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Thread: Tracking Fins?
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10-19-2009, 03:42 PM #1Banned
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Tracking Fins?
Can someone that is better with hydro dynamics than me explain the function of tracking fins? Also, my 2001 Outback only has two, yet the new ones have three. Why is that? I pull pretty hard on it when wakeboarding and was wondering if I can benefit from adding a third (or fourth...) fin? Any thoughts?
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10-19-2009, 04:06 PM #2
Tracking fins are meant to help a tournament boat hold a line against lateral forces while pulling a rider. Also take into account the intended purpose of a boat dictates hull design, number of fins and placement. In 2001 the Outbacks intended purpose was skiing and slalom.
The amount of fins a particular boat has is based on hull design. I've seen many boats with only two. I've seen some late model Nautiques and Mastercrafts that only have two. In fact the Moomba XLV only has two if i remember right. I doubt you'd notice any difference, in fact you might actually make it worse.
Besides it would be a lot of glass work to accomplish as you'd have to work an area to accept it, make sure the hull inside is appropriate strengthened, and be darn sure that where you place it won't adversely affect the handling. Tracking fins aren't just placed anywhere, they are where they are for a reason.Last edited by Razzman; 10-19-2009 at 04:10 PM.
2007 Mobius LSV
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10-19-2009, 05:12 PM #3
The LSV has 3, so does that mean it can hanlel more lateral forces?
2009 Moomba Mobius LSV Liquid Force. Indmar 340HP CAT
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10-19-2009, 07:06 PM #4
No, it just means that hull design in that length with less surface mass works better with three. The XLV being bigger and having more surface mass probably works just fine with two is all.
2007 Mobius LSV
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10-19-2009, 11:24 PM #5
My neighbors' X-15 has none. I haven't seen it on the trailer, and their lift barely gets the hull out of the water, so I can't verify it. I have no reason to think that they're not correct.
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10-20-2009, 10:10 AM #6Banned
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Okay, sounds good. So if my boat is getting pulled sideways a bit when a heavy rider is cutting out hard, can I do anything about this? Do the fins help at all when the rider is edging out hard and the boat rolls over to the side? I assume that is what a keel is for on a sailboat, so do the fins on our boats act as mini keels or are they too smal to make much difference?