Im hoping to get some idea of where to place the fins on a performance longboard with a standard thruster setup. I have checked the archives and all the info was conflicting. Rear fin placements from 4 to 6 inches from the tail and side fins from 13 to 16 inches from the tail…anyone have a more definitive placement for fins on a performance longboard with a curvy rocker?
The dimensions listed are correct. It might help though, if you gave us a little information about the dimension of your “performance longboard”. If it’s on the smaller side with then stick with the smaller side of the range. Best thing to do is use an adjustable fin system like Red X to be able to dial it in.
my board is 9’0" x 22 x 16 3/4 x 13 5/8
5 inches of nose rocker and 3 7/8 tail rocker slight belly to vee in the tail.
There are alot of shapers on here with more experience than I have with thruster long boards. But, it sounds like you should should be at about 5" to 5-1/2" and 14-1/2"-15" or even a little further forward depending on how far back that tail rocker is initiated. Sounds like a pretty big board to go thruster on. Did you shape it with down rails? Or, is it closer to 50/50? If it’s more 50/50 have you considered a 2 +1 set up which would be farther forward still.
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There are alot of shapers on here with more experience than I have with thruster long boards. But, it sounds like you should should be at about 5" to 5-1/2" and 14-1/2"-15" or even a little further forward depending on how far back that tail rocker is initiated. Sounds like a pretty big board to go thruster on. Did you shape it with down rails? Or, is it closer to 50/50? If it’s more 50/50 have you considered a 2 +1 set up which would be farther forward still.
Shaped it similar to a shortboard. Down rail with a hard edge in the last third of the board. soft 50/50 up in the nose. My wifes cousin is Duane Desoto and his boards were shaped like that when he rode for Jay Richardson. Really like a 9foot shorboard with a wide nose. Never thought to get a fin placement off his boards though.
I havent considered a 2+1 since I have never liked the feel of that setup. Or I havent ridden one that i liked yet.
Sounds like it should be a thruster by your rail description. Halcyon has more experience in thruster longboards. I’d imagine he’ll chime in soon with soon recommendations.
Hey
Only had a couple of longboard tris, but have owned over 6 guns that were over 9’ and tri fins.
Spread fore and aft has to be wider than shortboard tris, but there is NO definitive answer, because your style is different, your size is individual, and placement of the hips on your board is also a determining factor.
Also, you failed to mention actual size of fins involved. Small fins allow placement to be wider (fore and aft) and gives you a bigger sweetspot while being lose and easy on back foot placement.
Bigger side fins force you to move them farther back, making you be more precise in turning position, but allows for stronger, edge-ier turns and slashes.
All this need to be factored in, and no exact info can really be given.
Quote:
Hey
Only had a couple of longboard tris, but have owned over 6 guns that were over 9’ and tri fins.
Spread fore and aft has to be wider than shortboard tris, but there is NO definitive answer, because your style is different, your size is individual, and placement of the hips on your board is also a determining factor.
Also, you failed to mention actual size of fins involved. Small fins allow placement to be wider (fore and aft) and gives you a bigger sweetspot while being lose and easy on back foot placement.
Bigger side fins force you to move them farther back, making you be more precise in turning position, but allows for stronger, edge-ier turns and slashes.
All this need to be factored in, and no exact info can really be given.
Thanks Tom.
LeeDD, Im planning on using larger thruster fins about 4 1/2 base and depth to 4 5/8 base and depth. hips are at about 20 from the tail and rocker acceleration starts at about that point also.
J, you’re pretty much describing my latest nine footer. i did the thruster setup with the trailing fin at 4" and the leading fins at 15.5". works like a champ. turns really well and nose rides too. i have a lot of nose rocker (added an inch to the 9-5S) and put considerable scoop there also. single to double concave middle through tail. sounds like you’re gonna have fun.
btw- i used gpr’s from fcs for the thruster setup.
j troy …16 and 8 or 15 and 7 would be the range for that description of board you gave .with narrowness of nose and tail you could come as far back as 14 and 6 coz your gonna need punch for that tail width .so youd already be hanging right on the tail ,where ever you put your fins thats where you have to stand to turn your board ,fins foward stand forward ,fins back stand back, so your board has to harmonise with your fin setts ,(eg, hip back ,rocker back, fins forward wont work )coz your board is designed to be turned from a different place to the fins…
hey do you see duane often ? next time you see him tell him bert burger said hello …
i was surfing raglan with him late last year and hanging out a bit…hes got serious commitment to taking off deep ,we got one real sic afternoon out there was starting to push 8’ ,there was about 6 of us sitting unmakeably deep (just makeable) one other aussie and 4 hawaiians,out of all these pros hanging around the hawaiians had the balls in the juice…
ps just use your shortboard setts just move them forward…
regards
BERT
surfthis i cant beleive you can turn those setts ??hell stiff setts…