Last Updated on 27/07/2022 by Admin
Five fin set ups for thrusters, quads or 2 plus 1 have been around for some time now.
We can help you find surfboard recommendations specific to you through our board builder app where youy can design and order your board in a seamless easy process and you have the option of getting a five fin setup on models like the Doofer and Chilli Bean from Fourth as examples . So, the question still remains: How should I surf it and when to go thruster vs quad.
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Simply put, both are great, but it all depends on what you want out of them. This is the main reason why so many boards are offered with the five fin option.
Your fins play a big role in your board’s performance. From our experience, fins account for nearly 40 percent of your board’s performance. Switching out your fins, or your fin configuration, plays a big role in how your board is going to perform.
”When you order your board ask us which fins we would advise to work best, we stock FCS and True Ames Fins and a lot of these fins we have chosen and tested on our models.
Luke Hart
So why or when should you consider the quad as an option?
The quad fills that void where the thruster or the twin falls through. Everyone wants that fast but loose feeling while maintaining control. This is precisely when the quad comes into play. They can also be put to use in either heavy, hollow waves, or in small, gutless waves, depending on the cluster placement, of course.
On smaller gutless days, having a quad with the rear fins closer to the rail and slightly further up will really loosen the board up. This allows for quick maneuvers and sliding the tail around with ease. It also gives you that much more speed through the flats, as there is no resistance of a trailing center fin.
For the bigger hollow days, the quads with rears placed back a little and close to the rail will provide extra speed and hold in the face of the wave. You can take higher lines on steeper waves with the extra hold of having two fins on the rail. Plus, you will gain extra speed due to no center fin drag. This comes in handy on those freight train barreling waves where there is not much room to turn. Additionally, quads are a touch quicker out of the gate compared to a thruster. As soon as you take off and get to your feet, quads will provide you instant down-the-line speed instead of having to pump and drive your board.
When and why consider a thruster?
There is a good reason why the thruster fin set up has been, and still remains, the go-to for surfboards over the last 30 years. Simply put, they are predictable and they work. But if quads are so functional, why even consider the thruster anymore
The thruster is perfect for those super ripple days. Where the quad is great in either small waves, or hollow days that are down the line, the thruster gets you what you want when you have time to perform, instead of trying to glide past sections or make it down the line with speed. Thrusters give you a controlled drag that is useful when you want to surf at a higher level on good quality waves. Think of those shoulder to slightly overhead days that are top to bottom, but with lots of room to move around and get in a lot of turns. This is where your thruster will shine.
Thrusters will still work in both small waves and big waves, but it all comes down to the blend of the fins with the board and what the surfer prefers. Nowadays, you see some big-wave surfers going quad for that extra speed and ability to hold a high line. Some guys, however, prefer the extra stability and control needed that the thruster can give you.
