Hey fellerz. I'm fixing to order a quad fish, only thing is I'm somewhat ignant when it comes to quads so I'm not sure which fins to get to go with it. The only quads I've ever ridden were the FCS Stretch fins in a Takayama Scorpion-esque board. The fins were definitely too large IMO. They were size large and I'm around 150 lbs. I'd also like to stick with FCS Fusion plugs as I get a deal on FCS products, but I'm not interested in FCS II. Only problem is there are like 3 real options for standard FCS quads, but I'm alright with that as long as I can get the right set. It seems like Futures Controllers are the go-to in these sorts of boards, so if it's REALLY worth it I can go Futures I guess. The board will be about 5'7" x 20.25 x 2.5 or so....wide point slightly forward, wide tail, somewhat foiled. Not totally retro, but not simply a shortboard with a swallow either. Any help would be much apreshi8ed boyz. Thankes.
Thanks for the input. I think though that if I'm not gonna go with a set of FCS I can get through work for really cheap, I would just as soon go Futures and get probably the Biolos keel style quads. Basically a smaller version of the controllers. I'm looking for a drivy, down the the line type set up with this board. Basically, the sets I can get at cost are the Simon Andersons, PC5, and the V2. They say the V2 is the new version of the k2.1 but all other info I've found does not support that claim at all. FCS' site is terrible and there seems to be a lot of conflicting and flat out wrong info on there regarding fin specs and characteristics.
Thanks for the input. I think though that if I'm not gonna go with a set of FCS I can get through work for really cheap, I would just as soon go Futures and get probably the Biolos keel style quads. Basically a smaller version of the controllers. I'm looking for a drivy, down the the line type set up with this board. Basically, the sets I can get at cost are the Simon Andersons, PC5, and the V2. They say the V2 is the new version of the k2.1 but all other info I've found does not support that claim at all. FCS' site is terrible and there seems to be a lot of conflicting and flat out wrong info on there regarding fin specs and characteristics.
I don't like giant fins in my grovelers, either...mostly because feel like they slow the board down. One good thing about Futures is you can buy quad trailers separately and just use the sides from your usual thruster set with them. Don't know if FCS does that, but a workaround could be to just buy a couple of small center trailers and use them as quad trailers. I've been really stoked using the K2.1 as the sides in my groveler/fish (K2.0 and V-2 are also similar)....you can buy these in a quad set, too. Not too big and they're very upright so they have excellent turning performance.
Go with all four fins the same size. Typically, the rear fins of quad sets are slightly smaller than the fronts, but I've ridden basically the same fins front and back and got the results you're looking for. In fact, on a fish, it might be ideal, as opposed to keels to get a similar feel in terms of drive, but with a bit more hold. I would not make the same suggestion for a typical shortboard.
This is where FCS loses me. According to their site, the V2s (front and especially rear) in a size medium are considerably larger than either the Simon Anderson's or the PC5's. But everything else I've read said that the V2/K2.1's were quite a bit smaller than other size Medium fins. I already ordered a longboard fin from FCS and haven't used it much because the specs on their site were totally wrong and the fin wasn't what I thought it was.
So you're saying I could basically use the same template front and rear. So I could just order two sets of the same fronts? That sounds like a pretty good idea actually.
yes, it's confusing, but don't overthink it. By the looks of the V-2, they can't be too different than the K2.1...I'd still give them a shot.
True. I was kinda leaning towards the V2 because it seems to be the most well rounded template of the ones available. I'll try those first as a baseline then maybe start messing with different rears or something if I feel compelled to (but hopefully I won't). Thanks.
Yea I could. And I will. I just don't have all the details nailed down yet as far was what I want so I was wanting to get some ideas first.
I think the Controllers look like a good option. Why? Well, the board is basically a Fish. The first fishes used low aspect "keel" type fins (Larry Gephart). It has been proven that those particular fins worked best for these particular boards, although while very "drivey" and fast they did not allow for vertical surfing and sometimes "tracked". Usher in the new hybrid fishes, with fin and template experimentation. One of the most successful fin experiments resulted in slicing a Geppy Keel, which kept the drive and speed of the Keel while loosening up the tighter turning radius of the Fish. Rich "Toby" Pavel created the Speed Dialer fins from this thinking. The FCS Controllers are really not much different from Speed Dialers...just a strategically-cut Geppy Keel.
I tried the Speed Dialers after being sold 100% on the concept. I put them in a quad fish and absolutely hated them. Nothing even CLOSE to the drive and speed of a twin keel. Not at all what I expected, and I ended up giving them away.
Not sure if this will help any but I really love the new FCS MF-1's, large fin perfect for a fish or HP / Fish hybrid. Bigger the wave, more they repspond and I can really lay into my turns with them and no spin out issues. I have mine setup as a thruster right now, but I'm sure you could run them as a quad too if you ran some smaller ones in the back, maybe a medium fin for those. IDK, haven't tried that.
