Dominater vs Spitfire vs Proctor Monsta

[vowbeachbum]

hi there,im a bit confused on what to get.i almost pulled the trigger on the dominater a couple of months ago but bought a house so i had to wait a bit.now im ready but cant decide since i read to many fourms lol
im 6'4 218lbs and surfed for 15 years off and on.took a 4 year break do to being stabbed in lower back.the last 3 years i been surfing a funboard 7'3 quad on small days and a old 6'10 wrv shortboard thruster on bigger days.its mostly 1 to 4 ft and rarely double overhead.i've been doing some reserach and cant decide on what to get.im not a shredder but im no soul surfer.im 31 in good shape and just want to try and step it up this year.i can do cut backs,smack the lip and floaters.
reason im posting is cuz im old school and not new to all the new board designs.i just want a board that gets into waves early and loose with alot of drive.i also like to catch alot of waves.i like volume! thing is i also want it for those double overhead days that sometimes come around at the end of the year and for hurricane season.hope ya'll can help me out.i surf whenever theres waves...if its a weekend and theres waves im in all day.and if its a work day and i see theres waves i use a sick day...heres my choices.

i would ether get the

6'6 dominater
6'6 spitfire
6'6 proctor monsta 21'' x 2 3/4

all ridden as quad since i love them

[vowbeachbum]

Can someone give me some advice on what to get.

[iggy]

The proctor Monsta will get you covered in bigger days I believe. In your case I would go for the Spitfire. Since you lake the "junk in the trunk", 6'6" will float you plenty. The Spitfire will be a bit more performant than the Dominator.
Have yuo taken a look at the Potatonator?. Could be another interesting option if you want to downsize a bit

[vowbeachbum]

Thx for replying,think im going to go down to my local shop and hold the spitfire and pnator and choose between them two.maybe get the proctor in july towards the end of the summer...I've been reading so many threads that my mind is alll screwed up.

[iggy]

Nothing better than go there and feel the boards!!!.By July you might have changed your mind!!

[vowbeachbum]

went to shop today they dont have any spitfires in stock till june and pnator seemed sexy but not that stolked about it.dom i seen also.for some reason spitfire is calling my name.also its online free shipping for 665usd brand new.so think ill grab that.with my weight 215lbs now and still losing weight.what quad set should i start with?

[prjwebb]

Yeah I agree on the Spitfire although I wouldn't be too keen to take it out in double overhead, but up to 1.5 overhead I enjoy it.
Are you looking at Futures or FCS?

[vowbeachbum]

future,whats a good quad set to start from with my weight and ht.6'4 215.and id get a 6'6 on ether dom or spitfire

[iggy]

The AM2 5 fin setup is definitely a good candidate which will offer the flexibility of both setups:
AM2 5-Fin

Front Fins:

Height: 4.73 in, 12.01 cm
Base: 4.49 in, 11.40 cm
Area: 15.98 sq in, 103.10sq cm

Center Trailer

Height: 4.49 in, 11.40 cm
Base: 4.63 in, 11.76 cm
Area: 15.32 sq in, 98.84 sq cm

Quad Trailer

Height: 4.00 in, 10.16 cm
Base: 3.88 in, 9.86 cm
Area: 12.39 sq in, 79.94 sq cm


A popular template for the light footed large surfer. The large base with medium tip helps with powerful bottom turns and releasing the fins off the top. Try this laid back template in wrapping point breaks. Riding the quad rears instead of the center fin will add drive and hold.
471

[vowbeachbum]

those look sick.will those still be able to slide around when wanted?what about the simon a sa4 quad set.

472

[iggy]

those look sick.will those still be able to slide around when wanted?what about the simon a sa4 quad set.

472

SA4 - Simon Anderson

Outline: Simon Anderson

Front Fins: FSA4

Height: 4.63 in, 11.80 cm
Base: 4.51 in, 11.50 cm
Area: 15.80 sq in, 40.10 sq cm

Rear Fins: FSA4 Quad Rear

Height: 4.36 in, 11.10 cm
Base: 4.14 in, 10.50 cm
Area: 13.24 sq in, 33.60 sq cm

Base Depth: 1/2 in. only

A template designed for smaller surfers looking for hold and power in the large category. The large base allows you to create your own speed while the large tip helps you stay on rail. Riding the quad rears instead of the center fin will add drive and hold.

[vowbeachbum]

SA4 - Simon Anderson

Outline: Simon Anderson

Front Fins: FSA4

Height: 4.63 in, 11.80 cm
Base: 4.51 in, 11.50 cm
Area: 15.80 sq in, 40.10 sq cm

Rear Fins: FSA4 Quad Rear

Height: 4.36 in, 11.10 cm
Base: 4.14 in, 10.50 cm
Area: 13.24 sq in, 33.60 sq cm

Base Depth: 1/2 in. only

A template designed for smaller surfers looking for hold and power in the large category. The large base allows you to create your own speed while the large tip helps you stay on rail. Riding the quad rears instead of the center fin will add drive and hold.


so will these work for me? or should i get the 5 fin set? am2?

[iggy]

I would go for the 5 fin setup, will have you pretty much covered.Stable but yet loose off the top

[vowbeachbum]

does the spit and dom paddle the same?

[prjwebb]

Yep

[vowbeachbum]

thx for advice have spitfire on order.now its a choice of fins.sa or am2,i found i can buy both sets in 5 fin.i really hate orange but thats just looks i know.the am2's are are slightly bigger fin up front then the sa4s...ugh choices choices.dont care for the tri set up.umm.just want drive and to be able to slide when i want to.and rip the lip.how much different are they from each other.the discriptions on both dont really help

[Chris]

he folks!! AM2s and SA fins are two of the larger fins templates that are meant to enhance a performance "carving" style. If i were someone interested in "looseness" or "slide" i would get after a different fin. These are performance fins meant to stay engaged in the wave. Fast and powerful....

Cheers and hope this helps!

[vowbeachbum]

so what fins do u recommend for a spit with future.

what abouyt these stretch ones




Stretch Quad Front Fins: 4.34 in - 11 cm
400 Rear Fins: 3.89 in - 9.9 cm



Depth:

Stretch Quad Front Fins: 4.39 in - 11.2 cm
400 Rear Fins: 4.00 in - 10.2 cm



Area:

Stretch Quad Front Fins: 14.52 in² - 93.68 cm²
400 Rear Fins:12.41 in² - 80.06 cm²



400 Rear fin details:

Base Depth: 1/2"

494

[vowbeachbum]

ill buy two sets i guess ,what two sets dont know yet...anybody have there two cents to add for me

[Fritzkat]

ill buy two sets i guess ,what two sets dont know yet...anybody have there two cents to add for me

Get the AM-2's (5 fin) 4.79f/4.0 Quadrear /or 4.49 tricenter. Its a stiffer fin that youll want in larger powerful surf head high to 1.5X head high+
and the Rusty (5 fin) 4.54f/3.85 Quad rear/ or 4.54 triCenter for the waist to Head high plus
You can mix and match the rears depending on the face steepness and size.
502
AM-2 shown with front and center fin only, I do not have the quad rears. My Timstamps 4.0 rears fill that gap.

501
Rusty shown with the front and rears


Forget the Stretch quad its a weird fin set IMO, waste of money for a small front 4.38 with too much hold on the rear fin 4.0, maybe for a fish that goes just straight turn down the line on mushy waves. At your weight i would not ride anything smaller than a 4.45 front

If you can throw a third set, go for the SA-4's 4.63 front with huge 4.36 rears for that rare hollow fast standup barrel, your not going to slide around on the Simons

[Chris]

Hey vow,
I personally love the stretch fins, but they are good for smaller, more playful surf AND/OR for a losses, shorter arc style.

Some people like the hold, drive and speed of larger area fins. My preferences have me going out almost exclusively on thrusters in bigger surf so the loose, playful SF4s are the best bet for me in a quad set.

Cheers

[Fritzkat]

Stretch fins...Well that contradicts my own personal theory. You know what they say Different strokes give you different STOKES.

[vowbeachbum]

im gonna get the am2 5 fin set and the quad stretch sf4 and the simon anderson sa4 quad set and sell which ever ones i dont like after i try them all out .thx for advice.

[Fritzkat]

Vow let us know and please post what works for you in a FINS tested blog (for Futures Chatter) If you can...

[Chris]

good call Fritz

[Fritzkat]

Vow, dibs on your SA-4 set if you sell them... ;)

[vowbeachbum]

lol they didnt come in the mail yet nor did the board...

[Fritzkat]

probably wont be able to test the SA-4's until a big swell anyhow ...

[vowbeachbum]

so for smaller waves say knee/waist to chest high.what do u think fins i should use.i usually break out the long board for days under waist high but i wana use something different since i been surfing the same boards for the last 6 years

[buzzy]

By and large I use the same fins most of the time on the "Occy principle".

[vowbeachbum]

so i just got an email on my order for my spitfire was canceled due to out of stock on my item 6'6 spitfire.they refunded my money and said they would contact me when one was available.which totally sucks.i ordered from hbc6.com ,it showed it was in stock when i ordered it on the 17th. but any i got my money.anyone know a place i can order from in the U.S.??? cuz im notplaying the waiting game

[iggy]

Try Cinnamon Rainbows Surfshop in NH or Liquid Dreams Surfshop in ME
www.cinnamonrainbows.com
www.liquiddreamssurf.com

[vowbeachbum]

ordered it from http://www.obbconline.com/ for 20 bucks more then i origanly ordered but im happy got the red tail instead of blue.rapifire deck as well.dont like the fst model with the plug and more flex

[iggy]

No more vents!!

[prjwebb]

Spitfire never had a vent, but i think all models that had a vent still do, with the exception of the Taj.

[vowbeachbum]

i just dont like the fst model period

[vowbeachbum]

how are these fins ? Josh Mulcoy 5-Fin set up

[vowbeachbum]

after reading so many nightmares of broken firewires im now scared to ride mine and it didnt even come yet.since i have the money im going to order another board as well and whatever one i like better ill keep...what are the chances of breaking one and how do i know if its a bad model can i check a serial number when it comes here.i dont want like a bad batch one...this sucks im nervous and cant wait for the spit to get here

[buzzy]

Every surfboard can break - if people break in the surf and in Oz we're currently hearing about an elite surf lifesavers death in pretty moderate conditions, then you have to expect board's to break. But firewires seem to break less often. Because they break less often some people seem to equate that with "unbreakable" and then get upset when something untoward happens. If a standard board breaks people shrug their shoulders and trudge off and buy a new one. If a FireWire breaks they make furious internet posts or YouTube videos or both to express their indignation. I mean how many posts of outrage do you see about Webbers or al merricks snapping? None.

[prjwebb]

I've been on them for 2.5 years, 5 different boards. Barely had a ding. Have a mate that has one for 3 years, never had a ding.

If you bought a new FireWire and it fell apart for no reason (extremely unlikely) you would be taken care of. Most breakages are due to water damage in the core of the boards due to unfixed dings. Just people don't mention that in their rants.

[vowbeachbum]

ok thx for info so once it comes in the mail inspect it for dings and damage before i hit the water.

[prjwebb]

Keep it water tight and it'll last a long time!

[Chris]

Hey vowbeachbum, why are you asking about "knowing whether its a bad board?"

[Chris]

Folks, I'll do it again because we have lots of new people around these days, but the premise of a "bad batch" is nonexistent. We had a few early boards back when the company was just getting started that were made with bad epoxy, but we are so far past that now. We have many quality control stages that prevent anything like that from happening again.

Please understand THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD BATCH! Please do your best to get beyond that idea. Firewire is held to a different standard than PU boards. no one even bats an eye if they snap a light, high performance PU or ding the board by gently bumping etc. This is because people have realistic expectations of the boards. Firewires, despite being a bit more durable in some ways (without breaking down FST, Rapidfire, Crossfire, Direct Drive), are still kept light and high performance. The ocean, and even a small wave, are capable of delivering a lot of force. PLENTY of force to break a board.

When this happens, people come here to talk about it. This forum is the easiest place for anyone who has broken or damaged a board to come and talk about it. When you consider the number of boards that are in the water across the globe, the number is very small. If there were an inherent issue with the tech, we would have gone out of business long ago. Considering things a bit further, not only do pros ride and trust the tech, but it works great for the non-professional surfer as well, further evidence that the technology is tried an true.

I don't want people to be discouraged by reading posts about issues because every product in the world would have people with such stories. If a major soda company had a blog, people would be bashing them for this or that, but they would be in the EXTREME minority. Try to take things with a grain of salt and understand that there is much more good in Firewire boards than bad. The fact that so many positive folks hang around here is a testament to how well the boards work and how fun they are to ride.

Cheers and hope this helps clarify a bit.

[vowbeachbum]

sorry chris just read alot of nonsense online.


just got my board today from fedex and it looks so sexy,im in love.was worried about it since the box had a crease but i didnt let the fedex guy leave intill i inspected it.now im waiting for tail pad and fins to come ,cant wait!
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560
561
562

[Slowman]

sorry chris just read alot of nonsense online.
...
You have to add some perspective to the stuff you read online. People tend not to post everyday that they didn't break their board. However every post made implies exactly that, otherwise the poster would be sure to mention it, right? So if you were to tally up the other posts versus the ones about breakages you probably get a better perspective on how small the failure rate is. And then of course as PRJ touched on, you can't believe everything you read on the internet!

I didn't break my spitfire today, or my hellfire either and I surfed both. I brought my HF with me based on the expectation the surf would be as good as yesterday but it was chest high and weakish, the HF worked on the better ones but it was definitely a spitfire day. Once I returned with the spitfire my fun per calorie ratio increased significantly. As the onshore breeze came up it kept on delivering both fun and performance. I don't think you'll have any regrets. I'm very happy with my SF although I'm hoping now with autumn upon us in Oz the HF utulisation rate will increase markedly.

[Chris]

good words all. thanks for the post slow man.

[Stevie]

hey if i grab a dominator.. what size should i get. im 170 lbs 5'9 and a decent sufer. i'm kinda sketchin about goin to small for those 1ft days that I wanna try and push it (dont have enough money for a SP). Help would be appreciated in. :)

[vowbeachbum]

i'd say 5'10 or 5'8...im sure someone will chime in for more info

[Fritzkat]

vow, get that board in the water yet?

[prjwebb]

Stevie, I'd put you on the 5'8", but if you really want to maximise catching the smallest of waves you could step up to the 5'10" but there would be a small performance trade off in favour of the paddle power.

[Chris]

Yeah I agree with Prj as well. 508 if you want the best blend of performance and usability and the 510 is you REALLY want to get after extra float. I think, though, if you are looking to push your surfing, its the 508 hands down.

Cheers!

[vowbeachbum]

vow, get that board in the water yet?

tailpad, fins and new wetsuit still havent come yet.water here is 42 and my 3/2 isnt cutting it.really sucks too cuz this morning was waist to chest high glassy and clean.would have been a fun test day

[Stevie]

Thanks Guys! 5'8 it is

[hwork50]

Just got done reading through this post and was wondering what the Future Fin equivalent of the K 2.1's are? Can't wait to see how the fin testing goes.

[prjwebb]

The WCT are the closest, but apparently don't work as well for a larger guy as the 2.1.

[Chris]

yeah I agree prj, that is the closest fin, although I am not sure i have heard that bigger guys don't like the WCT...

[vowbeachbum]

i found a pair of the rusty 5 fin rtm new for 90 bucks and they came already so im going to give them a try once my damn booties and gloves get here.and waves get alittle better...im feening to get into the water.board check stomp pad check wetsuit check fins check.booties and gloves nope!!!! dont need a hood.hate them.also still waiting on the 5 fin am2 to arive.water here is 42 degrees.so cold

[vowbeachbum]

heres a video of when it gets pretty good during winter.its not me surfing,i found it on a site.there is waves in new york city


http://youtu.be/Q4DStAoPmX8

[Chris]

yeah gets super good there. I have had it windy like that where you feel like you are surfing a conveyor belt.

[Fritzkat]

VOW, damn that looks cold. BRRRRRRRRRRR

[prjwebb]

yeah I agree prj, that is the closest fin, although I am not sure i have heard that bigger guys don't like the WCT...

Dave said be found them easy to over power when he's pushing 90kg, in the tech flex at least. That's all the feedback I've heard about them though so yeah, it's limited!

[iggy]

Yup there are waves in New York... and good ones!!!!.Was there at the Quiky Pro last year and towards the end it got really good...but cold as you said!
I'm ordering a set of WCT and Marzo's myself

[hwork50]

I was talking to a guy at Ripcurl and he said the WCT's are just like the K2.1 fins and that they would be really good for the Spitfire or the DOM. Would love to know how those go iggy.

Let us know,

Brent

[iggy]

I'll be posting as soon as they get to the water!

[vowbeachbum]

so im back with some love of the spit.im running the rusty quad futures and havent tried anything else.guess i love them.its been waist to chest high the last 3 days and i been surfing till my arms are like noodles.still have to wear a suit no gloves though.board is fast and skatey and goes anywere on the wave that i want it too.i can tell already its love at first ride.paddles so quick and gets in so early.im 223lbs with a suit on and it still floats great.i like how once u get on the tail in the sweet spot it just comes alive.it duck dives great as well.what i board.im happy i went with the 6'6.going to try the am2 this tuesday.it suppose to be a little bit bigger.i notice when u carve down a wave and get to end and want to rip a cutback it turns on a dime and releases so much spray,and that when i feel the flex a bit.since this is the first firewire i have owned i noticed it there but ony there.it was amazing.feels so smooth like your gliding on water.guess its cuz its so lite.i love it...

[Chris]

Great feedback vow! I am sure those rusty fins go great for you. There has been really solid stuff shared abou them by bigger surfers!

Cheers.