QUAD TALK

[IB_Surfer]

Weird, or at least for me, I am confused about my shortboard. It has the five plug setup, as a quad I use PG5 fronts with GX centers in back. My shortie (at least for me it's short, I'm 200lbs) is 6'2. I purposely use centers in back because they drag less than sides, when I surf in crowds I can usually outpaddle anyone.

Back in march it was one or two feet overhead and it seemed that every time I rode it I could not control it. So I went back to thruster and shelved the quads until last weekend. However, I sold a board and the centers with it, and did not get a chance to replace them, so I used GX sides in back. The board rocked, it cut as easily as my thurster, and although the tail slipped on one of the waves it held pretty good in steep walls. It still seems like I can crank turns as a thruster easier, but I catch more waves as a quad.

So, my confusion. The GX centers were my go to fin because I caught more waves, but the GX sides where way better in the wave face. Do I go with wave count or with surfability?? I like catching a lot of waves, usually average a dozen or more, and more easily with centers.

[dtc]

Whats wave count difference between the fins?

[IB_Surfer]

Haven't really thought of it that way, just know it paddles and glides into waves easier.

[dtc]

This is not an answer but...do you want to catch more waves with a less quality ride or fewer waves with more quality.

I recently broke a fin and the only replacement set in the shop was bigger than the ones I had. I put them in and it made a heap of difference gliding into (catching) the wave, but turning was harder. I thought it was a fair trade off.

However, I suspect if I was surfing every day (which I'm not), then missing a few waves here or there wouldnt make a difference and the quality of the ride would be more important.

So, like promised, not an answer...

[Lebowski]

Maybe I haven't experimented with different fins enough, but I can't imagine that the difference in drag between the centres and the side fins would be noticeable at paddling speed. The only difference would be the inside foil, which surely is negligible when you're only moving at 1.5mph or so. I can understand that a thruster would paddle slightly easier, because the rear fins on a quad are toed in, creating drag, whereas the thruster centre fin faces straight forward.

If one set feels better when you're up and riding then I'd go with that set.

[IB_Surfer]

Maybe I haven't experimented with different fins enough, but I can't imagine that the difference in drag between the centres and the side fins would be noticeable at paddling speed.

Not really paddling speed, but when catching waves, seems to glide way easier into the wave.

[pandarturo]

I dunno I usually save my thrusters for choppy days where I know I need a little more stability. But yes they do seem slower

[IB_Surfer]

I dunno I usually save my thrusters for choppy days where I know I need a little more stability. But yes they do seem slower

Really? usually use thruster in steep waves, quad in mushy or smaller waves, regardless of chop. Like today, I surfed Baja in the morning with my thruster because it was a foot overhead and barreling, drove back, then hit a local brake with my quad around 4pm because it was only chest high and crowded. I'll have to pay attention next time it's choppy, never thought about that.

[pandarturo]

I think you're just too used to the thruster when it comes to hold, I've taken my board out as a quad in overhead storm surf and yeah you do get a little free fall action but it makes it more fun.

[IB_Surfer]

I use the quad on big days during high tide, or when the swell direction make the waves peel more than curl. But when it's steep I've had the tail slide out so stopped using the quad in those conditions. It might have been me, maybe not...

[drowningbitbybit]

But when it's steep I've had the tail slide out so stopped using the quad in those conditions. It might have been me, maybe not...

Nope, not just you, I've found the same thing.
I've had two quads - one a big-volume fish thingy for small days, and one a performance shortboard, and on completely different sizes and types of wave, what you say was about right. I always found that I had to go down the face and then bottomturn back up again as the quads wouldn't hold the drop going across the face like a thruster will. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I found it quite limiting on some of the steeper waves round here, so I'm back on thrusters these days.

[Surf Hound]

Opposite for me as I have found 4 fins allows me to hug the wall more and able to hold a higher line. I've been told the like or unlike of quads is more likely due to front foot surfing rather than back?? Not sure about that but I do like quads more than the thruster set up and hardly ride as thruster anymore. I just find I can hold my lines better and have more control. Keep in mind I am a big guy at 225lbs and not needing or wanting to turn on a dime and smash lips etc... like when I was younger. If you took riding quads away from me forever I would be just as happy riding thrusters though -- I just prefer 4 vs 3 but I still have my boards made as a 5 fin set up.

[pandarturo]

Same as hound

[IB_Surfer]

Opposite for me as I have found 4 fins allows me to hug the wall more and able to hold a higher line. I've been told the like or unlike of quads is more likely due to front foot surfing rather than back?? Not sure about that but I do like quads more than the thruster set up and hardly ride as thruster anymore. I just find I can hold my lines better and have more control. Keep in mind I am a big guy at 225lbs and not needing or wanting to turn on a dime and smash lips etc... like when I was younger. If you took riding quads away from me forever I would be just as happy riding thrusters though -- I just prefer 4 vs 3 but I still have my boards made as a 5 fin set up.

What's your fin set up? I have only used GX back fins, haven't tried M3's

[Surf Hound]

Assuming you are riding FCS and I ride Futures. I strictly use AM2 or Controllers as a quad and when I do ride as thruster strictly Pancho Sullivan model. I have one board that's FCS and ride it with PC-7 and GX-Q but that is the only FCS fins I own. I am not sure how those FCS compare with my Futures with regards to design/hold/loose etc. I like fins that hold and not looking for that release a lot of people want. My surfing is not that aggressive anymore. But yeah, I don't experience that drop to catch with 4 rather just hold which is the main reason I like 4.

[pandarturo]

Yeah that night be it, I'm using jordy fronts and am2 rears.

[IB_Surfer]

Wow, huge compared to what I am used to, always used small ones in back. Also, are you using side fins or center fins in back? How do they paddle?

I tried them with futures a long time ago, I used F450 fronts with F420 centers in back.

[pandarturo]

They paddle fine in arguing from one to two feet to overhead

[IB_Surfer]

side fins or center in back?

I'm gonna have to get a similar set and try it out. New fun!

[Surf Hound]

Not sure what you mean "side fins or single in back". I have never mixed and matched. Quad set up = AM2's or Controllers and thruster = Pancho Sullivan model. As far as paddling I cannot tell a difference. At 225lbs I am never winning any paddle battles and I cannot tell the difference in wave catching between 3-4. I can tell you I have been surfing at 235-240lbs for the last few years. I am down to 225 and can 100% feel the diff in paddle speed, wave catching, board performance etc. I think when I get down to the 200lb I will be able to feel the small differences in paddle power etc from 3-4 but as of now I cannot tell the diff until I am up and riding.