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There's a lot more design factors, fin placement : relatively on board, relatively to each other, toe in. Then fin sizes, templates, foils and flex of fin. Then there's the boards design variables....everything is interdependent.

No one will ever be able to give you an answer.

Man I have used anything from 0 to 5 fins...in all kinds of different variations.

It really just depends on how you like to ride. and what your board is made for. I tend to like to mix it up and it does make a difference in terms what you get out of a wave...for instance, I would never go out in big waves with anything less than 3 fins..

I do not like too soft fins because I break them coming off the top of the wave...and broken fins tend to shorten the session.

More narow board I usually go with thrusters...wide board in light wind I like twins, and in between boards I go quads. Usually don't go with singles....and the finless board now are usually designed for it.

Some people use one long long long fin with two wings attached to the bottom of it

tegirinenashi wrote:The idea of splitting surface area into numerous fins is flawed. Suppose, 4 fins are better than 2. Then, perhaps 10 fins are even better than 4? Where does this proposition end?

If you're making arguments like this you don't know what you're talking about.

Onthewater860 wrote:Has anyone tried a stubby 5th fin?

Yup, on a quad it takes out some of the "skateness" or looseness. On my Nano I really like ridding H3 quads with a 5th knubster http://www.surffcs.com/shop/surf-specia ... s-knubster

TomW wrote:There's a lot more design factors, fin placement : relatively on board, relatively to each other, toe in. Then fin sizes, templates, foils and flex of fin. Then there's the boards design variables....everything is interdependent.

No one will ever be able to give you an answer.

+1000
Me personally (both for kiting and surfing) I like the AM and F4 thrusters for most of my thruster riding. For Quads Stretch, H3s (full set), Controllers, and AM Fronts and H3 rears.
That spans traditional short boards like the DHD DX1 to MPH Tomo boards to fat and short like the Baked Potato.