Maybe it’s just my middle-aged eyes, but the pics appear to show the rear fins reversed; i.e., left fin in the right box and vice-versa.
Beyond that, I don’t use any fin smaller than a 4.5" for the fronts for middle weight and heavy weight surfers, and you’re right on the border between the two. For the heavier guys I also don’t particularly care for the 80/20 foiled rears, although I know some people like them.
They have all-glass quad sets in the smaller size (FEA) and the honeycomb hybrids in the larger sizes (SA4). The FEAs supposedly use a flat-foiled rear and I’m not sure how well that would work with the way your rears are set in from the rail. You might ask around a bit on that - I’m sure someone here knows the answer to that question.
You have a fairly narrow tail for a quad and the boxes are set in from the rail. You might be better off just sticking with the rears you have and using a larger Vector for the fronts.
If you want a different combo in all-glass than Futures sells you might be able to get some custom fins from Rainbow Fins:
You didn’t say if you tried it yet, or how good you surf.
IMO, fin placement (mckee style) and the outline (full nose, pulled in tail, wide point fwd) says “stiff” - not exactly what I’d prefer for quick reacting beachbreak. But then again I’m much shorter & weigh much less than you, so for your size and depending on your level of skill, it might be great! I’d say try it out first
I plan on trying it.Just got it two days ago. It will get wet soon.
Wide point is center on this board Bud.
One thing I'm confused about.I only see two quad sets on the FUTURE site for larger surfers. One is for a wide tail quad ,so that leaves me with only the Simon Anderson fins to choose from. Am I missing something?
Like Bud said, you should at least switch your rears around and try what you’ve got. Experimenting with fins can get real expensive real quickly. What have you been using on your thrusters?
When it comes to putting together a quad set in Future fins you aren’t limited to the “quad sets” that Future lists on that page. I do a lot of mix-n-match with the other thruster fins.
Your board already has the rear fin boxes mounted inboard so the rear fins you already have with the double foil may be your best bet. That’s necessarily not a bad deal though - they should provide for a smooth and controlled ride. I just think you’d do better with a bigger front fin to provide some extra drive to complement those rears. The conditions where you surf make a difference, too.
if there is a surf shop near you see if they have a Futures "fin tree". A lot of dealers have them, you can check a set of fins out like a library book and try them out. Check the site to find the closest one...http://www.futuresfins.com/
You can tell what side for the back fins by the writing on the base (the writing goes to the outside rail in my future fins) and the fact that they lean out towords the rail...not in.. I have the same set 438 and I'm 6'4" 200 LBS without suit. They are my favorite set. I use them in my 6-2 fish, my 6-3 & 6-6 shortboard quads, and my 7-6 Quad. I have a rear set of pivot fins (the same as in the Shimitar set) that I bought later because they are taller than the rears in the 438 set and are made to turn better. So I use them on waves where I'm hitting the lip a lot.
And if it get's to where I think these fins aren't enough I have a set of Simon Anderson Quad fins set that are similar to thruster size in the front and almost as tall in the back...lot's more area total and all four fins are almost the same size.
But don't give up on the 438's! They are a killer all around set that is well within your range. Now start adding some specialty fins sets front and back so your covered in all conditions.
You can tell what side for the back fins by the writing on the base (the writing goes to the outside rail in my future fins) and the fact that they lean out towords the rail…not in… I have the same set 438 and I’m 6’4" 200 LBS without suit. They are my favorite set. I use them in my 6-2 fish, my 6-3 & 6-6 shortboard quads, and my 7-6 Quad. I have a rear set of pivot fins (the same as in the Shimitar set) that I bought later because they are taller than the rears in the 438 set and are made to turn better. So I use them on waves where I’m hitting the lip a lot.
And if it get’s to where I think these fins aren’t enough I have a set of Simon Anderson Quad fins set that are similar to thruster size in the front and almost as tall in the back…lot’s more area total and all four fins are almost the same size.
But don’t give up on the 438’s! They are a killer all around set that is well within your range. Now start adding some specialty fins sets front and back so your covered in all conditions.
Your rears look like the 375's. They make a 340 which is the smallest they make on the quad rears. The 340 is close to 3 1/2" tall with a narrower base. Also you have the X rear box which is 1/2" deep. Make sure you don't get the wrong base as they make rears in both sizes, 3/4" and 1/2".
There should be a Rusty quad set that I think they call a 5 fin set but I've seen them just as quads. The EA quad set is very popular as the flat foiled rears and non vector fronts give it a more solid feel. The rears are almost 4" and only come in one size. More grip than the vectors.
Sometimes I love the vector foil and sometimes it just doesn't work on certain boards. If you can find a fin tree it is good to swap the fins around and find a combo that works for you.
I’ve tried a bunch of these fins. Using them on a double bump Stamps Quantum Fish so a wider and fatter baord all around. I can’t seem to find anything I like better than the Stretch quads. I know they are for medium sized surfers but they work for me - 6-1, 220. I also used them on my old Stamps Mullet and a quad egg I had from him. I use the 400 rears on bigger days, the 375s on smaller/mushier. I tried the Scimitar fronts (haven’t given the pivot rears a go yet) and did not care for them - lack of drive for me and my “style.” Others swear by them though. Perhaps they have a lot more talent?