I ride the normal thruster set up. Just the basic fcs set up with the rear fin set up in a slide box. But my back fin size is the same as the side fins. But I generally slide my rear fin up, I have found that I'm more of a front foot surfer so i use my rails when im going through turns rather then the tail of the board. Dogman and I have had some convo's about fins because with both ride for Laguna Bay. Dogman from what i remember rides the same set up but likes his rear fin slid right back for more drive. But we all ride somewhere around a G5 or a al merrick fin template. Tully St John likes putting the slide box in, as it makes so much more difference sliding the fin back (stiffer) and forward (looser) rather then just a fcs plug for your rear fin as then your just stuck. you just have to find a good fin, slide it around and find your spot. My fin is made from "future fins" but fcs make em as well. Hope that makes sense mate. I saw that no onereplied,but it's a good question as its finally a a forum topic that's not boosting someones personal sup profile or putting sh..t on sup. Hope that helps. Im no pro but i talk for hours with TSJ about all this. Appsy

i ride a 9'11 dtm, it just has the 3 fcs fin boxes, i'm using a set of kelly slater 2.1 fins, i've had it out in up to about 7-8 foot, no problem with it sliding out or anything, they probably put a 2+1 into most sups mainly for better drive more hold etc, i like the thruster now took a couple of waves to get used to it, before you start spending money on fins, i'd try and borrow or demo fins etc so you find something you like cause fins can cost a little bit and then if you dont like them Jarryd

How far from the tail are you guys putting your centre fin? A lot of boards I have seen have had the box too forward to set it up as a real thruster.

Totally agree with CMC, I had the 8'5" Gerry Ultra Flex and always thought the box didn't go back far enough so after trying a bunch of thruster and two plus one set ups I ended up finding a quad set up which worked better. I'm riding the 8'6" laguna surftech at the moment and have been trying a few different fin placements using the Shapers Jackson close sides (S9) which are pretty big and a smaller centre in different parts of the box. On small (really small) clean days I have even tried it as a twinny which is fun. If Kirra is working on a smallish swell I'll have my centre fin all the way back for that drive and that's what I always had my 9'3" ripper set up as even when it was just a small beachy. Seemed to bottom turn so much cleaner. Now I have several markings beside my centre box for different conditions.