SurfFX have just put out an unboxing of the 2020 Placid on their FB page if anyones interested...
(hope you don't mind the slight hi-jack)

cantSUPenough said..
That's interesting; mine is different.

Here is the link: www.facebook.com/surffxstore/videos/2379064615679945/

Mine is the 2019 balsa style, and the old-style deck pad (with a nice ridge running north-south up to the kickpad) but it has the same style of handle (not liftsup).

I haven't even thrown away the packaging and already it is redundant. Or maybe it is a collectible

But I am wondering what their ideal fin configuration is. My board came with 2x105, 2x83, and a size 64 centre fin.

I'd go 105's in sides
64 in center.

I run ALL my boards this way now.... big sides, very small center,

supthecreek said..

cantSUPenough said..
That's interesting; mine is different.

Here is the link: www.facebook.com/surffxstore/videos/2379064615679945/

Mine is the 2019 balsa style, and the old-style deck pad (with a nice ridge running north-south up to the kickpad) but it has the same style of handle (not liftsup).

I haven't even thrown away the packaging and already it is redundant. Or maybe it is a collectible

But I am wondering what their ideal fin configuration is. My board came with 2x105, 2x83, and a size 64 centre fin.

I'd go 105's in sides
64 in center.

I run ALL my boards this way now.... big sides, very small center,

I've been running smaller sides, with a bigger centre when the surf is small, to stop skidding off track when trying to get onto waves.
(On my 9'1" Creek)
Have I got it wrong? (my expertise with fins is pretty rudimentary)

All depends on your goal. Larger center fin and smaller sidebites help for great tracking and projection down the line. As you discovered, it will help the board to track straighter while you are paddling onto a wave. Larger side fins help to tighten up the turns by using the side fins to turn around, and this projects you more around the turn and up the face, rather than down the line. With these larger side fins, the trailing fin acts as a controller of how squirrelly the board feels; basically back to a larger center fin helping tracking and forward drive, and a smaller center fin allowing for very tight turns and a much looser feeling. I like to run my thruster setups with 4.75" to 5" side fins with a fair amount of base chord and good area but not too much rake or tip area, and a small trailing fin around 4" with short chord and very little rake; very similar to Supthecreek's setup.
Having said all that, fins are a lot about personal preference and feel. After learning what I liked, I hand shaped some fins which have become some of my favorites.

Hey CSE, if you want to run the board as a 2+1 twin style board, on the triple plugs on the sides, put the 105 fcs fin into the 2 closest plugs to the tail.

Alternately, if you would like to use as a Quad, put the side fins into the two plugs closest to the nose.

If u want to use your quobba's as a thruster, run the side fins in the two plugs closest to the nose.

Was that easier to understand?

cantSUPenough said..
Thanks for your suggestions, although I am a little confused about where the "sides" are, and what the double fin slot is for.

I think the Dbl slots are for going tri to quad setup. Looking at it maybe tri being fwd set and aft set for quad to tighten up the cluster? Pretty cool option to have.

cantSUPenough said..
Thanks for your suggestions, although I am a little confused about where the "sides" are, and what the double fin slot is for.

I tried a McTavish Carver that has these double front positions. The front ones are for small slow waves, where you want to engage the turns sooner and not having to push too hard on the tail, that can sink it and stop the board. It worked so well that I had my shaper add these extra set of plugs on my current board, too.

Rossall said..
Trying to decide wether to go for the 8/3 or 8/7 ?? Usually ride a 125 Lts board so obviously easy choice would be to go for the 8/7 but a few have said they sit low in the water and super stable, just how stable are they ?

For me the 8,3 feels as stable as the 8,7 flow which is 120lts. Was very surprised at the stability.I usually feel very comfortable in the 120-125lts, dropping that 8lts was not an issue, so i got the 7,11 as well