5'4 SP Fins

[EasternGlow]

Hi, I just picked up a 5'4 Sweet potato FST and I'm having a hard time figuring out what fins to put on. It is FCS plugs. After doing lots of research, it seems like the rainbow speed dialers, fcs SF4's, indofins, and mixes of front/back fins are popular. I am 6'0 175 lbs and I don't know where to start with fins. I live in south florida and will be riding often mushy 1-4' waves. Any insight is appreciated, thanks.

Andrew

[prjwebb]

SF4s are a good start, you can decide from there if you want a looser ride, more hold, more drive etc.
I think my FCS set up will probably be MRTFX fronts with the K2.1 quad rears.

[deadkipper]

I've tried nearly all the FCS fins going. Try and find a local surf shop that demos FCS. I've got a 5'6" SP and I only use Simon Anderson large quad glass fins in mine. They have everything hold, drive but still keep the board loose. I think just the nature of the size of a board under 5'8" will be loose anyway.
Tried the MR fins, I hated the feel.

[kdropin]

rode the mayhem quad today.. didn't like it all that much.. thought the sf4's felt better.. gonna throw them in next time again to compare

[Chris]

yeah kdropin, mayhems might be a little big...

[kdropin]

yeah kdropin, mayhems might be a little big...

felt real "tracky" too.. waves had a bit of hollowness to them too. i think the spud works best when it crumbly with flat shoulders. i haven't had a bad session with the sf4's so i'm going back to them next time i surf the spud

[mads sand]

I love my rusty r2 quad fin setup in the potato

[Erling]

This is one sick board! LOVE IT!:)

I like the SF4s, but I do feel that they might be a bit too loose and release a lot more than I'm used to ... might just need to surf them more to get used to it. Tried out the PC7s in front with SF4 rear, felt more in control and my turns got more drawn out... but the the board did feel stiffer and less alive, so I'm going back to the SF4s.


Everyone is talking good things about the Futures Controller fins, has anyone tried these :
http://indofins.net/
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Indo-Fins-FCS-Compatible-Fins-Controller-Quad-Style-/160704568860?pt=AU_Sport_Surfing&hash=item256abd1e1c#ht_2612wt_1396

looks like they're a copy of the Controller fins, but no reviews is to be found online...

Future Controller quad:
Front - Height: 4.50" , Base: 5.05"
Rear - Height: 4.53" , Base: 3.89"

Indo Fins FCS compatible - Controller quad:
Front - Height: 4.65" , Base: 4.22"
Rear - Height: 4.41" , Base: 4.02"


I've read that Furures have cant angle in the fin, but FCS have the cant angle in the plugs.... so if these fins have the same cant angle as the Futures do, I guess they will end up having a lot more cant when installed in the FCS box?


212

[prjwebb]

Erling, you tried the MR-TFX set in the spud yet?

[Erling]

Prjwebb: no, a friend of me is borrowing them.... might sell them.
The FCS plugs in my last dominator got cracks in them, between the tabs. Another fried of mine loves the MR-TFX, but have ripped out two plugs when using them.... so I stopped using them.
Looks like the Controllers might be quite big as well though...

[prjwebb]

I've heard about people ripping plugs with MRs. I think with Fusions in a FW construction board it should be solid, but it leaves you thinking is it worth the risk...

[Chris]

yeah erling the controllers look real similar to the ones in your post....

pne thing about bigger fins in FCS plugs, i think its fine, but you just want to be aware of your settings. think FCS and Futures alike both have increased risk of blowout it bigger surf, but not if you surf smart and save. Surf aggressively in smaller surf with big fins and consider a different set or even a different board for bigger waves. No perfect answer though.

Cheers

[Fazza]

Just some feedback on the FCS Controller Quad Fins from indofins.net for those of you who are interested.

I have a 5'4 SP and i really wanted Futures and the Controller fins but unfortunatley there was only SP with FCS available and i didn't want to wait minimum of 4 weeks for a board with Futures.

I purchased a set of the FCS Quad Controller Fins from InfoFin and they arrived here in West Oz within 7 day of ordering and cost me $51AU delivered.

I took them for a test run today on a fast, small 1ft (and a bit sometimes) wave and found them surprisingly good...they were drivey, had good pivot/turn and seemed to be fast enough and i did prefer them to a couple of other FCS fins i have tried ie. K2.1 Quad and SA Quad set.

Couple of pic of them in my SP:

294295

[iggy]

Yup those controllers fit the potato nicely hey?

[Fazza]

Yes they are not bad and only $50........tried to delete the upside down pictures but cannot without deleting the whole post.

[Chris]

there you go! FCS version of the controllers for sure!

[Erling]

Fazza:
- how is the build quality?
- not sure how the Futures Controllers are (inside foil, flat, ... ?), but how are the Indo copy ones?

Might order a pair and try them out, but I'm really enjoying the PC-SF4s at the moment :)

Chris:
Have you tried both the SF4 and Controllers in the SP? How do they compare?

[surferireland]

Is there anything wrong with the SF4's (i think) that comes on the SP in FCS as standard

[prjwebb]

I think they are a good starting point and they seem to go well. I'd be interested to try a larger set for more drive but man that board flies anyway.

[kdropin]

i went larger with the mayhem's.. didn't like them.. they were very tracky.. so i'm switching back to the sf4's.. haven't ridden the board since however.. as goes living on the ec with a job and it gets dark early

[Chris]

short swell windows this year on the east coast huh??

[surferireland]

Its been 15ft (on the swell buoys) plus in Ireland for about 75% of the last 3 months - windy as hell though -

[Chris]

ha! i think i would have a beer to help calm my nerves....

its been fun here too....just really polluted...and lots of work.

[prjwebb]

Cornwall's mostly been a write off for about 2 months. Howling westerlies which is about the only wind you can't find much shelter from unless the swell is super big and even then you gotta know your stuff.

[surferireland]

This weekend the kids are at the grand parents all weekend and Ive booked a spa hotel next to 2 great breaks, this keeps wife happy with me bringing a van load of board on romantic weekend away, and winds look to turn off shore saturday morning with a 8ft swell predicted - its looking real good - i keep telling myself this anyway

[prjwebb]

sounds like the makings of a great weekend!

[kdropin]

short swell windows this year on the east coast huh??

havent' surfed since new years eve.. january usually is pretty terrible anyways.. the west (devil) winds have been killer here on li

[Fazza]

Fazza:
- how is the build quality?
- not sure how the Futures Controllers are (inside foil, flat, ... ?), but how are the Indo copy ones?

Might order a pair and try them out, but I'm really enjoying the PC-SF4s at the moment :)

Chris:
Have you tried both the SF4 and Controllers in the SP? How do they compare?

Erling,

The build quality seems fins to me, no whistling noise on turns which is a good sign.

I have not tried the Futures Controller quad fins as mine is FCS but a friend of mine has them in his SP with Futures boxes. I think the Indo Quad Controller copies seems to have a little more flex in them at the tip of the front fins than the Futures and there is no inside foil.

I took my SP for a ride to day on a 3-4ft reef break here in South West WA, there was a bit of northerly chop on the wave the board and fins seemed to handle it very well. I am still getting used to the board and the wave today had a bit of punch in it so i was only able to get up and pump down the line and get a turn in near the end of the wave.

Regards
Craig

[IRNMNsurf]

I'm 5' 9", 179 pounds, been surfing 20 years, live and surf US East Coast. I have a 5' 4" FST SP and really like it now that I have figured out the best fin set up for me. I tried PC-7 with GX trailers (both single foiled and double foiled), MRTX with GX trailers, and M-5 with GX trailers. Out of those, I liked the M-5 with GX the best, but something still didn't feel like it was optimal. I found a FCS H-2 quad set for sale at a local shop (FCS does not make them anymore), researched them, and decided to pull the trigger. I have read the the Future Controllers that everyone loves were actually greatly influenced by the H2s. Anyway, I could not be more stoked with the H2 quad set in the Sweet Potato- everything I would want- speed, great combo of drive and looseness, snappy off the top, carves well, and hold on steep drops. I've ridden them in knee to 1-2 feet overhead and they have felt great in that size range. They feel amazing backside as well. So,if you can find a set of these, I highly recommend you give them a go on your Sweet Potato. I'm also very stoked on the SP- a quiver killer for the US East Coast.

[MaxUK]

I've just picked up a 5'4 SP in FST for the small days here on the North East coast. Not that keen on the stock fins like most people in this thread I'm looking for a new set. IRNMNSurf, your experience with the H2's sounds positive, can you tell me what size set your using? I'm also thinking of the K2.1's if anyone has used them in the SP I'd be keen to know how they went. I don't want anything ultra stiff but something which turns tight and I can still get lots of drive from. Cheers.

[Chris]

guys in MY OPINION, with the potato, you either want to go with a set of fins that emulates the retro twin fin sensation (Futures controllers, MRTX) or you want to go with a performance, upright quad set (SF4s, K2.1) I don't like traditional, swept back thruster fins mixed into a quad set because they tend to make the board feel a bit sticky...

[surferireland]

Amen

[Chris]

thy has spoken ofeth divinity.

I can't really speak latin.

[iggy]

But you can speak old biblical english

[Chris]

that was an accident