Hi, is anyone riding a thruster set up?
If so what size fins?
why is it common to see 2 & 1 set up on sups?
I'm riding a psh 8'11" with futures boxes, often riding beach breaks ,smaller waves up to head high.
Are there any general rules before I start spending coin on fins?
cheers
Jeff
I ride the normal thruster set up. Just the basic fcs set up with the rear fin set up in a slide box.
But my back fin size is the same as the side fins. But I generally slide my rear fin up, I have found that I'm more of a front foot surfer so i use my rails when im going through turns rather then the tail of the board.
Dogman and I have had some convo's about fins because with both ride for Laguna Bay. Dogman from what i remember rides the same set up but likes his rear fin slid right back for more drive. But we all ride somewhere around a G5 or a al merrick fin template.
Tully St John likes putting the slide box in, as it makes so much more difference sliding the fin back (stiffer) and forward (looser) rather then just a fcs plug for your rear fin as then your just stuck. you just have to find a good fin, slide it around and find your spot. My fin is made from "future fins" but fcs make em as well.
Hope that makes sense mate. I saw that no onereplied,but it's a good question as its finally a a forum topic that's not boosting someones personal sup profile or putting sh..t on sup.
Hope that helps. Im no pro but i talk for hours with TSJ about all this.
Appsy
Mine is similar to appsy, I currently ride a 9'3" psh ripper. Bites 4.5in and a 4.5in slide. Slide nearly all the way back, seems to have enough drive even for size. Many people say you need a 6.5in to get the trim and drive, I think it just depends on your weight and if your front or back foot heavy, in other words you become the trim.
Getting a laguna bay 8'8" soon so be interesting to see what setup is needed.
cheers
i ride a 9'11 dtm, it just has the 3 fcs fin boxes, i'm using a set of kelly slater 2.1 fins, i've had it out in up to about 7-8 foot, no problem with it sliding out or anything, they probably put a 2+1 into most sups mainly for better drive more hold etc, i like the thruster now took a couple of waves to get used to it, before you start spending money on fins, i'd try and borrow or demo fins etc so you find something you like cause fins can cost a little bit and then if you dont like them
Jarryd
I have an 8'11" PSH, I find it has quite a traditional 'Gun' feel, compared to other sub-9'2" PSH boards.
After lots of trial, I settled for front fins: Height: 4.92" (12.50cm) & Base: 4.68" (11.89cm) Rear Fin: Height: 5.79" (14.71cm) Base: 5.32" (13.51cm) with stiff carbon base & moderate flex/release thru' to the tip. Rear fin fairly forward in the box - as it's slightly taller & has less rake than the sides. Nice drive & pivot, versatile.
G.
How far from the tail are you guys putting your centre fin?
A lot of boards I have seen have had the box too forward to set it up as a real thruster.
CMC.
Mate mines pretty far up. I'm not to sure. I don't even have a ruler where I could tell you exactly. But I'm like 3 cm back from as far forward as you can go on the box. But then again me and TSJ measured my fins and by accident he layed the side fins over more then normal. And that board is magic. I was a bit arrogant by it all, but now I'm seeing how ive waisted so many yrs by ignoring what goes into my boards.
Ive always wanted to try a twin fin lay out with a small fin as a trailer. I reckon surf sup boards feel similar to riding a twin fin. Not a fish, a modern day twinny. But ill wait for TSJ to have some time before we go down that road
Totally agree with CMC,
I had the 8'5" Gerry Ultra Flex and always thought the box didn't go back far enough so after trying a bunch of thruster and two plus one set ups I ended up finding a quad set up which worked better.
I'm riding the 8'6" laguna surftech at the moment and have been trying a few different fin placements using the Shapers Jackson close sides (S9) which are pretty big and a smaller centre in different parts of the box. On small (really small) clean days I have even tried it as a twinny which is fun.
If Kirra is working on a smallish swell I'll have my centre fin all the way back for that drive and that's what I always had my 9'3" ripper set up as even when it was just a small beachy. Seemed to bottom turn so much cleaner.
Now I have several markings beside my centre box for different conditions.
Thanks guys for the feedback!
Didnt think I needed such a large centre fin
Plenty of food for thought there,
Thinking of starting to experiment around the 5" mark
cheers
Jeff
