Difference in fins...........

Hard to search this though I'm sure it has been done again and again. Questions is, any real studies done on the difference in performance between standard, st and st/turbo fins?....................ck

_________________
Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

This isn't very scientific but I have found that my cruising speed improves by about 1km/h with each fin upgrade. In my Adventure I can comfortably cruise at 5-6km/h on standard fins, 6-7 km/h on ST's and 7-8km/h on Turbo's according to my GPS.
Roadrunner has done more thorough research. If you type speed, cadence and Roadrunner into the search you will find a lot of useful info!
Try this for starters:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7704&p=36948

I have been using the ST Turbo fins for over a year now. I just bought another revolution for my wife. I went out the other day and decided to try her original fins perhaps considering going back to them on my revolution. NO WAY NO HOW! There was such a big difference in resistance and speed also. The original fins were just too easy and barely any resistance (I like the resistance for exercise). I did find having to pedal more for same distance but that goes with the differences in the fins.
I have just ordered the ST fins and I am going to try those and see how the mid range is. If I still prefer the Turbos I can see if my wife wants to upgrade to the ST's.

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

The water nearest to me is a completely 'still' canalised river, and when I get my boat, I will oft times feel in the mood to paddle very lazily so as to maintain steerage whilst watching the world go by (possibly, beer in hand) - which fins would be best suited for my purposes?

At other times, I will be intent on making good progress.

Ditch

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

We have an Outfitter. Our friends have an Oasis. They are 15 years our junior. With their Turbos, we could not keep up with our standard fins. So we switched fins and they could hardly keep up with us. So now we both have turbos and we can't keep up again.

_________________
Antique Pedalers. Tandem bike cyclists and tandem Hobie cruisers

So...........Hobie makes, sells 'em, but has no test results other than to quote a user? Wow.............

_________________
Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Clay, performance results vary from one individual to another depending on weather, tide, current, boat type, condition of the Drive, condition of the user, fin tuning (outhaul clew adjustment), what version of the fin you're using, stroke style and length, etc. Additionally, the different boats have different performance curves because of their different hull shapes -- it's not a linear relationship. Finally, slower speeds tend to show bigger differences between fins. If Hobie published data and you didn't achieve that standard, there is a good chance you'd be disappointed, as with most of the published EPA auto mileage data.

We as users can share our experiences and as you see here, we vary in our results too!
At least a couple of other brands of pedaling boats publishes speed data in their advertising. One of those companies uses a former Olympic bicyclist. Having tried the boat myself, I couldn't get anywhere near their published speed. Personally, I'm glad Hobie refrains from publishing speed data for that very reason.

We all do agree though on which fins are faster. Hopefully you find that helpful enough to make an educated decision about which fin style would suit you best.

RR, I understand and appreciate your thoughts. Your various posts on this board are quite helpful and informative on the use of the Hobie products. Thank you for your efforts.

However, I will disagree with your "defense" of Hobie's lack of product information. While I will agree that each person's performance will vary, it would be useful if Hobie tested, which I'm sure they have, and published the results such as 66% of users achieved x higher in speed, 23% a xx higher in speed, etc. etc., yadda yadda yadda, your performance vary. We have disclaimers on using a ladder these days, why not the speed achieved in a mirage drive.

Actually, I am somewhat irritated at Hobie from the get-go as I have already had a warranty problem with the Outback with which they were aware, and the replacement hull falls short of my expectations also, but I'll live with it, though Hobie was prompt in honoring the warranty, just not so perfect in fixing the problem.

As a recent Hobie owner, I see no reason why Hobie does not offer upgrades to fins and rudder prior to purchase for both. While the rudder upgrade was not expensive, $25 or so, it was a wasted $25 as the standard rudder should never be installed on the Outback. It is akin to ordering a meal in a restaurant, only to have the waited ask if I want my drink upgraded to something drinkable for an extra buck..................ck



.

_________________
Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

I think roadrunner clearly describes the difficulty in accurately describing the fins performance differences. Not an easy task and not one I have felt was needed to help sell the differences. We don't have detailed test data worth publishing. I think it is best to keep it simple... 1st, 2nd and third gear.

I am concerned as to why the warranty hull is not up to your expectations?

Upgrades are always at the discretion of the selling dealer. We can not add SKUs with all the possible selling options.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

If you recall, the pedals scraped the sides when pedaling at the last hole. The replacement hull also does it..........................ck

_________________
Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Just out of curiosity, is your Drive an '07 or older?

Sorry, don't remember. I don't handle claims much anymore. We don't normally replace for that kind of issue. Was this delivered from the factory with the expectation that something had changed?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I have a revo. On my old outback, I had turbo fins. The mast and fins were constantly getting bent and riped. I fish near rocks most of the time and some open ocean. I usually do about 8-14 miles for a outting. For me, I decided to go middle of the road for my revo. The st fins have been working out great. I do hit rocks here and there. I did upgrade to the new sprocket. It was a great upgrade as well as the rudder conversion. The extra inch on the turbo fins for extra speed was not worth it for me. As roadrunner says, it depends on the person and the fishing environment. If 80 percent of my fishing were in deep waters, I would be using the turbo fins.

_________________
John

We had quite a few emails back and forth regarding this issue, surprised you don't recall. Anyway, the pedals hit the sides of the kayak when pedaling in the last hole and it was replaced with a new '09 hull (mine was a new '08) that was supposed to not do that. It also does the same, perhaps, not as badly, but still hits nonetheless. And yes, it was replaced with the expectation that the new hull was wider at that point, per your emails..........................ck

_________________
Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.