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A purely simple explanation of fins by a dim wit;
Air is far less efficient a cooling agent as is liquid. Exibit A: Boil 2 eggs. Leave one in air to cool. Place the other in ambient temperature water. Wait 15 minutes and open them up. The one in water is far cooler that the air cooled egg. Apply this same hypothesis to hot metal and Dwight’s question gets answered. Un-finned, air cooled jugs get fried. Hence, fins serve to increase the surface area of the object to be cooled in order to allow for the inefficiency of air. This is why it is possible to have smooth (fin-less) water cooled engines and/or water cooled engines having minimal/marginal fins. Ultimately, if a chicken’s arse could tolerate fins, the perfect egg for boiling would be finned. Now, back to the lab.
Great explanation there, Professor Barry! 
(...I couldn't have stated it better myself!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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