Buster Surfboard Quad Fin Set - Front & Rear Fins

Surfboard Fin Systems

Dual Tab / FCS I

The advantages are a very good availability of these fins worldwide and a very high choice of inexpensive accessory fins from many manufacturers, as the patent protection for the system has expired. The disadvantage is that you always have to have a fin key with you, which you don't need with the Klick Tab / FCS II system.

The FCS I system with two single fin plugs per fin is not necessarily the most stable fin system. The two round FCS X-2 plugs (receptacles for the fin plugs, picture 1) mounted on the board side are considered to be quite sensitive. A very stable alternative to the normal FCS plugs are the so-called FCS Fusion Plus (picture 2) for FCS I fins.

Buster Surfboards uses FCS I compatible SANE plugs for the Pool & Riversurfboards (picture 3). This means that the surfboards are equipped with very stable and durable fin plugs. Furthermore, not only expensive original FCS fins fit on the system, but also good and cheap fins with FCS I system, as offered by many other fin manufacturers.

Very interesting alternative: The FCS II fin boxes are downward compatible to FCS I fins. You can use a compatibility kit, but you don't have to. This means that the FCS I accessory fins, which are much cheaper with the same quality and performance, can also be used in the FCS II fin boxes. This Option is also strongly recommended to surfers for Citywave Wavepool use. Simple dual tab fins usually break before the fin box is damaged. This can prevent expensive repairs.

Click Tab / FCS II

FCS introduced this fin system to the German-speaking market in 2014. Here, the fins are inserted into the surfboard with a click mechanism and pulled out again.

The advantage is that you don't need any screws or wrenches. Disadvantage is the high effort needed and the high costs for the original fins compared to the FCS I fins. For original FCS fins with the same template and the same construction, the costs quickly double, only because of the different shape of the base.

However, it seems that FCS does not get the patent protection for the FCS II fins. First manufacturers have therefore already brought cheaper accessory fins for the click tab system on the European market. Furthermore, the FCS II fin boxes can also be used with FCS I fins. For this you need a compatibility kit or just 6 grub screws and a fin wrench.

We advise against using the FCS II fin system / FCS II fins on surfboards for wavepool waves of the Citywave type, as the fin boxes are damaged more quickly when using FCS II fins and the replacement of broken FCS II fin boxes is particularly expensive. Surfboards equipped with the FCS II fin system should only be used with FCS I fins on the Citywave.


Thruster Fin SetupThis

surfboard fin setup is the most popular and widespread setup for all surfboards (except longboards and mini malibus). It was developed in 1980 by the Australian Simon Anderson. Until then, performance surfboards were mostly equipped with twin fins, which caused problems in bigger waves and critical turns. The Thruster fin setup works great in pretty much all conditions and allows for the most radical maneuvers.

Quad Fin SetupThis

setup is an interesting alternative to the Thruster Fin Setup. Surfboards that only offer a quad fin setup have become rare. Often you see boards with five fin plugs, which offer the possibility to ride the surfboard either with thruster setup or as quad. Due to the four slanted fins the board is a bit slower in straight line (more drag), but faster in tight turns (the middle fin does not brake) than a thruster setup. Good setup for smaller waves that you want to ride with performance turns and in steep waves / barrels due to more grip thanks to the larger fin surface.

Twin Fin SetupThe

Twin Fin Setup is mainly used for special shapes, e.g. retro shapes, which are not designed for performance surfing but for glide & flow. They offer more speed than the Thruster and the Quad Fin Setup, but are not as suitable for bigger and punchy waves.

Single Fin SetupThe

Single Fin Setup is the fastest fin setup in a straight line. In tight turns the mostly big US Box fin brakes against it. This setup is used for boards with a lot of volume and for smaller and smallest waves, where no performance turns make sense or are possible anyway.

Single Fin + Side Fins / 2+1 SetupVery

popular fin setup with a larger US Box center fin and two small side fins (side bites) for all larger surfboards and beginner boards. This setup allows tighter turns than the single fin setup and gives the surfboard a high stability. Because of the smaller, slanted side fins in contrast to the thruster setup, it is also a very fast fin setup.