I had post this on the surfermag discussion forum and thought it also belongs here…
Why is the 2+1 set up never used for shortboards and only rarely in eggs? What are the advantages/disadvantage of thruster over the 2+1 and vice versa?
Thanks in advance for the info.
Thruster can pivot around/drive off the rail fin.
2+1 cannot, makes the board more limited.
On boards in which it is hard to transition rail to rail fewer people notice the lack of ability to drive hard off the rail fin.
Depends really how you like to surf!
Most eggers (I have two) like to cruise and glide.
My 7’9" x 22 is set up with two 6x6 side bites, no center fin, as I like twin fin performance, but can’t paddle worth a nickel.
My smaller mal is set up 3 equal 4.75 fins, with no chance to use bigger anywhere, so it stays.
Everything works, but surfer preference takes some priority.
Thruster can pivot around/drive off the rail fin.
2+1 cannot, makes the board more limited.
Hello Blakestah,
I just finished a 2+1 6’8" shortboard (pretty common dimensions/rails/rocker) with 4.5’s Edge sides and 4.5" FU center. My goal was to have all the characteristics of a thruster, but with the ability to make the board more versatile (finbox selections).
When you mention a 2+1 being more limited - is that assuming someone would be running a larger center fin?
Thank you,
Herb Bean
When you mention a 2+1 being more limited - is that assuming someone would be running a larger center fin?
More limited may be too judgmental…2+1 would be more center fin dominated…of course thinking the center fin would be 6-7.5 inches and the bites 3-3.5 or so, typical 2+1 size range.
Lots changes when you go from a design that goes hard on the rail to one that turns about the middle of the board…the water flow in a turn under the board changes, the rider’s weight distribution changes…hard to get the best of both worlds in one hull.
Have been getting around to putting sideys on a 7’0 single easter project. after seeing the widow makers in glass love they would be very drivey (i hope)
I shall be able to tell u soon…
The Board: 6ft2 18 3/4’ 2 5/16’ T&C Standard shortboard.
The Fin setups: Small Keel Sides with thruster back, Small thruster sides with normal thruster back, small sidies with standard thruster back and once I make some tabs the thruster back will be a 7.5’ back.
Shoould bee fuun!!
Jooosh.
Ok so you could ride as a number of possiblities.
(This is all roughly)
1.As a thruster with a True Ames 4.5 overhang and 4.5 sides.
A larger center (6-7.5 app) with 3 - 3.5" sides.
Larger 8-9" center fin no sides.
Fish sides a small 3-4" trailer. (unless its a pintail)
But the real question is what is the bottom that works best for a bord with multiple fin combinations. I have heard that a big single concave with a double in it leading out with spiral exit Vee would work.
I plan on doing a pulled in 8’ pintail real soon and want to get the most I can from all the above combinations (except #4).
Not sure what would be the most verstile and the bottom contour is the only thing I’m not sure about. I know that I have pull that tail in to make the single work affectivly so I was going to go 14" or touch smaller.
This bottom contour is the only thing stopping me from doign this.
Any thoughts???
Thanks Matt
Greg has intresting take on the Mid-Lengths. I’m starting to become a big fan of this style.
After all the advice this is what I’m going with (but not until I come back from my vaca).
Put a “moderate vee into it and then put double barrels that travel through the vee. They start out wide where the vee is not that pronounced, and become narrower as they travel through the vee. It doesn’t seem to hurt the board when it’s ridden as a single, and theoretically it should provide the tail lift you need with a thruster.”
I was leaning to basically something like this anyways and after I got some help from a shaper BP from the New York forum that was it.
I leave for a wedding in SD on Tuesday and sad that I’m excited to come back just to sit with Shane from 2-SI, to shape it and try it. More so than going away…LOL