Quad fin set up

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

I've surfed with on a quad fin, but never kited on one. Anyone know if it's sluggish or how it tacks upwind?
this is the board i'm thinking of: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/1169091438.html
Thanks!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

quads can be faster than thrusters (mine is but has much less rocker - faster but a bit more bouncy when riding chop)

that board looks great but how much do you weigh?

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

im 5'9" and weigh 150.
i've surfed on a 5'10", fish and thruster. I'm kinda thinking shorter might be more fun on a kite, since i don't have to paddle in...
i just kited with a 5'10" thruster in japan, and thought shorter might be nice.
think i should go with a 5'10" or 5'11"? I can't decide.

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 538 Posts Oregon Addicted

Kyle,

my tid bits to add to gmans comments.

I am the same size as you. I have a 5 11 thruster with alot of rocker and a 5'6 quad fish that is quite wide at just over 20". The fish has way more float and light wind capacity. The thruster needs a bit more wind to be fun.

if you want to 'surf' the waves with little kite power I would say you need a bigger board than 5'8" and only 18.6" wide. but if you kite with a bit more kite power then you will be fine.

I think quads are the way to go for kiting oregon waves which generally are slow and mushy. quads give you a bit more speed and generally have less resistance than a thruster.

I ride my fish 70% of the time and ride my thruster only when is windy.

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 538 Posts Oregon Addicted

Kyle,

my tid bits to add to gmans comments.

I am the same size as you. I have a 5 11 thruster with alot of rocker and a 5'6 quad fish that is quite wide at just over 20". The fish has way more float and light wind capacity. The thruster needs a bit more wind to be fun.

if you want to 'surf' the waves with little kite power I would say you need a bigger board than 5'8" and only 18.6" wide. but if you kite with a bit more kite power then you will be fine.

I think quads are the way to go for kiting oregon waves which generally are slow and mushy. quads give you a bit more speed and generally have less resistance than a thruster.

I ride my fish 70% of the time and ride my thruster only when is windy.

kitetele · Since 20 Mar 2005 121 Posts Portland, Oregon Stoked

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

you want a floatier board with less resistance to get through weak parts

Not all oregon waves are slow and mushy Twisted Evil

You back in town???

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I personally prefer the Rawson Skate Thruster over the Quad. I like the really smooth turns and how it keeps you closer to the pocket (if there is one). BTW, I'm selling an '08 5'11" Skate Kyle if you want to take a look.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

thanks for talking me out of too small of a board. i dont know why its so tempting with a kite. but, yeah, i do really want to surf so i need the right size board.
geneK: i'm looking at tl2 boards only Smile

no more dings!

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Dude,
I rode that exact same board (surftech f4 5'8") behind the kite
Super fast, super stable, very efficient, goes upwind very well.
The only issue I had was I wish it was a little more skatey.
You're a bit smaller than me so you would definitely have fun on that 5'8"

saleeba · Since 05 Mar 2006 238 Posts Masshole Stoked

i agree with stringer in that its nice to have a skatey feel. I dont like the quad fin cause its too grabby. if your gonna ride it with straps the quad grabby setup probably wont be as much of an issue but strapless most likely will. either way everyone has their own preference and you might like it. if your getting a good deal i say go for it and if you dont like it you can sell it. its hard to find good used epoxy boards around here so you shouldnt have a problem unloading it. or see if you can demo somehtthing similar and then decide...

saleeba · Since 05 Mar 2006 238 Posts Masshole Stoked

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/spo/1204008888.html

check this out. a little bigger, epoxy. looks like a sick board

carlitos · Since 02 Feb 2006 81 Posts NE pdx

im in love with my rawson quad. 5'10" and fishy. the thing is very strong up wind, tracks well and carves deep if you want it to and have the right wave. its also VERY skatey. i rode the thruster too, and to me, the skatier one was the quad. go figure.