to improve the tracking ability of the SUP board.
I guess this answers the question of: Can you SUP without a fin? You sure can but it is not recommended especially in a bathing, swimming or surfing area with a lot of traffic.
On this note though, remember to carry your life jacket for paddle boarding if you will SUP outside the area designated for swimming, bathing or surfing. You can get a Type III life jacket.
Conclusion
Stand up paddle boarding enthusiasts are divided in the middle regarding the issue of having fins on their paddle boards, or going fin-less.
Here are two important tips I’m going to share with you:
- If you are a beginner paddle boarder, please avoid going finless because the board will go wild
- Make sure the water is calm because rough waters can toss your board about too much
A fin helps the solid or inflatable paddle board to track very well in the water. It also helps with the steering.