Does the thruster setup cause drag ?
Yes! The important question is to what degree vs. lift and control.
I PREFER the thruster feel. For me its much quicker rail to rail and I can generate alot of speed on a thruster. Keep in mind this is a BIASED opinion. Just personal preferance here I have never liked the feel of a single fin and ive tried out quite a few.
The Reason I asked this Question is that my board seems to drag more with the thruster setup than with a single fin … Maybe it’s from the waves we have here in So. Fla. smaller sloppy for the most part. Or the board . I have a 8’0" funshape made for a 200lb. 48 yr old . It seems looser and faster with a single fin . I’ve tried a few different setups and seem to like a 7in. cutaway best. Maybe somewhat the style of riding too. Not the pumping ,turning style as much. That could be what makes thrusters work. Any advice or explanations would be appreciated. My board is 3&1/2 thick also . Maybe it’s just not a thruster style board . Funshape Rounded pin Semi-Gun type shape. Steve Forstall of CODA Surfboards made it for me custom. He uses Greg Lohers Epoxy with EDRO foam amd Syntec cloth . Made this Big funshape 10lbs. and Strong beautiful board with twin stringers. I’m VERY happy with it . Thanks … Aloha
I have found that single fins turn better tri fins are good on smaller boards where your back foot is always going to be on top of the fin setup. on bigger boards they feel much stiffer with 3 fins. i prefer single fin on any mid - longboard shape. on short boards gives you better drive, but gotta be goin fast to get the drive from longboard 3 fin at least this is what ive noticed by tring the same boards with diff fin setups. dunno if this helps at all, im sure theres some kinda science to this, but the best way ive found is just play with your fins. Good luck … John
Could be the front fins are towed in a little too much. If you slightly straighten out the front two fins in a thruster setup you will get a faster drivier feel but a little harder to turn.
Speed, Single fin boards work best for gliding type of surfing. Thruster are designed to ride in the pocket or steeper part of the wave face. They are also designed to turn almost continuously. South Florida does get good waves for thrusters. But, for a big guy and a big board the waves are most often best for gliding.
I agree with Tom, thrusters are made to turn, not to go fast. To minimize drag, you need to continuously change weight from side to side, because a thruster is slowest going straight. A single fin will decrease the possible turning radius you can use, but will almost always be faster, and you will catch waves more easily, too. HTH. http://www.blakestah.com/surf/
On a fish design I shaped recently, I learned that it is possible to cause drag by having your side fins toed out too much. I set them at almost parallel to the stringer. Hydrodynamically the optimal angle(i.e. least drag)for a flat sided fin is when toed in 2.5 degrees towards the stringer. It should be noted that a flat sided fin inherently is a high drag/high lift foil. There, that got the nerd out of me.
Thank You all so much . This confirmed what I had thought. Thrusters are good in some conditions and single in others . I think it was Greg Loher who said that fins were one of the last things we can experiment with to change the way our boards ride… Mahalo everyone…
] …But none of my tri/thruster fin set-ups have anymore drag that any single fin set-ups out there,and I’ll bet much less…get out of the stone age guys.Herb
The more appendages youve got hanging under your boards tail the more drag therell be. The fins are working against each other. Boards with a fat rear widepoint, big tail, concaves, a continually jumping-hopping style of riding, back foot stomping over that cluster. Ride the tail. All attempts designed to compensate for the thrusters inherent deficiencies. They do work well in a specific way. But its just one of many wave riding choices. Surfers need to realize that there are other things which can go faster with much less effort. Surfings not about who`s riding the latest vs. the oldest. Great feelings and style are timeless.
…Okay,want to put you theory to practice?Herb
… on my Supercharged boards,in a staightline(no pumping) on a daily basis.That’s riding a 6’-7’ board vs. singles with twice the volume or less,go figure.Herb
Herb says hes decades ahead of everyone else. So it must be true! You better believe or hell race you on his skateboard, too. LOL
In certain types of situations youre correct, Herb. But a fine displacement hull unwinding across a long point wave is an unbeatable experience. An increasingly rare one these days, too. Dont take my word for it- just ask around here in Swaylocks. No other type of board has that smooth carving acceleration and sensitivity. Nearly effortless.
your boards and fins are that damn hot? you re way a head of your time? then why has nt somebody like rusty or merrick copied them? or hired you as their guest consultant designing shaper? Dude- performance talks, bullshit walks
Transitional displacement hulls and their fins are based on decades of proven performance, not theory. They have a broad, extensive international pedigree. I cant believe youre so ignorant- or arrogant. You`re still running around challenging people to “speed races”? Pull your head out.
…You guys can speak sh*t here and say whatever, all you want.I’ve proven my design many times,to many people. …Show what you know,hommies,or it’s all boring print,no need even making the effort to write it. …As far as being a consultant for biggies,how do you know I haven’t? …Making that statment shows me something,hummm? …Look for me ,people know where to find me or e-mail me.I have NO FEAR put my design to the test…it doesn’t have to be some pissy knockdown fight.A good session with waves and open minds on both sides is all it takes.Herb
…As far as being a consultant for biggies,how do you know I haven’t? so which biggies are currently marketing your personal ideas? like what? Thanx