In addition to the complete Freemove board test in the current surf 3|2026 we scrutinised all boards with the option of a thruster or single fin from this perspective. One board even improved significantly. Boards with small thruster sets sometimes tend not to glide really flat, but to tilt slightly towards the heel edge. However, the manufacturers have largely eliminated this with sufficiently large centre fins in the standard equipment of the boards tested. Is it still worth switching to a single fin? Can the board be made faster? In individual cases, the fin change has a more significant effect than on average. As an option, we have the Duotone single fin 30 centimetres selected, as well as the Thruster set from Tabou with fin lengths of 25 + 2 x 12 centimetres. We have summarised the testers' statements below.
Duotone Freewave 112
With the large Duotone fin included, the board is pleasantly stable in the water when bobbing and planing - even with the optional Tabou thruster set. Practically nothing changes. It planes well, but doesn't develop a particularly aggressive acceleration feeling at first: with the large single fin, it feels "wet" for a relatively long time until the board becomes really free. You won't get beyond a certain speed unless there is a little more wind than is necessary for pure planing - then the desired speed is there, but you have to keep the board free a little more actively. With the very neutral 5.6 mm sail that we used for the test, this was only possible with feeling; a more powerful sail would be useful. On the other hand, the board is very well-behaved when wagging: no hooking, but a round, lively back and forth. This soapy-soft, round style continues in the jibe - whether narrow or wide: almost a real easy jibing board. Overall, the board is super easy to surf and glides amazingly well even with both fins after a tight jibe - this is really outstanding, especially for how uncomplicated it is to ride. That's exactly why we switched from the single fin to the thruster setup, because we weren't quite sure: Normally the single fin brings more lift, but here it feels different. The thruster setup feels very similar to the single fin when planing, there is hardly any change and the acceleration is also comparable. The difference: After dropping, the acceleration phase is just as similar, but the board somehow stays nicer "on the fins" afterwards, runs more freely and doesn't stop so easily; in and after the acceleration phase, it seems slightly freer in the planing position and keeps the ride more stable overall. The overall difference is small.
Goya One 115
The Goya comes from the factory with a thruster setup - and looks like a very successful compromise right from the start: not as extremely flat as the Duotone, but also not as "tippy" as some boards.
Even in the thruster setup, it remains pleasantly "light" on the water. The board feels easy to turn without being nervous or "hook-happy". At the same time, it remains very freeride-orientated overall: damped and controlled - but as soon as you apply pressure, it comes alive immediately. It accepts pumps well and converts them efficiently into speed.
An exciting detail: the Goya is one of the few boards where the thruster fin is offset forwards on the fin head. The reason for this seems clear: if you switch to single fin, the fin is then in the "right" position - the centre box is where a single fin usually belongs (the loop dowel also collides less with the fin screw). And that's exactly what you notice on the water. If you put in a single fin (e.g. the Duotone 30), the board becomes even freer. It rides more purposefully, stands more on the leeward edge and almost "flies" - controlled flying. The result is a very pleasant, lively ride. The board also impresses when jumping. At full speed, it feels even better with single fin. In the thruster setup, on the other hand, you like the fact that you can luff a little before a wave - this often has a slightly more harmonious effect when jumping. Overall, however, the differences are not huge: with single fin, everything is a little more free-flowing, you get more pressure on the fin and the board runs straighter.
JP-Australia Freestyle Wave 114
The JP Freestyle Wave comes in a thruster setup with a large centre fin. The board is neither a tight turner nor a classic wave board by nature. However, it turns well - especially if you don't ride it too fast. At very high speeds, where other boards sometimes really "hit a hook", the JP doesn't turn quite as bombastically.
With the single fin, the board needs a little more pressure - but really only minimally. The planing position, characteristics and almost everything else remain the same and continue to work very well.
Jibes also work really well with both setups. The JP is perhaps a little more demanding than the Easy-Jiber from Duotone - but both are really good gliders, whether thruster or single fin.
Overall, the JP feels sportier and somewhat freeride. This is also noticeable when jibing: it is more tempting to carve. Otherwise, the change to a single fin on the JP hardly changes anything in terms of scores - at most this slightly straighter, more freeride feeling with a little more lift on the fin, especially if you just want to surf fast and relaxed.
All in all, the thruster setup with the dominant large centre fin is recommended as the top compromise for most riders.
Severne Dyno 115
The Dyno comes with a thruster setup as standard. The centre fin is relatively straight - unlike the Tabou or MFC fins, which are bent more towards the rear. This triple setup works perfectly right from the start.
In general, the board is very well-behaved, stable and extremely easy to jib - even with the thruster set-up. Although it is pleasant to "waggle", it is not a real tight turn: even in a tight jibe, the Dyno needs more pressure than many other boards. This is already the case in the thruster setup. During normal planing in the lower to medium wind range, around 80 or 70 per cent of the pressure is on the front foot, while there is comparatively little response at the back. It doesn't slip, but if you're planing at full speed but not really "balled up", you feel like you're riding with a 70/30 ratio.
And then: as soon as you put in the 30 mm single fin, the ride automatically becomes more freeride. The pressure on the legs is suddenly much closer to 50/50, you stand differently, the board becomes straighter, releases earlier and comes free faster. It is generally noticeable that the fin position on the Dyno is extremely far back.
All in all, the single fin is definitely an additional recommendation, especially for larger sails. It also increases performance because the board starts planing a little earlier. This well-behaved, soft basic feeling is completely retained. The only thing is that turning deteriorates noticeably with the single fin
Starboard code 115
The Starboard Code with single fin: Yes, with the fin position so far forward, the whole board rides a bit "strange". The funny thing is: it doesn't glide particularly well at first, but then accelerates not bad at all. The acceleration also works with the single fin - but the board doesn't hold its speed. It "stops" again relatively quickly afterwards.
What's more, the board can't really be ridden cleanly in this fin position. Overall, it feels unbalanced - the nose rises, the planing position is unusual and simply doesn't feel harmonious. At least that's how we experienced it in the single fin setup.
Interestingly, it is completely different with the thruster setup. In combination with the 5.6 mm sail, practically everything improves: the board accelerates earlier and more evenly, planes more freely and stays going for much longer - it stops less early. The planing position also changes noticeably for the better. It seems as if the code was designed for the thruster setup.
In contrast, the single fin hardly makes sense with the 5.6 mm sail. Perhaps it only makes sense with larger sails - 6.5 or even 7.0 - if you "push out" the board differently and there is constant pressure. But for all those travelling with "normal" sail sizes up to 6.2, the thruster setup is a clear winner. You don't lose anything when planing or accelerating, and the board doesn't glide through wind holes any worse - quite the opposite. It also turns even better with a thruster.
Tabou 3S+ 116
The Tabou 3 comes with a thruster setup as standard. The board is pretty radical: with a pointed nose and it turns extremely well out of the box - one of the most manoeuvrable boards ever. Overall, however, it also looks very balanced. Even with the original fins, it doesn't ride excessively "on the windward edge", but remains stable and easy to control. If you switch to a single fin (in my case the Douton fin), not much changes at all. The board runs noticeably straighter and smoother. The turning ability is not completely lost, but you need a lot more pressure to turn the board really tight.
With the 5.6 square metre sail size we use, the single fin is of little benefit overall. There is no clear advantage either when starting off or accelerating - the behaviour is practically identical to the thruster setup. Basically, the board does exactly what you would expect: it becomes slightly less manoeuvrable, but without any noticeable gain in planing. Jibing remains similar with both setups: the Tabou 3S+ is a board for tight, sporty turns, and it doesn't lose this strength even with the single fin. This "hooking" or excessive turning is somewhat defused with the single fin - overall, the handling is a little more straightforward and less nervous.
We One We Freewave 114
The We One in the thruster setup - the V1 was not badly tuned "out of the box" with the single fin, but primarily so that it accelerates extremely well with a single pump or a short drop and also stays clean on the single fin.
Then today the thruster setup - never ridden before. And lo and behold: the planing and glide angle as well as the acceleration hardly change at all. That's because it also has a relatively long, narrow and fast centre fin - a bit like the "JP trick". The only difference is that the board turns noticeably better.
It was already good at turning before, but not so good at "waggling". Now the board can do really good hooks in a straight line - for 115 litres, even if you're a bit lighter. You can suddenly use those non-existent cable waves out there for real pseudo-wave rides, even backside. You couldn't do that with the single fin. A lot has really changed - exactly in the direction you want. And yet it still retains the ride - and above all this free feeling: it doesn't lean on the leeward edge or the windward side. The board rides freely, straight, lively and above all: it glides through super. It needs very little sail pressure and simply runs beautifully on the centre fin. Interestingly, this has remained almost the same. Only the turning has improved a lot. Jumping has remained more or less the same.
The bottom line is that the board may not be the best planing board, but it planes really well - and it accelerates and maintains speed.
