The Al Merrick Keel (AMK) by Channel Islands is a modern take on a classic design. The AMK features a modern rake and graduated tip flex that’s finely tuned for fast, high performance surfing. This keel-fin design is built to rip, but also ideal for those that just want to groove.
Template Category | Keel (speed control, drive, trim)
Construction | Fiberglass
Size | Large Twin
Brand
Futures Fins
The Longo brothers had a reputation for tackling challenging aerospace parts and fabricating hydrogen fuel cells for research, but in 1996 they decided to combine their technical know-how with something they loved. Surfing. They have always considered building locally extremely important, and now this allows us at Futures to dream up a fin, design it, cut it and surf it, all in a matter of hours under one roof in Huntington Beach. With this ability, we constantly evolve our designs, creating new feelings and new experiences. Sharing these new innovations with other surfers is what fuels our devotion to progression.
As innovators, we are driven to improve, to never settle. Each wave is an opportunity to develop, to learn and grow. Surfers have been riding waves for hundreds of years, and it is with deep respect that we continually refine surf equipment with feedback from the elite surfers and shapers in the world. We continue to learn together so that we can in turn equip the beginning surfer to the world champ with the right product, and clear information so they can easily dial in their equipment. This is why we spend our resources on tools like The Ride Number and a bunch of in house engineers instead of relying on the next flashy advertising campaign.
We believe this is why surfers all over the world consider Futures the ultimate source for exceptional performance surf equipment created by surfers for surfers. It is about being authentic, challenging the status quo, and standing for the evolution of our sport. Sometimes it is even about pushing beyond what appears to make sense, because we believe that we can’t find our limits unless we try to push past them. That is why we were the first to make a pre-lamination fin box that gets its strength from the fiberglass. Then later, when surfers were testing the limits of waves that were no longer paddle-able, we were the first to develop stiff stable big wave fins.
We continue to develop new products like Alpha, and tools like Ride Number. These are just the beginning. We would love to tell you more about the next products that are coming, but we can’t. At least just not yet. Thank you for joining us in this journey.
THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO SURFBOARD SELECTION THESE ARE THE POINTS TO CONSIDER
LENGTH
Typically surfboards are measured in inches. The length is measured from the nose to the tail. Choosing the length of the surfboard is dependant on your size (weight, height), board type and waves conditions you wish to use the board for.
WIDTH
The widest point of the surfboard is measured from rail to rail. Generally the wider the surfboard the more stable the board, while a board with smaller width maintains better speed and performance.
BOARD THICKNESS
Surfboard thickness is measured from the top deck to the bottom. The thickness again has a bearing on the board’s performance. Professional surfers will tend to go for the thinner boards as they are lighter and offer better performance.The thicker boards are stronger and because there is more foam under the surfer the boards are more stable.
ROCKER
The bottom curve of a surfboard. Generally the more rocker the surfboard has the more loose (manoeuvrable) the surfboard will be. Where the flatter rocker surfboards will be faster, although they will lack the looseness. The nose is the tip of the surfboard, the nose can vary in shapes and size. Basically the thinner the nose the more response the board will perform, while wider noses are better for stabilization.
STRINGER
Used to increase the strength of a surfboard, a stringer (normally made from wood) runs down the length of a surfboards (typically in the centre of the board from the tip of the nose to the tail).
Boards built with Epoxy, Carbon Fibre and soft boards generally don’t have stringers.
FINS
Generally heavier surfers require larger fins to hold the waves better. Although if you prefer to ride a looser (less hold in the waves), smaller fins would be a better option.
FIN CONSIDERATIONS
Fin configurations have an effect on the ways your surfboards perform.
The following are some of the more common fin configurations.
SINGLE FIN
The single fin was the original fin configuration for surfboards. Based on the idea of the sailboat keel. Single fins are added stabilization and control on the powerful, larger waves, although lack manoeuvrability
TWIN FIN
Are great for small waves, being fast and manoeuvrable, but when put into tight spots on larger waves, they become hard to control. Popular with Fish surfboards.
THRUSTER 3 FIN
Widely recognized as the standard fin configuration, the thruster answers the shortcomings of the single fin and the twin fins configurations.
The thrusters give you stabilization, control and manoeuvrability in all types of surfing conditions.
This concept was the brainchild of Australia’s Simon Anderson
QUADS 4 FINS
With four fins in the water, Quads boasts an extraordinary amount of holding power in larger surf.
You may think that having four fins would sacrifice speed by creating more drag, but this is not the case.
The both sets of fins are working together on the rail, which makers believe they creates less drag than a board with a centre fin.
The manoeuvrability isn’t sacrificed either, with fins directly under your back foot, the quads are very responsive.
KEEL
Similar setup to the Twin Fin, although smaller (low profile) fins are generally placed wider (closer to the rails) on the surfboard.
Popular with Fish and Egg / Retro surfboards.
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