Looking for opinions...
I was hoping to pick up a Severne Dyno 125 for Canadian great lakes on shore b&j sailing with 7.5 / 6.4 but I can't seem to get one until later in 2021; so got me thinking...
Should I modify my current big board - Fanatic Blast 130?
Option 1 - add centre back strap and more center forward straps
Option 2 - Add thrusters (slot boxes)

Looking for a better ride in onshore chaos we get on Lake Huron. More control/grip in rough water, better turning, slow it down a bit (I really like the tri fin option on my simmer quantum 95). The Blast is a great board and I enjoy it but hoping I could 'wave it up a bit'.
Next board down is a Tabou 3s 116 (good board but sometimes I need the float of the Blast to get through the shorebreak and current)

I've read on here where some people have had success adding side fins (U2's
Rocket 135)

Thoughts & opinions welcome.
Cheers from a wintery Canada!
Joe

I'm having trouble imagining conditions this rough in the light winds you'd use a 130 and 7.5 in. Presumably you'd be on a big fin too?

I think option 1 and 2 have to go together.
Inboard straps will make the factory freeride setup feel crap, not enough rail loading to counteract fin lift.

If you put slots in you will need 12-13cm sidies so don't be tempted by those who stick surf boxes in and use glue.
Do it right with a Flikka box that's set in a divinycell block, set with epoxy resin q-cell mix and a couple of layers of 4oz glass, then cap with 3 x 4oz too
( unless you have access to tons of thick PVC foam for the blocks, then use Chinook or something as it will be cheap)

How much do you weigh?

185lbs. (freshwater sailing)

Work on technique, the 116 is plenty.

As the topic is "Adding Side Fins" maybe it is worth mentioning that some boards like for example SB Go from early 2000s had optional side fins. That is why those boards have screw holes on the sides.
Unfortunately, there are several bad news for anybody considering adding these optional side fins:
1) Each year Starboard was making different side fins for each version of the board.
2) These fins are nowhere to be found
3) There is no description nor matching product numbers etc., etc.
4) Even if you make your own side fins for these boards, the screw holes were never reinforced enough to carry any higher wind load. They were meant only for learning windsurfing in light winds, for the beginner to learn going upwind. They were like "training wheels on kids bicycle".

Select to expand quote

mareks360 said..
As the topic is "Adding Side Fins" maybe it is worth mentioning that some boards like for example SB Go from early 2000s had optional side fins. That is why those boards have screw holes on the sides.
Unfortunately, there are several bad news for anybody considering adding these optional side fins:
1) Each year Starboard was making different side fins for each version of the board.
2) These fins are nowhere to be found
3) There is no description nor matching product numbers etc., etc.
4) Even if you make your own side fins for these boards, the screw holes were never reinforced enough to carry any higher wind load. They were meant only for learning windsurfing in light winds, for the beginner to learn going upwind. They were like "training wheels on kids bicycle".

They sound like an obvious safety hazard issue for learners, who easily end up on the spike after a stash. Probably stopped production due to risks of injury to beginners.

Select to expand quote

mareks360 said..
As the topic is "Adding Side Fins" maybe it is worth mentioning that some boards like for example SB Go from early 2000s had optional side fins. That is why those boards have screw holes on the sides.
Unfortunately, there are several bad news for anybody considering adding these optional side fins:
1) Each year Starboard was making different side fins for each version of the board.
2) These fins are nowhere to be found
3) There is no description nor matching product numbers etc., etc.
4) Even if you make your own side fins for these boards, the screw holes were never reinforced enough to carry any higher wind load. They were meant only for learning windsurfing in light winds, for the beginner to learn going upwind. They were like "training wheels on kids bicycle".

They sound like an obvious safety hazard issue for learners, who easily end up on the spike after a stash. Probably stopped production due to risks of injury to beginners.

Select to expand quote

mareks360 said..
As the topic is "Adding Side Fins" maybe it is worth mentioning that some boards like for example SB Go from early 2000s had optional side fins. That is why those boards have screw holes on the sides.
Unfortunately, there are several bad news for anybody considering adding these optional side fins:
1) Each year Starboard was making different side fins for each version of the board.
2) These fins are nowhere to be found
3) There is no description nor matching product numbers etc., etc.
4) Even if you make your own side fins for these boards, the screw holes were never reinforced enough to carry any higher wind load. They were meant only for learning windsurfing in light winds, for the beginner to learn going upwind. They were like "training wheels on kids bicycle".

They sound like an obvious safety hazard issue for learners, who may likely easily end up on the spike after a stack. Probably stopped production and promotion due to reasonably foreseeable risks of injury to beginners.

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..
Work on technique, the 116 is plenty.

7.5 is too big for 116 L FSW in my experience. You "can" do it but it's not fun.

Select to expand quote

philn said..

Grantmac said..
Work on technique, the 116 is plenty.

7.5 is too big for 116 L FSW in my experience. You "can" do it but it's not fun.

I've sailed my 115 dyno in blast mode, both back straps and single fin with 7.5 Ezzy cheetah. It was/is loads of fun. But I'm not sure adding sides to a freeride like a fanatic blast is going to be good. Isn't it pretty much designed for riding with feet in relatively outboard position. I'm not sure if I'd mess with it... You might end up with a dog

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musorianin said..

philn said..

Grantmac said..
Work on technique, the 116 is plenty.

7.5 is too big for 116 L FSW in my experience. You "can" do it but it's not fun.

I've sailed my 115 dyno in blast mode, both back straps and single fin with 7.5 Ezzy cheetah. It was/is loads of fun.

My experience was with Dyno 115 L v1 with standard thruster fins and a 25 cm mfc Freewave fin and 3 foot straps in the waves. It was not fun. But with 38 cm single fin and freeride footstap positions and very well powered 7.5 conditions on the lake it was fine. in contrast the Kode 125 L in standard thruster set up is a lot of fun in the waves with a 7.5.

I agree with going for a small fin first. Basically, the downside of using a small fin is lack of upwind drive (or overall light wind drive) and easy spin out. Side fins help by creating more grip. They also lower top speed by introducing more drag.

Can you move your fin forward? Can you adjust the fin foot so be able to set it more forward and finally, you can move back strap back. Keeping the mast foot back towards the straps with the small sail will help maneuverability in mushy waves.

I had thoughts about adding side fins to a freewave board, despite its small size (77L) its overall shape made it difficult to easily surf larger waves. Adding fins would have helped some but not nearly as much as going with a different shape altogether.


To me, multi fins make sense in larger waves, or higher winds. When waves are mushy and wind is light, we want drive and speed.

7.5 powered up with a bigger fin is fine on 116L. Slog and ride no benefit going that big (not the OP's situation anyway).

Adding thrusters to the Blast is a good way of ruining a decent board.

Would it be sensible to add thrusters to big freestyle board (110+)? It seems to lose grip when turning downwind on wave (mushy onshore here, too). Or will the slalom -like hard rail kill the wave experience?


(Also it would be nice to have detachable dagger fin for navigating straits upwind to get to the wave spots, but that's a different question. )