Gifting has never been easier
Perfect if you're short on time or are unable to deliver your gift yourself. Enter your message and select when to send it.
Short answer: Setting up a wakesurfer is mostly about fins. A thruster (three fins) gives stability and drive through the wave. Pull the centre fin for a fast, loose twin. Pull the two front fins instead and you've got a single — the loosest option, best for 360s and tricks. A quad runs four. Fins are held in by one of four systems (FCS, Ronix Fin-S, a Phillips-head screw, or the Ronix button), and some fins are left-and-right specific — flat side always faces the inside of the board.
The full run-through is below. The written version follows underneath.
Wakesurf fin configurations and the systems that hold them in. 4 min 33 sec.
Fin configurations
Thruster — three fins
The most common configuration, and the one based on true surfboard design. Three fins: two up the front and one in the centre at the back.
Run all three and you get maximum stability and drive through the wave. That's the setup most surf-style boards ship with.
The thruster is really three setups in one, because you can pull fins out of it:
- Take the centre fin out → a twin fin. Fast and loose.
- Take the two front fins out → a single fin at the back. Looser again, which suits 360s and tricks.
Single fin
One centre fin, commonly seen on skim-style boards.
This gives the loosest ride possible — a really loose, skatey feel. If you're chasing 360s and tricks on the wave, that's the point of it.
Quad — four fins
Four fins in the board, which gives the most amount of stability.
The quad is also adjustable:
- Take the two nub fins out and it gets a little looser, but with a tighter turning radius — because the bigger fins are up the front of the board.
- Swap it over and run just the two bigger fins at the back instead. That makes it nice and fast and loose.
Fin securing systems
Four different systems across the market, and which one you've got depends on the board.
FCS
The tried and tested system, and the one on standard surfboards. You'll see two grub screws on the inside of the fin — one either side. They secure the fin and they're done up with a simple Allen key.
Some fins are left and right specific — check before you push one in. Symmetrical fins go anywhere. Asymmetrical ones have a flat side and a curved side, and those are directional — lefts and rights. The flat side goes on the inside of the board. Worth remembering every time you handle surf fins, because half of them are one and half the other.
Ronix Fin-S
Been around a while and it's exclusive to Ronix boards. A simple push-in fin system with a loaded spring that secures the fin as you push it in. Quick and easy to get fins in and out, no tools.
Phillips-head screw
A drop-through screw. It goes through the board from the bottom side and fastens into the fin. Straightforward, and used across a lot of board types.
The Ronix button system
The newest one from Ronix, and an evolution of the Fin-S system.
Push the fin in to secure it. To release it, press the button and the fin comes out. That's the whole thing.
Travelling with your board, and pre-ride checks
Take the fins out before you travel. You don't want to be transporting a board with fins in it.
Then before you surf, always double-check the fins are properly secured:
- FCS — check the grub screws with your Allen key
- Fin-S — give the fin a good pull back and make sure the spring is loaded
- Phillips-head — make sure the screws are nice and tight
Wakesurf setup FAQs
What fin setup should I run on a wakesurfer?
Depends what you want out of it. All three fins in a thruster gives maximum stability and drive through the wave. Pulling the centre fin gives a fast, loose twin. Running a single fin at the back is looser again and suits 360s and tricks. A quad gives the most stability of the lot.
What's the difference between a thruster and a quad?
A thruster runs three fins — two front and one centre — based on true surfboard design. A quad runs four. Both are adjustable by pulling fins out.
Which setup is best for tricks and 360s?
A single centre fin. That's the loosest ride, and it's why skim-style boards commonly run one. You can also get there from a thruster by pulling the two front fins out.
Can I take fins out of a quad setup?
Yes. Pull the two nub fins and it gets a bit looser with a tighter turning radius, because the bigger fins are up the front. Or swap it over and run just the two bigger fins at the back for a fast, loose feel.
How do I know which way a wakesurf fin goes in?
Look at the sides. Symmetrical fins can go either side. Asymmetrical fins have a flat side and a curved side — those are left and right specific, and the flat side faces the inside of the board.
What are the different fin securing systems?
Four common ones. FCS uses two grub screws and an Allen key. The Ronix Fin-S is a tool-free push-in with a loaded spring. A Phillips-head screw drops through the board from underneath into the fin. The Ronix button system is a push-in that releases at the press of a button.
Should I take the fins out to travel?
Yes. Remove the fins before transporting the board.
What should I check before every surf?
That the fins are secure. Allen key on FCS grub screws, a firm pull back on a Fin-S to confirm the spring is loaded, and a screwdriver check on Phillips-head screws.
Related guides
- How to get up on a wakesurfer
- The Breakdown: Wakesurf Boards
- Buyers Guide: Wakesurfers
- How to shorten your ski or wakeboard rope
Shop the gear
Wake surfing is for inboard-powered boats only. Never behind an outboard or stern-drive. The rider drops the rope and moves in toward the back of the boat, and on an outboard or stern-drive the propeller is right there. It's a real injury risk, not a technicality.
About this guide. Written from the video demonstration and produced by Waterskiers World — Australia's dedicated towed water sports retailer, family-run for over 20 years from our Brisbane store and online. Not sure which fin setup suits your wave? Talk to our team — we ride this gear.