Surfing Waves

I borrowed my buddy's board and rode my first quad yesterday. I was really impressed by the manueverability of it, so much so that I am thinking about buying one. I live here in NE Florida where we deal with waist to rib high days on average.

I would really appreciate it if someone would break down the advantages/disadvantages of each type of fin system from single, twin, tri fin and quad. I would really like to understand how each system specifically effects turning performance, takeoff, speed and stability. Also, what kinds of fins are better in what conditions.

Thanks a lot guys.

best board you will ever buy ,so much fun even on small days

single is only used on longboards

twin is used on classic fish, make the board loose

thruster (tri) any board, except classic fish, really fast and stable

quad, classic fish, modern fish, semi-fish, fast and very loose


so, twin and quad are generally for smaller waves, but quad can take on bigger waves with a semi fish because it got more rocker than classic and modern fish

but i would say stick with thruster unless you want to venture into new territories... i bought a fireware quad in early 08, didnt like it because it performed quite different to thrusters, so sold it only about a dozen times of use

^ singles are also used on retro boards, but not retro fishes.

quads are very quick through flats and mush, but also much looser. when ridden on a retro fish, it gives it a very 'skatey' feel. i love my retro fish quad, and my boss got a battail quad (typical shortboard shape just with quad fins and a battail) this summer and he loves it. the possibilities of modifying how the quad rides are a lot more than with thrusters with fin combos. i forget how it works, but something like bigger outers with smaller inners give you more drive, and smaller inners and bigger outers make it looser. something like that. i'm 99% sure that's not right, but you can mess about with the sizes/shapes of fins to find something that suits you

yeah love my qued its real fun too ride and just moveing my fins about has it has lok box makes a differents to the why it rides great board

twerked wrote:^ i forget how it works, but something like bigger outers with smaller inners give you more drive, and smaller inners and bigger outers make it looser.

you might want to re-read that one a little bit...

surferdude_scarborough wrote:

twerked wrote:^ i forget how it works, but something like bigger outers with smaller inners give you more drive, and smaller inners and bigger outers make it looser.

you might want to re-read that one a little bit...

yeah, i just made something up. i said i know it's wrong. and yeah, it should be switched eh? i was just using it as an example. i'm not well versed in the science of fins

Single fin boards will teach you how to ride the right lines. As you will be forced to take the proper line or lose speed. I've read this a lot but haven't ever ridden one. They say that if you ride a single fin for a few days each week and jump onto a thruster, you'll improve.

Then again singles don't work well in mush so you need good swell to get the most out of them.

I had a custom epoxy board made that has 5 fin setups, I can use it as a thruster or as a quad. I could spend hours on how many different ways I have tried it, but bottom line I use the thurster setup for steep/hollow waves and the quad setup with small back centers for small/mushy waves.

For sure the quad you get lots of glide in catching waves, more than the thruster.