Hola, Atlanta -
Got my fingers crossed for tomorrow (Saturday) - somewhere. (sorry to see Hartwell is falling through. Would have been fun to meet everyone there. But as it is now, Stephen and I - maybe Dmitri - are likely to end up at Norman or Murrary to avoid the rain/storms as best as possible).
Anyway, about fins (see photos). I've got this weed fin and I"ve never sailed one. The other two fins seem to work fine with this board in my un-refined estimation. BUT... I've certainly been snagging leaves at least a half dozen times per session over this fall season. No big deal - I just spin out a bit and often end up doing a 3 point tack to shake them loose (kind of my standard style anyway 
)
Does anyone ever sail weed fins during leaf season to mitigate this issue!? Might I notice a drop in performance if I did, or a different enough experience that it may require a different sailing style?
I should really try the weed fin sometime, but where I'd launch either at Norman or Murray tomorrow both require some upwind effort to get into more open water. I generally don't mind investing this effort, but I don't want to have to do it too often in a limited sailing window messing about with gear changes. So any practical experience here may just save me a little trouble.
Any short or long answers welcome (or even a little "bugger off, ya fin-sailing wanker. We're all foilers now" if that's the kind of day it is 
). Otherwise....thanks, and hope everyone has a fun/safe sail tomorrow wherever you end up ~ 
That looks like a nice weedie that does attempt to mend one of the criticisms of them - it is set forward from the base so the center of lift stays relatively in the same place. Some weedies don't do that and it kind of messes up the board trip because it's like putting the fin 10 cm further back - you end up having to adjust the mast base and it still never feels quite right. You might still need to tinker with the mast base position, though.
And you do give up a bit of efficiency especially going upwind so if clawing your way off a lee shore is a thing, a straight fin will be better. That assumes you are planing going upwind. They'll slog just as miserably as a regular fin.
They may be a bit more forgiving in a turn because of the sweep but, honestly, most of the people I've seen cling to them for this reason aren't good at making jibes anyway so imho it's a placebo effect/bandaid for technique issues.
fwiw, most of us only use them at OBX, FL, etc when we get tired of spinning out and not until. No harm in trying it as I've definitely felt some leaves, etc in the last couple of weeks on my foil.
Nice board, btw...
it is, isn't it!?
And thanks - that's a perfect run down for what I needed. I'll probably just focus on maximizing fun between rain/storms tomorrow and won't bother with the weed trial. But all perfect perspective for next time.
(and the fin you sent me for this board, btw, is not in the line-up because....well...uh..... I smashed it on an underwater rock in Hartwell several weeks ago
. Set off one of my bigger "adventures" in a while, floating 1/2 mile to nearest lee shore, then hitching a 5 mile ride back to my car. Big thanks to the 2nd guy I explained my situation to, who stopped me halfway through the story to say "I can take you" 
)
What webguy said. I always use a big weedfin in known weed conditions (FL mostly) but almost never at lakes.
I have two I use in Hatteras. They’re a tad bigger than my normal fins and work surprisingly well, I really don’t notice any difference.
One has a felt strip glued in the gap at the front, the other doesn’t and it snags and holds weeds like crazy in that little gap.
Alan
My 2 cents. I’ve only once found a weed fin worthwhile at L Lanier due to pine needles & leaves. Despite the reduction in performance, a weed fin is essential when there are weeds.
Barrett
I live in fl and rarely use a weed fin. It will generally save rigging about a meter smaller sail if the wind picks up 10 or so mph or some storm conditions
Also like your board