I can recommend a true "Canard Quad" setup as much faster and just as bitey as a thruster setup. Some time needs to be spent on tuning though, and for this reason try to go with adjustible fin box setup.

Can't comment on the specific boards you mentioned.

There's a lot of boards out with hap-hazard quad setups these days... For them to work properly make sure that the trailing fins are within a chord length (length of the fin at the root) of the fins in front. Also, they should have less toe-in than a thruster setup. For this reason, the quad or thruster setup options will never work properly as a true quad.

Do some research here:

www.swaylocks.com/

Ive been running a DHD quad recently and its the fastest board that I have ridden, the fins are set up more like a thruster with the rear fins closer together. When I first got the board I thought that it would not be loose or have drive, how wrong I was its loose & fast. Its also a diamond tail, seems to give it great control in steeper waves.

What a coincidence 7S...

The front fin placement for a quad setup is exactly the same as for a thruster!! Isn't that a fantastic stroke of luck!

That would allow your happy consumer to get "the best of both worlds" with the cost of only installing 5 fin boxes.

Let me guess the target market:

"Well, I've always surfed thrusters, but I hear that quads are really popular nowadays. I'm not too adventurous, and I don't really understand how fins work, so I think I had better stick with what has worked for me in the past. That said, I don't really want to miss out on this 4-fins business. I am so torn."

Well, you can really put fins wherever you like. And if 7S decides that the front fin placement and toe-in for a thruster and a quad are the same, then good for them.

I'm dubious though. So yeah, I'm taking the piss

The superfish goes wicked as a thruster, so I hope they haven't stuffed around with the fin placement for the thruster setup just to break into the "quad" market.

Think of it this way: would you expect to be able to turn a 1970s single fin teardrop shape board into a decent twin fin, just by snapping off the centre fin and bunging on two keels?

mt said...

I am a big fan of the 6 6 mullet from byrne but think just a little too big so wanting to drop down to a 6 4, I have seen quads but have been told that quads are only good for riding barrells? I quite like the drive of a tri fin and am concerned if I go for a quad that it will slide out. I also like the idea of a swallow tail - which has been suggested will allow the board to be ridden in bigger surf - is this correct.
I have been looking at the POD from Channel Islands as possible replacement for the Byrne. The Epoxy has been great for paddelling but am I missing something?

My 6 8 Simon Anderson seems like a good board for excellent surf but unfortunately most my surfing in 2-4 ft Sydney surf

I am 42, 93 kilos and still love riding short boards - any help be appreciated

MT -Dont believe everything people tell you. In my experience Swallow tails are the same in all kinds of surf. The thing that WILL make a difference is your fitness and the overall lenth and width.
Surf company's these days are releasing these "fatboys" ' "mullets" ect ra ra ra.
To me the only thing that means anything is ur weight, height and surfing ability.
Yeh this such a thing as an all rounder , however it will only be an all rounder in 1-4ft, or 4- 8ft surf. your always going to need more than one board if you plan on covering all conditions.
Personally when I travel I take my standard 6'3 and my 6'7 rounded pin. those 2 can cover anything up to 12 feet or so.

My advice, ride ur mates boards. Find what works for you and take it from there.
Refrain taking advice from salesman, your in the perfect place right here.

Hope this helps....

For what it's worth I'm riding a 7'4" x 20" x 3" double ended pintail (not rounded) based on a Nat Young pin from Morning of the Earth era. It started life 3 years ago as a single fin but I converted it to a thruster set-up about a year ago after carefully measuring the fin positions on a Wayne Lynch Evolution. It definitely got more bite and tighter turning circle with the new fin set-up. I'm 55yrs and 80 kilos and want a board that paddles but still feels like a performance board. No concaves, just a flat bottom with V at the back. If I was redesigning with the thruster set-up in mind I would round the pin to give me a little more area between the fins and maybe a touch more tail rocker. It's also heavy with an 8oz glass job and a wooden stringer but still acquired a stress crack in a big hold-down at Nth Avalon a few months ago. I do most of my surfing on the NSW south coast (Nowra based). Too much float for duck dives altho I am trying to develop that skill on smaller days. I can really identify with comments from Geoff McCoy and some others about board design for recreational (and older) surfers. When I am having a good day it feels like I have the compromise about perfect
RAM