Hi Bruce,
 Firstly thanks for the web site. Interesting and bewildering volume of
 specifications/detail for the surfer non -shaper. I have a couple of
 questions and would appreciate an answer when you have time.
 The site refers to world class surfers riding world class waves. The 
other 99.9% of us fit neither category. If one were to compare a good 
thruster to one of your 4 fins in a typical east coast NSW beach break on a 
typical day say 2 ft with a bank that isnt quite right on the wrong tide with an 
onshore would the quattro outperform a good thruster and if so why?

 Im not wedded to the thruster. Ive ridden them for 20 years and I 
reckon Ive had about 3 really good ones in that time. I love the drive and 
speed. I hate the drift and the drag of the fins.
 Im looking for an alternative. I learnt to surf on singles I have a 
heavy back foot (could never ride the twin fins- used to spin them out all 
the time) I ride thrusters because they outperform singles and twin fins 
in average surf which is what I ride 99% of the time.
 
 As an aside I agree with you that one is judged by what you carry 
under your arm . Unfortunately this kind of attitude will only be reinforced by 
the marketeers and stylists who now proliferate the industry. However at 
the end of the day each of us are only as good as our last cutback!
 
Look forward to hearing from you.
 
 Regards,
 
Tim B.
 
Hi Tim,
     thanks for your letter.
       I hope all the info you have seen in the site is not too 
bewildering and please let me know which area is a bit confusing.
    I could have been even more technical (like some guy asked for) 
but I've left a bit of room for shapers to manoeuvre for saying they 
did it their way.If they go exactly by the measurements given, they 
can't stuff up.
           The truth is, as you know with a thruster riding 2ft waves 
is a bit of give and take. Depending on what quiver of fins you have, 
the fins you may have in your board for all round surf may be average 
for 2ft surf and perfect for 4ft surf and visa versa. Same goes for 
rail volume, board width, length etc..sooo
     The fins I would recommend for 2ft surf straight out of the 
packet would be the Tom Carroll (white-line) or a mix of the fins 
mentioned for lighter weight riders or small waves (G3000 + GX). I 
weigh 75kg and was testing at Currumbin Alley this march a bunch of 
mixes. The G3000 with GX backs were fun too for the small stuff as the 
reduced area and flex of the front fins let the board get up and go  
and are easy to pump, the small size tail fins allow you to throw the tail.
 The G1000 x 4 is the perfect size for small waves 
but flexes too much so they grip too much off the top instead of 
snapping (although it's possible)..there needs to be a new FCS fin of 
this type to make summer surfing in Australia with Quattros an easier 
selection. I have the fins designed and ready so pending enthusiasm and 
negotiation, we'll see if the public will eventually benefit, or be deprived
 by the inquisition.   
     So getting back to your question; what you will notice is..
1: A much faster board with all the turns having an added boost.
2: You have more security taking a high line,so pulling out of a close-
out is easier, as is running high and getting speed or sitting high and 
deep in the tube.
3: Also slamming a bottom turn without fear of spinning 
out (no more 'nursing' the turn).
4: Much more control in floaters. 
5: Drive off the top instead of a stall. 
6:You need a fraction more room to move as you will be doing more 
rail to rail turning.
7: Using double foil back fins gives a more 
thrusterish feel as they enable a softer tail end with more lateral 
movement.
8: using something like G3 side fronts and G5 side backs gives a mega-
drive feel and the flex of the back fins allow you to set the turn and 
boost. You need a starter pump to get the necessary speed to be able to 
flex the fins and for a J.Bay or any powerful Aussie point break this 
is the 2wood.
9:The Quattro is the fin setup for the back-foot surfer as you have 
one whole extra fin on the back. Front foot surfers need smaller back 
or all smaller sized fins .
10:The fin positions are calculated to compensate  for an extra tail fin
 and you will notice that the tail fins are further forward than the 
thruster position. The front are the same as a thruster (except with pintails)
 so a good choice is the M5 Multisystem as you have everything in one.
 11:What you will also notice when the waves are bigger (with the same 
small wave board) is that you will have absolutely no 'nursing' the 
board through a high speed bottom turn (waiting for the tail fin to 
leave the water 'a la' thruster), you will be slamming or putting all 
your weight into everything. Not because you need to, but because you 
can.
      Choosing the right fin mix for 2 ft surf will give you different 
sensations than a thruster, but as with snow skiing or whatever other 
sport the big differences aren't felt or needed until the conditions 
change, as do the requirements.
    Well a Quattro will (feel) normal, nothing weird, but different 
than a thruster in 2ft east coast Australian surf. The proof of the 
pudding is in the eating.
      Check the videos of Flanagan. The Cavaliers vid was on a shitty 
day and it's his first ride on the board. He also shapes. There's 
nothing special in the video, just an example of how they go in junk 
with Tom Carroll whiteline fins.
    The Morrocco video is a 6'3" board, G3 front and G3000 double foil 
back fins.
  It's rare that a shaper wants to ride another shapers board so I 
pull a short video out of the minimal footage I get.
   In the Tom Carroll on an 8'2" at sunset vid, he could have used smaller fins. I 
put in G5 carbons and apart from the fact that he hadn't surfed a board 
over 7'6" in a year he still came out stoked.
      Just a note that Quattros have nothing to do with twin fins, in 
fact a thruster is closer to one..is it a twin fin with a stablizer 
(2+1) or three? It's a numbers game 3+1=4 not 2.
    Well enough blab. At the moment I'm in Portugal and hopefully soon 
will have some more videos taken of a local shredder powerhouse.
      Please let me know how you found out about the site.
     Thanks heaps for writing and I hope you get to test out a board.
     Regards
            Bruce Mckee