Fin upgrade thoughts (size and material)

[Prancing monkey]

Currently have medium fcs2 performer quads on a 6,8 fish. I think they are either glass flex or cheaper nylon type. However I’m 85 kgs without the winter neoprene on, so way over the reccomended weight.

Just wondered what people’s thoughts were around upgrading the size and materials, keeping the template the same, and the difference it will make. I’m still getting used to the board as previously surfed a single fin egg (only got the new one wet 3 times over the last week or so) and wonder if I should just stick with the free ones for a few months more. Ability wise I would place myself somewhere between decent beginner or rubbish intermediate, surfing messy windswells in the uk.

[waikikikichan]

Leave the Medium FCS2 Performers alone until you begin to slide out on your cutbacks. If you're currently not doing cutbacks, then don't worry too much about what fins you got on. Most people tend to "Over" fin than "Under" fin anyways. BUT ............ I would get used to your new board as a 3-fin Thruster, not as a Quad ( especially in bad conditions ). Is your board equipped as a Tri-Quad / five-fin ?

[Prancing monkey]

Leave the Medium FCS2 Performers alone until you begin to slide out on your cutbacks. If you're currently not doing cutbacks, then don't worry too much about what fins you got on. Most people tend to "Over" fin than "Under" fin anyways. BUT ............ I would get used to your new board as a 3-fin Thruster, not as a Quad ( especially in bad conditions ). Is your board equipped as a Tri-Quad / five-fin ?

Thanks waikikikichan

It’s a 5 box board and I have the rear fin (came with the board). Why thruster over quad btw?

[Prancing monkey]

Hi Waikikikichan

Just like to say the advice was spot on. Been riding as a thruster for last four weeks and has massivly helped to improve / tighten up my bottom and top turning arc.

Unfortunately the FCS2 plugs disagreed with your advice about swapping out though, as lost one of the fins on the first day out as a thruster!!! Luckily ebay saved the day, and now have some nice second hand FCS1 UL-7s securely grubbed screwed in!!!!

Thanks again!!

[waikikikichan]

I have the older PC-7 and love the flex on the tip. I think FCS stiffen the UL-7 a bit. When conditions clean up and just a down the line day, pop in the Performer quad rears with the UL-7 in the front to get a base line of the difference.

[Prancing monkey]

Swapped out last week on a really clean 1ft to try and generate a bit more speed.

Advantage seemed to be in paddle speed. Could (nearly) keep up with the longboard but turns definitely suffered, albeit there was so little power in the wave it was difficult to tell.

Put the centre fin back on in similar conditions the next day and much tighter turns again. The board can take off fairly late anyway so I’ll think I’m happy to lose a bit of paddle speed in favour of manoeuvrability.

[waikikikichan]

Go to a shop that has a FCS fin tree, where they let you borrow demo fins for free. Try out the MR TX twin-stabi set up when its small conditions like that. I'll bet you'll like it.

[Prancing monkey]

I have a feeling my nearest demo centre will be at least 200m away but I’ll keep my eyes peeled (or see if they can do something via mail)!!

I also need to calm down a bit on the hardwear front as I have a a young family to feed and starting to run out of kit from my previous pre back injury passtime to sell!!!

[Prancing monkey]

That’s an imperial M btw (mile)