KAWA: Speed & Tracking Flatwater Race

Makani KAWA Fin

I have a KAWA on my NSP Ninja which I am very pleased with. I purchased this second KAWA and modified it by cutting off the base and installing a rudder shaft for my new Mistral Stealth Unlimited flatwater model as I wanted a fin with larger area to improve stability for new paddlers demonstrating the board. (I am the US dealer for Mistral) The fin works very well in straight line paddling and improves turning when used in an offset steering position.

Great Fin, But...

By saying “okay,” I’m not referring to the quality of the fin; it is excellent!! I’m saying I only feel okay about choosing this fin over JR’s recommendation to get the Roto fin after describing the paddling I’ll be doing. Or I should have purchased the combo. That fin does what it’s supposed to do alright! It’s a big fin without a cutout and it does what it says. It tracks and provides speed on flat water!! So it’s awesome for that. My problem is that with any degree of chop, it has a mind of its own and proves unforgiving because of its mass coverage. When my board gets displaced from wind and chop even a little, and especially when I paddle in the fierce crosswinds of the Gulf, my paddle session is all about “stroke, stroke stroke“ then “correct, correct, correct“ repeatedly. Again, not the fins’s fault, and not JR’s fault at all because he rightly said to get the Roto for these conditions. It’s mine for thinking I knew better at the last minute :-/. Again, the quality and look of your find are phenomenal! Your staff and customer service and shipping speed are also phenomenal! I’m looking forward to adding the Roto to my fin quiver the future. Until then, I’ll enjoy this fin on (rare) flat water days :-).

Happy

I am not a pro paddle boarder but happy with the fin. It was a bit sloppy in the finbox but a bit of paint fixed it! Will order again from you guys