Silly fin question

[shaaaaaan2020]

Hey all - the waves are small again here in SoCal. Boohoo.

So small, in fact that I'm wishing I had a proper small wave board. I don't.

I do have this 7'8" - it has a fair amount of nose + tail rocker and doesn't work great when it's 1-2ft and gutless.

Here's my question -

Wondering if I take the thruster fin out, try it as a twin - will this help at all? Not expecting miracles - just looking to get into stuff a hair earlier.

I've read / heard twins are more paddle-able... but always thought this was more about bottom contours, than resistance from a middle fin.

thx

sk

[BaNZ]

Where do you surf in SoCal? I surf mostly encinitas and can still catch plenty of waves when it is 1-2 feet.

Realistically, you need a log. I surf a log all year round.

[jaffa1949]

If your question is about something as simple as removing the centre fin to see what it does. Do it and see!
experiment see what suits your need!

[shaaaaaan2020]

Where do you surf in SoCal? I surf mostly encinitas and can still catch plenty of waves when it is 1-2 feet.

Realistically, you need a log. I surf a log all year round.

Hey man - I'm in Oceanside - but mostly surf up in San Onofre. Not far from you at all. Yeah - need a log - I have an order in for a 7'10 - log-ish board... but it's a local shaper, won't be in until May...

[dtc]

As Jaffa says, just try it for a session and see

I’m going to guess it won’t help, you have lost 1/3 of your fin area so that reduces your drive on a board that already has insufficient drive. Twin fins tend to have much larger fins than a thruster for this reason (not to mention that twin fins are usually set in a different spot than the front fins of a thruster)

But I’ve been wrong before

If you want more drive then, after this experiment, try using a set of larger fins and see how that goes. Might reduce turning ability but should assist with speed

[shaaaaaan2020]

As Jaffa says, just try it for a session and see

I’m going to guess it won’t help, you have lost 1/3 of your fin area so that reduces your drive on a board that already has insufficient drive. Twin fins tend to have much larger fins than a thruster for this reason (not to mention that twin fins are usually set in a different spot than the front fins of a thruster)

But I’ve been wrong before

If you want more drive then, after this experiment, try using a set of larger fins and see how that goes. Might reduce turning ability but should assist with speed

Hey man - Thanks for your input. Tried it over the weekend. Might've helped get in to a wave or two I might not've made... but who knows. It wasn't night or day by any stretch. I totally noticed the lack of drive though on bottom turns... I was able to turn it a lot quicker, however... but it just kinda stalled out - couldn't get back up the face... hard to know because it was so small. But I don't think I'll try it again - maybe with the bigger fins. Thx!