Quad or thruster 🤔

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the feedback after my last post here. I’m now wondering whether I should go with a quad on this 6’5”x21”x2.4” shape. Thinking quad with its current tail shape.

Anyway, for glassing, I’ve had this idea of doing an epoxy swirl for the bottom. Really, though, it’s just going to be with light blue and dark blue since I only have one tint color. I figure this will be easier for my first glassing job than a solid color tint because I wont have to worry about color being uneven as it’ll be intentionally uneven. Has anyone tried using just a dark/light tint combo? If so, how’d it look? I understand that adding black or white would make it a lot cooler, but I’m going for simplicity (or just not buying more colors).

Before anyone questions my decision to go with color and a cut lap on my first job… I have a fair philosophy. If my first board’s a learning experience anyway, I may as well practice as many techniques as I can, including laps and color.

Anyways, I want to thank this community for being so helpful. Thank you all!


If you wanted options, you could go with 5 boxes…
Do you have an install kit or will you be doing the install more manually?

1 Like

For me quad for fast waves where you mostly speed surf down the line. Thruster better for waves that let you time to go top to bottom. So 5 boxes for versatility.

1 Like

“easier” Would be clear or a painted blank for a first glass job.

It’s less that I’m looking for “easy” and more that I think this idea would be comparatively easier than a solid color tint. And like I said, I want to experiment with different techniques on my first job so that my second is already better/more refined.

Install kit. I’ll probably go 5. Thanks

That looks like a stretched Mini Simmons, I would have thought a Quad or a Twin would be great options. Twinzer??
Great looking board, well done. I tend to agree on your colour tint experiment. Why not try and learn as much as possible in one board. I think when you’re beginning learning takes precedence over aesthetics.

1 Like

Thanks! Appreciate your insight :smile:

Hey guys! Decided to go with 5 boxes.
I set this fin layout using forum info/greenlight chart but the quads look pretty tight together. My understanding is that this will make it looser and more pivoty but potentially unpredictable. What’s the verdict: abandon these rear quad positions and live with the pencil marks, or try it for fun?

  • Front quads: 12in from tail
    • 1.25 from rail
    • 1/4 in toe in
  • Rear quads: 6.5in from tail
    • 1.25 from rail
    • 3/16 toe in
  • Rear center: 3.5 from tail


I’m also wondering about futures finbox angles. I would be thrilled if anyone could share generic numbers for a similar shape w/5 fins. Then again, I would be considerably more excited if someone just told me futures knows what they’re doing with their built-in fin angles and I should just leave them upright. Simple is cool.

Note the tab angle on the side future fins shown at timestamp 2.20 in this vid.
How to Install Your Futures Surfboard Fins. Don’t Make These Mistakes - Especially on Quad Set-ups!

1 Like

You can go with future buid in angles. You have just to care of verticality/horizontale not shape surface, when you set boxes. With back fins this place you should try 4 side fins shape, playing with sizes, it’s will be a “twiny” feeling. If to instable when flat for you add a nubster in center. Lot of things to try.

1 Like

Thanks. Planning to do a 6oz fin patch under my 6oz lam. Should I do the fin patch separately? I like jrandys method of cutting around the sides of the fin box flanges to prevent tenting.

You can do both tech. When i do in same batch i put partch over full layer so i don’t cut it when sanding.

1 Like

Interesting. Do you bother using a razor to cut the glass around the finbox opening?

Yes i do this with heavier fabric i use, and with carbon because of stiffness. Most of time i laminate full layer(s) then i cut around top of plugs with a cutter then i lay patch over and laminate them. Because i work with light eps, from 20 to 25kg/m3 i use more fiber at least 2 layers 4oz as main full layers for shortboards so cut relief is a good way to reduce bubbles around boxes.

1 Like

great, thanks for the insight. Is only cutting the bottom layer ideal- No point in bothering with cutting the top fin patch?

I would approach the relief cuts at the boxes as a useful tool or technique rather than a hard-and-fast rule for all cases. Since you have a few boxes to do it might make sense to try some this way and some that way and see what you like and what works best. A bubble or two to fix down the line is usually not a big deal either. Looking forward to seeing how it goes for you!

1 Like

No in general i use 4oz for fin patch so not need cut.

Ended up using your method. I’m really happy with this for my first glass job, although I made some errors. I accidentally cut the bottom glass a few inches along the rail while trimming the tail patch so I had to add a rectangular patch around that area. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but while glassing I noticed how much it didn’t blend in. Plus, it looks very messy/sticking up around there and my squash relief cut.

Other than that, I was a bit slow glassing so my slow harder started kicking before I got the tail patch on. So, the tail patch has a thicker layer of resin on it and the surrounding rails. I’m really hoping I can just grind this down back to the glass before hot coating.



![IMG_0102|690x460](upload://nvfOQAwi30x6utWGnMa0oF8vsgn.
jpeg)


1 Like

Looks very good !

1 Like