The construction that futures uses is a Carbon fiber base, Texcellium mid section, and a fiber glass tip. This keeps the fin stiff at the base for drive, and allow gradual flex instead of a pivot point in the fin. Futures didn't use this new material technology on one of their standard templates. They implemented their vector foils to give the Solus several different planing surfaces on the inside face, and rounded out the vector hatchet center fin.
The FCS H-3 Nexus didn't go half way either. They used Bi-axial Carbon and Uni-directional Kevlar to control the flex and twist of the fins. FCS designed the Nexus using a low aspect ratio elliptical template. The base of the fins are also long, providing drive. This is combined with a highly cambered foil through the fin base further increasing drive and hold.The tips of the H-3 Nexus fins on the other hand feature moderate volume and a low cambered foil, offering stability and fin release.
Here are some videos from the manufacturers describing the fins themselves.
FCS Nexus Development from FCS on Vimeo.
Thanks for the videos! Diggin both design. The shapes of the carbon fiber layers on the two designs seem to be giveaways to the design process for the two. It seems to me that FCS has input a little more calculated engineering in their design, while Futures' design has surmounted due to a guess-and-check method using their past fin designs.
ReplyDeleteThe carbon fiber layer on the Futures design has a profile similar to the overall fin, and the shape seems to be based more on aesthetics rather than engineering know-how.
In contrast, the triangular-shaped carbon fiber layer in the fcs design suggests to me that its size and shape has been calculated for a very specific flex pattern. I think I'm gonna go with FCS on my next board.