Mostly surfed with 2+1 set up on my smaller SUP...but going to experiment with a quad set up and then a pure thruster. Am I going to notice much of a difference?
Yep, huge difference depending what you put in. Quad will go faster and probably looser depending on what you go for. Also, have you tried moving your back fin further forward in the fin box .... much looser and easier to turn. Have you tried taking the side bites out and going single fin ..... faster and catch more waves. Fin choice makes a massive difference. You will have fun experimenting so go for it.
I've got an 8ft 6 SUP...quite similar to an allwave but less volume. Done all the moving back and forwards of fins on previous surfboards so know about the different feel you get. Single fins great for longer boards but for the 8ft 6 I'd always got for more bite on the edge.
I've got a set of Gerry Lopez fins - the five fin combo - so I can try out a few tomorrow. The fins are quite large but sharp!
i've been using 5 fins lately, running a quad setup with a nubster fin, it works pretty well in most conditions because i just swap out the quads for different conditions, ie bigger fins=more drive etc, i originally tried out the nubster fin as i was having problems with the tail sliding out when i was in bigger hollow waves but now i use it in all conditions
Jarryd
I have an 8'6 x 30". Was always swapping between thruster & quad sets as I found the thruster would usually break loose when jamming hard off the top of the wave, & quads made the board stay flat while turning off the top. Now using quads with nubster & it seems to have settled everything into place - for me. I use the Paddle Surf Hawaii quad fins as I found the Jerry Lopez ones gave too much drive for the turn effect that I like.
I'm on the 8'5" sb pro from 2012 and have c drive fins. Thruster. Go great in anything and as soon as its over 3ft the v8 effect kicks in. Extremely wide base gives heaps of drive while the narrower tip releases through top turns, but hangs on in cutties.
Have tried quads with and without the nubster. Seems to hold better with it and is still looser than thruster. Also tried a futures small hatchet fin with small sidebites that my Focus 9' overpowered even in small waves. Am waiting for a set of jimmy Lewis quads to replace the mongrel mix I have in it now.