Surfing Waves

forgive my fin ignorance, but can anyone tell me what I will gain from using 4 fins [on a Firewire Addvance 7'], what is the basic difference between 1 fin , 3 fins or 4 in terms of performance?

The difference of 3 or 4 fins is different depending the board u use. I never tried a quad (4 fins) on my Addvance 606, but I read on the Firewire forum people don't like it cos the tail is too narrow.
Basically it comes down to trying it urself and feeling what has ur preference. I experimented with a quad on my Dominator 606 and didn't like it because my turns were much more drawn out (longer).

You use a thruster 3 fin set now and you want to know what will happen if you go to a quad setup?

You use a thruster 3 fin set now and you want to know what will happen if you go to a quad setup?

yup that's it

Try it and see, surfing is about your individual way of enjoying it!

Tudeo wrote:The difference of 3 or 4 fins is different depending the board u use. I never tried a quad (4 fins) on my Addvance 606, but I read on the Firewire forum people don't like it cos the tail is too narrow.
Basically it comes down to trying it urself and feeling what has ur preference. I experimented with a quad on my Dominator 606 and didn't like it because my turns were much more drawn out (longer).

@Tudeo....Wchan just reminded me of this thread....I just got a dominator second hand and have had it out a few times now; second time out I set it up as a quad and hated it; felt like a different board....the quickness seemed to be taken out of it...for lack of better descriptiors the board felt lethargic compared to a regular thruster set up. Used the same front fins and just switched out the rear fin for a rear set I got from REDZ.

I have a quad set on a big tailed hybrid fishy board and love it.

@ the OP: Get some inexpensive fins and have fun mixing and matching.....pretty much the only way to know is to experience it.

ok , thanks for all the info!

I originally learned to surf when there was only single glassed in fins. I kept using single fins even after multiple fins came out because I was good with single fins and didn't want to learn to use multiples and I didn't see anyone doing anything with multiple fins that I couldn't do. I quit for a while then restarted on a thruster and then a one plus two longboard. Then I got a quad fungun and have been surfing that exclusively for a few years. I got a new fungun with 5 fin configuration so I could switch it out and been playing around with thruster configuration but I guess because I only surf two 30 minute sessions a week it's not enough time in the water to notice the difference. Or maybe because of using a quad for several years I have gotten used to whatever problems a quad presents so it's no big deal and then when I use a thruster it has no advantage. Fins yeah there are endless variations beside numbers, bigger smaller and a bunch of different shapes.

Big H wrote:I just got a dominator second hand and have had it out a few times now

Nice! What size Dom u got?

I switch between only 2 boards: the Dom and the Add (both 6'6") to try get a feel and understanding of the differences, which are plenty. But I still miss the sensitivity to *really* get it.

Strangely though, I always love the first feel of the Dom, it feels so much smaller than the Add. But the Add makes it so easy to catch waves, and the ride feels so good. Basically it just feels fresh to switch boards.

My level of surfing is still way below the limits of both boards. But my timing and wave reading and selection is getting better and better. Less energy wasted and better rides equals more stoke..

I got the 6' Dom around 35L....really light and I'm surprised how well I can catch waves (how far out) in spite of its size....I like the fat wide tail in smaller waves; seemed like the trim error margins were expanded, not as penal as other boards with narrower tails....conversely not as much control in bigger waves...dropping in felt more wild and less secure. Early days and I'm still improving, but I like it!