Are the new Rob Machado Seaside fins worth it? Tested on my board

Updated 2026-09-19

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The second version of the Rob Machado quad fins is a genuine improvement on the first, at least on my Firewire Seaside Volcanic. As at April 2024, I had owned the original Rob Machado quad set, sold it, ridden the Seaside on standard quads in the meantime, and then tested the new version to see whether the changes were more than marketing.

What actually changed between version one and two

The new fins are handmade in South Africa with laminated carbon interlayers and bamboo, replacing the honeycomb construction of the original. They carry a foil on the inside face where the first version was flat, more rake and curve, and more stiffness overall. The cant has come in two degrees, from further out to more upright, and the back fin in particular is now more upright with a slightly more rounded shape. The stated aim is a bigger sweet spot, closer to a split keel. They are also about 15 percent lighter and, according to the maker, stronger.

How they felt on the Seaside

Riding the new set in my Seaside Volcanic, at 6'1, 46.5 litres and quad fin configuration, I could feel the difference immediately: lighter, stronger-feeling and more upright than the original version. The board felt right with this set from small waves up to a mid-range wave size.

Comparing to a standard quad set

A regular Firewire quad set, which is what I rode this board with before buying the first Machado keels and after selling them, gives a different feel in bigger, juicier surf: more control because the fins sit spread into the corners of the tail, closer to a normal performance quad than the tighter, more keel-like feel of the Machado set. Laid side by side, the standard quad carries about 10 percent more surface area than the Machado keel set, with a little more area in particular on the rear fins. A friend who rides the same board with fins sized to his own weight, about 68 kilograms against my roughly 95, reports the same preference for standard quads once the waves get to head high. My own recommendation from this comparison: use the Machado keel set in the smaller, groveling conditions this board is built for, and switch to a standard quad set once the waves get genuinely good, since the keel set starts to feel like it is losing control past that point.

Fin choice if you want to ride a Seaside as a twin

I do not ride my Seaside as a twin, since it was designed as a quad to replace an earlier fish model, and I would reach for a purpose-built twin fin board before converting this one. If you only own one Seaside and want to feel a twin fin setup on it anyway, something like an AMK Al Merrick keel can do that job, though there are twin fins I would choose ahead of that combination if a genuine twin were available.

Sizing and rider weight matter as much as the fin

I bought my Seaside on the larger side for my size, six foot two and a bit, at 6'1 and 46.5 litres, which is on the high side of volume for me. On an oversized board like mine, a fin like the new Machado keel set works well up to about chest high; beyond that I would swap to a standard quad because there is simply more board to control on the bottom turn. On an undersized Seaside for your weight, a keel set like this would likely hold up longer before you outgrow its available drive, since there is less board and less volume to manage.

A practical note on ankle placement

These fins run wide, as most quad and twin setups do, so keep your ankles clear of the fin edges when sitting up and transitioning from paddling to sitting. The new Machado fins are smooth enough at the edge that they did not need sanding and did not break skin during testing.

Questions people ask

Are the new Rob Machado Seaside fins worth buying over the original?

On my Seaside, yes. They felt lighter, stronger and more controlled than the original honeycomb version, particularly from small waves up to a mid-range size.

Should I use quad fins or a twin fin setup in a Firewire Seaside?

The Seaside was designed as a quad, replacing an earlier fish model, and performs that role well. A twin fin conversion is possible with a large keel like an AMK Al Merrick, but I would choose a purpose-built twin fin board over that setup.

Do the new Machado fins work in bigger waves?

Up to about mid-range or chest high on an oversized board like mine, yes. Past that, a standard quad set with more surface area gives better control on the bottom turn.

How does rider weight affect Seaside fin choice?

A heavier rider on an oversized Seaside can use the smaller Machado keel set longer before needing more fin. A lighter rider on the same board may prefer that smaller set across a wider range of conditions.

Do quad fins on a Seaside need any special care?

Watch your ankles against the wide fin placement when sitting up. Beyond that, the new Machado set needed no sanding and caused no cuts during my testing.

The Seaside itself is covered from a different angle in which quad surfboard suits you, and the same board turns up again in Kai Lenny or John John Florence, which are the better quad fins. For quad fin theory more broadly, see quad fin sets. This board has since sold and is logged on its own board page; the boards that replaced it sit on my current quiver.