Snapped a centre fin on my surfboard today going to close to shore, just wondering how small a fcs fins can you go or get without compromising performance in relation to upwind ability and also wave performace,althought its Perth beach closeouts so not really waves but you know what i mean.
Although kited the rest of the session as a twin fin and hardley noticed the difference.I was lucky it only snapped the fin off and didnt damage the fin box.
Thanks
Any positive feed back welcome
I rode my strapless board most of the season as a twinny because the board was not very good at going upwind. I noticed the the finbox had not be set perfectly straight so it affected its upwind ability. As a twinny it was fine. Works great in small mushy surf which is what I get in front of my house at my local. Nice and loose, still holds an edge etc. I have since modified a rear fin so it sits in the box straight, but because I have had so much fin riding it as a twin I haven't bothered putting the rear fin back in.
yeah i gunna ride mine as a twin fin from now on and i will try to get some of those little side bites fins like they use on some windsurf boards and would also like to go for a couple of runs with no fins just to see if its possible to hold and edge and have some fun sliding around.
I shaped myself an Alaia this summer and love riding it on small and less windy days. Goes upwind like nothing, rides waves well but gets moving pretty fast and turning is not easy, but really fun. Slides out so easy, yet holds an amazing edge. Also, very very smooth through the chop. 6 foot 8, 17 inches wide and lots of concave. No rocker. Super fun and good to mix it up. Between strapless riding in small mushy stuff, strapped in surf and jumping, Alaia for light wind small surf and the occasional tt live is never dull.
I like G3 size FCS fins (or comparative) for kiting as well as surfing.
I figured it was time to upgrade my size recently (as I'm now a grown man) and got what was the suggested size for my weight. I hated the bigger size fins and went back to G3s again... true story.
Also I know a fair few people who kite with a cut-down back fin to loosen the board up a bit and let it work a bit better at speed. I think it's a pretty good idea.
p.s. I also noticed when riding quads that you can use much smaller back fins than what you need to surf properly with. I used some cut down jobs on my quad and it felt a lot nicer behind the kite.
If they are glass fins just take a hacksaw, cut off desired amount and then sand to shape. It's pretty easy. If they are some new age honeycomb thingos I wouldn't suggest it.
p.s. I usually just take the glass-ins off old surfboards and cut the FCS lugs into them, works pretty good. Keep it on the DL though 
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Yep, for left handers i run a asymmetrical quad set up. I've ground down the right hand rear fin and re shaped it. Can power thru bottom turns, then looser off the top
any photos of a rear cut down quad setup? curious on how much people are lopping off
cheers
i rode the just last week without a centre fin, really loose and skatey, perfect for onshore slop and the metro junk your describing. Really opens up 360 slides 
smaller fins for the windy days and larger fins for the lighter wind days for upwind performance,
yeah i think 3's (fcs sizes) would be good for turns etc. I normally use 5's for paddle surfing, but smaller for kiting
depends on your weight also, lighter means smaller fins
dont care about fins anymore as geting depressed after kiting nearly every day for a month and then nothing for the last week
