I like the way vee loosens up single fin midlengths and longboards. i see them as a single pivot point. I’ve always started mine at the mid point and ended them right in front of the fin box, peaking between those two points with a height of 1/4". But I just realized that I usually have the leading edge of my single fins sitting about 3" back from the end of the front of the box, so maybe I should end the vee there instead. To complicate it further, Im think of adding side bites for hold on larger waves, but then I would probably slide the center fin forward a bit, making the pivot point start a bit further up.
I also read here about folks running them right out the back of the tail, but I wonder if that directs the water away from the fin, making for a slower turn. When I look at boards in local shops, i usually see it running right out the tail BUT theyre usually 5 fin setups, and that cant be ideal. I mean that vee cant be optimum for all the different fin configurations possible. Am I thinking right here?
Longer boards to the rear of the box; 5, 5 1/2 or 6". Sidebites @ extreme 17", 16 1/2 or 16" and as far back as 15 1/2". If your center box is set right and the fin is centered in the box; when the waves get bigger all you have to do is add the sidebites. In Hawaii I rode a 9’4" with the center box at six inches and the sidebites at 17 or 16 1/2". Fin was usually at the center of the box. Usually did not put the sidebites in unless the waves were well overhead and steep at someplace like Honolua or a couple of other unnamed lefts.
To clarify, you’re saying with that setup your vee ends 5-6" from tail end?
And regarding smaller builds 7-7’6", my design would change if I expected to take it ito overhead waves. I think softer rails, pulled tail, and concave, along with thruster or quads might be a better fit, and vee wouldnt be in the equation
I’ve never done vee that way. I use a little belly or a blended chine to smooth out the ride. I use a little vee at the fins. I’ve also done the “dome” at the main fin a few times (that worked for those boards). I know some people put a little vee in the nose on boards being used in bigger conditions (cuts through chop), but I’ve never done vee in the middle of the board.