Hoping someone can help with some advice on fins for my new Starboard Airborn, 7'10 x 31 1/2" 98l
Completely different animal to anything I've had before, aiming to use it mainly in beach break often messy conditions.
Would have just defaulted to quad, start with the supplied fins, 4.5 and 4.7 set, also have a Simon Anderson Large set, the K2.1 Kelly Slater Tri/Quad set, and all sorts of odds and ends!
What about running 5 small fins?
Thanks!
I would try first switching from Quad to Thruster and back, to see what you like best. On messy beach breaks, a thruster setup may be easier to turn tight in tight places. I am now on thruster setups for boards 8'+, and quads on shorter ones.
On the quad setup, I'd say that if the board is hard to put on the rail, your front fins are too big.
If the board kind of understeer (want to go flat mid-turn), your rear quads are too big
A nubster can help also on the quad setup.
Experiment, everybody has different tastes. And also, re-experiment after some time. Our technique and tastes evolve, one setup you do not like now could be your favorite in some months time.
About fins, I have tried lately FCS Nexus H3 fins, and I have been blown away. They keep the drive during all the turn without any feeling of "spilling energy", something I never experienced yet on any fin. Less drive than C-Drives, but faster. Try them if you can, too bad they are so expensive. I have tried some years ago the H2, but I think they demand a better surfing level than mine, to be always put on the rail. The H3s seem easy to ride.
Thanks Colas, wondering which size of Nexus fins you tried, just looked them up and noticed they come in S, M and Large. The FCS site give weight recommendations but I suspect different rules apply with a SUP.