Surfing Waves

I have a 5'10" shortboard from 1980 with three fins in the thruster set-up. the fins are about 3 inches and i am a begginer and it is too unstable for me. The fins are the ones with the screw and the plate at the bottom. would it make it better if i changed teh center fin into a longboard fin and left the side fins the same. if so what size fin? how would it change the performance of the board. im surfing long island.

a thruster from 1980? that must be one of the first ever made. You sure its a thruster not just an old tri-fin?

are the fins the normal fin box type like in longboards? you could try it for a laugh if you can borrow a fin that fits, but i dont think itll help. The reason you find the board unstable is because its 5'10, and 26 years old. Youd be better off getting something longer and more stable to learn on, a more modern board. Putting a huge fin in the back will proably just make the board a pig to handle and worse than it is and wont really provide any noticable extra stability.

how do i know the differencee between a thruster and an old tri fin?

I don't think there is a whole lot you can do on the stablilty....just the shape. That's why shortboards aren't great to start on.

But, I definately don't think it should be blamed on the age. I know we've made tons of developments in surfboard design, but one of my favorite boards was made in 1969. So don't completely turn your back on it, keep it in the closet until you are ready for it.

But, please, post some pictures, I'm quite interested.

Have to echo what the guys above have already said. A shortboard will seem unstable to a begineer and at 5ft 10 it's a short shortboard. However that said i too am interested in seeing the board and fins. Changing the centre fin is unlikely to make it more stable but if you've got a fin that fits then try it but i wouldn't recomend spending bucks on new fins for the board, save the money to put towards a bigger board for learning.

KS

Guitarandsurf92 wrote:how do i know the differencee between a thruster and an old tri fin?

well i know thrusters came out in the early 80s so it could be, boards with 3 fins have been around a lot longer.

How wide and thick is it?

Pictures are worth a thousand words and attempts at description.

im not sure on the demension s of the board i'll post so pics

Here are some pics...
Deck (I added on a new stomp pad, stickers, and nose guard)



Logo



Tail/Fins



Shaped by Tom Sena of Atlantic Beach Surfshop

i would seriously recommend getting a decent beginners board and leaving that one for tho mo, keep it tho, looks like it might be fun to have a go on and see how it surfs once youve mastered the basics.

is my board a tri-fin or a thruster

Personally i think it's a thruster. It is however the first thruster i've seen with a stepped in tail and i like the fin adjustment that's possible with those fins.

KS

cool, what kind of board do you think i should get then

how much do you thikn this board is worth about