Stretch Surfboards: F4 Bat Tail Quad

Apr 23 2009

Stretch Surfboards: F4 Bat Tail Quad

Posted by Chris at 6:17 am on April 23rd, 2009 to Surf Equipment, Surfboards.

stretchsurfboardf4 In the surfing world, there has been a lot of hype lately on quad surfboards. Putting four fins on a surfboard is nothing new to surfers, in fact, it’s been around for years.

Recently, shapers have been experimenting with different combinations of tails, rocker, concave, and shapes to try to perfect and contain the possibilities of this unique idea of a quad surfboard. The results of their efforts have changed, and will continue to change, the industry forever. There are numerous versions of quad surfboards, and Stretch Surfboards has developed one of the most popular and well-designed epoxy surfboards that fits into this broad category. The Surftech F4 Bat Tail Quad, made by Stretch Surfboards, is a perfect example of the great advancements that continue to be made in surfing today.

So, what’s so great about Stretch Surfboards F4? For starters, it comes in a variety of sizes so that a larger audience can have a go at it if they so desire. Since it’s made by Surftech and falls in the category of epoxy surfboards, it tends to be more buoyant. I recommend that you get the board a little shorter than you normally would. My typical shortboard is about a 6’1’’, and the 5’11’’ Stretch F4 is plenty board for me.

Another great thing about this innovative surfboard has to do with its performance. Quads, in general, have the ability to hold pretty well on bottom turns and loosen up completely off the lip like any standard fish. This unique feature allows you to surf bigger waves on a smaller board, and still lets you shred on smaller waves. Stretch Surfboards has done a great job at perfecting this capability with its F4 model. I have surfed this board in big surf, and, while I’m usually more comfortable on my 6’2’’, I was super surprised at how well it performed. I’ve also surfed this board in chest high beach and reef breaks and it is extremely fun. It’s a little wider than a normal shortboard (18 ¾”) and combining that with the buoyancy of a Surftech you’re looking at a pretty exciting small wave board.

Let’s not forget about the bat tail. This particular tail is one of the more unique tails out there today. It functions very similar to a swallow tail, which is basically designed to provide a wider tail so there’s more width down the whole length of the surfboard. If you have ever surfed a diamond tail or a swallow tail you are looking a pretty much the same performance capabilities, however there seems to be a little more stability from the center point of the bat tail.

Quads also tend to generate a little extra speed then your everyday thruster. The F4 is no exception. Since the four fins run down the rails they tend to work together to move forward and not create the drag that a center fin does. Stretch Surfboards F4 also has FCS and Future fin set ups that allow you to change out your fins and experiment with different fin variations.

In my opinion, Stretch Surfboards has done an incredible job of developing a remarkable all-around surfboard. I’ve never really been a big fan of epoxy surfboards, but of all the epoxy surfboards that I have surfed, I have liked this one the best. And, on top of its excellent performance, Surftech makes strong and reliable boards. Even though you’re paying an arm and a leg for this board (runs at about $600-700) you are definitely getting quality. It surfs great and is way durable, so, if you have the money, I would say give it a try. If you are aren’t interested in epoxy surfboards, Stretch also makes similar poly and eps versions of this board that would definitely be worth looking into.