fin for a finless boat?
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=734
Printed Date: December-02-2024 at 6:58pm
Topic: fin for a finless boat?
Posted By: KevinPaul
Subject: fin for a finless boat?
Date Posted: August-16-2004 at 1:58pm
I have a 1969 Barracuda that gets regular use pulling my family on skis, tiubes and wakeboards. I have owned the boat for a decade, 3rd owner, and it really is a gem. It does not have a fin and I was wondering if it should. Virtually every other inboard I've seen, including the half dozen different brands on my lake, have them. If I should install one, what would the benefits be and where should I locate it? Thanks for your help!
Oh yea, why didn't the Barracuda have one, while others do? There are no holes patched in the hull or any other indication that there once was a fin subsequently removed.
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Kevin
'69 Barracuda
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Replies:
Posted By: kenny g
Date Posted: August-16-2004 at 6:39pm
they aint no fin on my 68.barracuda
are u thinking of the fin shaped pitot 4 the speedo ?
no fins on the 68 mustang ss i just picked up ,or the 70 hm mustang.
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kenny g
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Posted By: reidp
Date Posted: August-16-2004 at 9:15pm
As far as Correct Crafts go, the only models that I know of that came from the factory standard with fins, were Ski Nautiques, Ski Tiques, and latest version American Skiers, but basically the most serious ski versions. Not to say that someone didn't order one special, but I've never seen one on a Mustang, Barracuda, Skier, Wildcat, Skylark, Tahoe, etc, etc.. Of course this doesn't include all of the various late model versions. If you've been skiing behind this fine boat for a decade as I have behind a finless Mustang, then I don't know if I would change it now. After having driven both, you can definitely tell the difference in the steering response. The fin not only helps it track straighter, but when you turn the wheel just slightly, you get more immediate response like a car, and that's with just the single fin which the original Nautiques came with. The newer multi-fin boats are like riding on rails. But unless you're running constantly thru a slalom course or pulling some high level sliers, well I don't know. Anyone else ever installed one on a Barracuda?
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ReidP
/diaries/details.asp?ID=231&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975 - 1973 Mustang
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Posted By: 77stang
Date Posted: August-16-2004 at 9:36pm
hey reidp - whats a Tahoe? CC has made so many boats that i'm always finding another i was unaware of. by chance did you see the CC grandprix on Ebay a few weeks ago. Very slick - low profile 18 or 19 foot with a big block buick. It had a center console like the Mustang SS.
it regards to fins - I was unaware of their existance prior to say the Nautique 2001. I got a dozen or two old SPRAY magazines from 78 through 81. I might need to take a second look to see if fins are on the Nautique ads.
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Posted By: David F
Date Posted: August-17-2004 at 4:13pm
My 77 Martinique does not have fin(s). Sure it slides a bit when turning, but it does not really bother me. When pulling skiers, I am usually driving straight ahead. I suppose if I pulled a slalom course, the fins would help in making minute steering corrections.
I have heard that you cannot simply bolt a fin in place and expect it to stay put. The forces on the fin while turning are rather large and you risk ripping the fin off the bottom of the boat and putting a rather large hole in your boat to boot. Could be a wifes tale, but why take the chance. Also, it would be very hard to flush mount the fin properly.
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Posted By: KevinPaul
Date Posted: August-17-2004 at 4:25pm
Thanks for all the input, I think all things considered I'll skip a fin installation. I have noticed some movement when large adults ski hard but I primarily pull my kids and we're not competetitive skiiers so it's fine.
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Kevin
'69 Barracuda
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Posted By: reidp
Date Posted: August-17-2004 at 6:00pm
I Missed the Grand Prix, darnit. The Tahoe was a fancy 60's boat sitting on a Mustang hull. If you can find the Cedar Point photos in the Forum, there's one there, plus I believe he has it up for sale on Boattraderonline. I believe some or most of them had center consoles as well and very cool gauges with large chrome frames/bezels.
As for fins, they were actually installing them on the Nautiques way back in the 60's. In the reference section, they're shown as standard equipment on all the earlier Nautiques listing info as such, at least back to the 1968 brochure, and looks like they went from one fin to two in about 1974 or 1975 I believe it shows.
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ReidP
/diaries/details.asp?ID=231&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975 - 1973 Mustang
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