Needs a decent wall. Not a big wall but a wall all the same. Otherwise its the potatonator for me.

There's a thought, mmmmmmm. FCS only though. Would have to dust off the non-vanguard boards which is futures and would therefore be unlikely at this stage. Having too much fun on it!!

For me, anything over shoulder high I have it in. Under that, depends on fins and board and wave. Leave it out for bit more looseness, but if steep enough for some snaps etc then I have one in as a pivoting point. Certainly feel the difference.

I have found better results with a custom cut and foil with traditional fin shapes. Not a big difference, just subtle. Been meaning to do another, a bit smaller than the one shown in the Activator
The rainbow knubster in the vanguard is a fair size larger than the original knubster and I will be adjusting that. All my custom 5th fins have been in FCS so haven't any spares in futures yet for experimenting.
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I demo'd the 6.0 for 4 days and got a good feel for it. Paddling was an effort but had been out of water for 5 weeks for knee operation so was getting easier each day. Got the 6'2" four weeks later and could not perceive any performance difference at all. But better paddle which I wanted for the old shoulders!

May have to get a larger set for the bigger days as I can see this evolving into a single board quiver for the most part. Went back to the potatonator for a small session-thigh high and felt like the queen Mary for several waves. In another session in those waves, the vg excelled on the better ones but struggled on the fatter ones where the pn would have pushed through. Wondering how the Panchos would go in the bigger stuff before I think about the AM2 set.
All my other boards are fcs but could not get the vg in that. Have a fair kit of fcs and hesitant to go into futures heavily.
I don't do thrusters anymore, for last few years, just like the liveliness of the quads with the fifth fin where needed

Hi nn66
What fins are you running?
Had my 6'2" for a week rate it as the most exciting board I have ever ridden in my 40 yrs of surfing. Tried to test the limits in 4-5 ft aussie(1-1.5 overhead) but I think the board was testing my limits! So loose and what I thought was my normal small corrections was interpreted as major which made for intense situations testing reflexes to get out. But at the same time the board gave you the stability and confidence to react. So much fun and added adrenaline. Time will get it dialled and keen to get back on.
Using futures sa4 in quad. Ordered a nubster style to try.

Wrong button.......
for up to 2x overhead which it performs and paddles superbly. Same with my other 2 FW's. Even with the vanguard, it was spot on which I could confirm with a demo. Calculator had my bottom limit at 39L which was a 6'0" Demo'd one at that size which did work but a harder paddle. Purchased a 6'2" which at 43L was in the middle to upper suggestion and was spot on. Guess it won't work for everyone but a good guide for many.

Have used the volume calc for each FW
so far and found it pretty spot on. Havn't ridden denominator either but have got a activator which I oversized. By one size 609 instead of 607 as I wanted it a a step up

Hey el02
PN is 6'6"
A bit overfoamed but am 55 yo and need a bit of float against the groms and logs at my home break. It certainly levels the playing field in that respect and really happy with it

In 606 PN FCS have tried
SA 25 large quad with and without nubster - great
GMB 5 quad with and without nubster - great
Aqualine quad with and without nubster - spins out on occasions when taking off, not so stable but they are a smaller fin area.
Aqualine fronts with PC5 rears - ok but a bit stiff and unlively
SF4 quad glass flex with and without nubster - good but doesn't compare to top 2. Looking for a set of PC in these may make a big diff.

My current preference would be the GMB's, the nubster going in on the suckier waves over chest high.
Not a big difference between these and the SA's.
Plenty of drive but still up for snaps and roundhouses to your heart's content.
I'm 6'2" and 88KG
I never do thrusters anymore, find the combo ho hum when compared to quads but that's me.

Bonzer bottom? I remember single fin days not long before the thruster when we were trying the step bottom about 2 ft in front of the fin. The idea to create a void around the back of the board to reduce friction and loosen it up. Had one for a couple of years but can't remember how well it worked, if at all. The step was about 1/4 inch down. Similar principle to the golf ball dimples but a larger scale.

Yeah would prefer the fst as am more than impressed with the durability of my other 2. Ding free after 12 months.
We are the same weight, height but l'm15 years on the wrong side so I guess 4" diff on the VG makes it comparable with the age diff.
Easier to hide the new boards as I keep them all white, but a bit much to pull the VG out of the cover and trot out the gate with it under the arm with the line "you mean this old thing?".

I mean even young kids say "Hey daddy, thats a funny surfboard"

Revision to the "Age is a state of mind". Should read "Age is a state of mind and a state of foam"

Going for the 602 VG rocketship after demo on the 600. Got it working but reckon 10% foam bonus would be a 'crowd pleaser'. An extraordinary board.
A bit anxious that most are riding in the 5's but had a few surfs on it so decision made.

It IS a state of mind! Surfing better now than in my twenties. Their attitude changes so quick when you shower them with spray on a big cuttie. You get a lot more space out the back. Can't wait for the reaction with the Vanguard, hopefully show em some fins if i can work it out

All the variables. I am 195 lbs, 6'1" but 55 yrs old. The 602 is in the mid range ar 43 litres, comparing my 606 potatonator and 609 activator which are both fantastic. Was willing to risk too much volume rather than struggle with not enough. When checking stock levels at my local, they tell me they have a brand new 600 as demo. Sign me up! What's better than waxing a new stick especially one of these knowing I can keep it or hand it back after a 4 day weekend. I am frothing!! Even looking forward to paddling it out as the old fart in the break on the most radical design out there. Pressure to perform.