Boost Fin Review: Enhancing Your SUP Experience
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As an avid stand-up paddleboarder, I am always on the lookout for ways to enhance my experience on the water. That’s how I stumbled upon Boost Surfing and their revolutionary product, the Boost Fin. Boost Surfing is an innovative company that aims to elevate water sports using cutting-edge technology and design. Their flagship product, the Boost Fin, is a groundbreaking device that promises to transform your SUP board experience.
The Boost Fin is not your ordinary fin. It’s an electric fin designed to give your SUP board a power boost. I was naturally intrigued by the concept and decided to give it a try. In this review, I’ll share my findings on the Boost Fin and how it has enhanced my SUP board experience.
What is an Electric Fin?
Before we dive into the review, let’s first understand what an electric fin is. Simply put, an electric fin is a motorized fin that is installed on the bottom of your SUP board. It is designed to provide additional propulsion, making paddling easier and more efficient. The Boost Fin, in particular, is a remote-controlled electric fin that allows you to control its speed using a wireless remote control.
The concept of an electric fin may seem a bit daunting at first, but it is actually quite simple and straightforward to use. Having used the Boost Fin for quite some time now, I can vouch for its user-friendly design and functionality.
The Benefits of Using an Electric Fin on Your SUP Board
Now, you might be wondering, why use an electric fin on your SUP board? Well, there are several benefits to using an electric fin like the Boost Fin. For starters, it makes paddling significantly easier, especially in challenging conditions. Whether you’re battling strong currents or winds, the Boost Fin gives you the extra push you need to stay on course.
Additionally, the Boost Fin can help you paddle longer distances without tiring. This is particularly beneficial for long-distance SUP trips or when you simply want to spend more time on the water. Lastly, the Boost Fin adds an element of fun to your SUP board experience. It’s not every day that you get to zoom across the water on a motorized SUP board!
How to Install and Use the Boost Fin
Because the Boost Fin is technically designed for surf boards, it only comes with a longboard fin adapter. In which case a SUP fin adapter will need to be purchased separately. Boost Surfing has a great selection of adapters that cover a wide spectrum of boards. And their customer service reps are experts at helping you find the correct one.
Installing the Boost Fin is relatively simple and straightforward. The fin adapter allows you to attach it to your SUP board’s fin receiver. All you need to do is attach the adapter to the fin receiver, then slide on the Boost Fin and lock it into place with two screws. Once you have installed the Boost Fin, all you need to do is turn it on with the magnetic screw driver and you’re ready to go!
Using the Boost Fin is also quite easy. The wireless remote control allows you to turn on and off the motor with timed bursts. There are two buttons for controlling its speed – one for short bursts and one for long bursts. With a few simple clicks of a button, you can easily adjust your SUP board’s speed according to your needs and preferences.
- Lock Pin Won’t Fit
- Filed Opening
- Fits Now
A note for newer BOTE SUP owners. The two BOTE boards I tried to install the SUP fin adapter on were both no go’s, due to the lock pin cut out. But with the suggestion from Boost Surfing to file down the lock pin opening, it ended up working just fine. The Supzoom board on the other hand was an exact fit. Be sure to consult with Boost Surfing about the correct adapter for your board, should you decide to enter into the world of electric SUPing.
Boost Fin App
The Boost Fin also comes with an accompanying app that allows you to adjust the Boost fin’s settings to align with your needs and riding style. The fin comes with pre-set modes that you can customize for different types of styles and current conditions. From 15 second full power short bursts to 20 minute 80% power long bursts, this app lets you completely tailor the Boost Fin to your personal preference. One thing to keep in mind is that more power equals more battery usage and vice versa.
Key Features of the Boost Fin App:
- Check your Boost Fin’s battery charge level. How to know when your Boost Fin needs some juice? Simply check it’s battery life in the app, charge it if necessary and get back into the water in no time!
- Adjust the desired motor power of your Boost Fin. If you’re surfing, you need that extra push to get to the line-up and catch the waves, so you can set the motor power to higher levels, and if you’re exploring the ocean on your SUP board, you will only need around 30% of the motor power to enjoy your session. Choose the amount of motor thrust for any moment of your session!
- Choose the duration of the boosts. There are two options of the boosts – Short boost and Long boost. Each Boost Fin comes with a pre-set mode, but you can change the duration of the boosts according to your needs and adjust the motor power for each one of them.
- Connect as many Boost Fin to the app as you want. You can set the modes for each one of the connected Fins easily with just one app.
- Connect multiple remotes to the app.
- Watch Tutorials and How-to guides. Having questions about your Boost Fin? A selection of video guides will help answer most of the questions and provide guidance in the most common situations – installing the fin, turning it on and off, charging the fin, etc.
Boost Fin Review: Features and Benefits
After using the Boost Fin for quite some time, I can confidently say that it delivers on its promises. The fin is packed with features that enhance the SUP board experience.
The Boost Fin is powered by a 3500 mAh, 24 V, 84 Wh lithium-ion battery that can provide many hours of propulsion on a single charge. This is very use and condition dependent, to stick some rough numbers to it: I would say just short of two hours with always on easy cruising mode. And just over a half hour of runtime when using always on near max power in windy conditions. Again, very use and condition dependent. I find that even on my long SUP sessions, I end with more than 50% battery left. I love to paddle and only use the motor when I want a break, a boost or am fighting wind. All this means that you can enjoy long SUP sessions without worrying about the battery dying.
Boost Surfing claims the fin has a potential top speed of 10 mph, the closest I got that was 5.3 mph without paddling. Add in some strong paddling and wind at your back perfect conditions…then maybe one could reach 10 mph.
One of the standout features of the Boost Fin is its ability to be controlled with the remote. The remote is waterproof and is worn like a wrist watch, so you don’t have to worry about losing it. With two buttons set to your desired power and duration, it makes controlling the fin super easy and a lot of fun while you’re paddling.
How Boost Fin Enhances Your SUP Board Experience
The Boost Fin has significantly enhanced my SUP board experience. The added propulsion makes paddling easier and more enjoyable, and I can now paddle longer distances in a shorter amount of time. The fin also makes it easier to paddle against strong currents or winds, which can always be a struggle.
But perhaps the most exciting part of using the Boost Fin is the speed. While it is not at the 10 mph mark, it is fast enough to add a bit of excitement to my SUP sessions. I really enjoy the feeling of zooming across the water, powered by the Boost Fin.
Boost Fin Used on a BOTE SUP
I first used the Boost Fin on my BOTE SUP board and the experience was nothing short of amazing. After the minor adjustment to the adapter, the fin fit perfectly and provided a significant boost to the board’s performance. The added propulsion made paddling easier and more efficient, especially with the extra passenger and I was able to cover longer distances without any fatigue.
Boost Fin Used on a BOTE SUP with a Kayak Seat
I then tried the Boost Fin on my BOTE SUP board with a kayak seat. The experience was equally impressive. The fin provided extra propulsion, making it easier to paddle while seated. The remote control was easy to operate and allowed me to control the fin’s speed effortlessly.
Boost Fin Used on a SUPZOOM Sup Experience
Finally, I used the Boost Fin on my Supzoom SUP. Once again, the fin exceeded my expectations. The Supzoom board is slightly larger and heavier than the BOTE boards, but the Boost Fin had no trouble propelling it.
Specs of the Boost Fin
The Boost Fin is a robust and durable device. It is built with high-quality materials that can withstand the harsh conditions, even those of salt water.
- Weight – 2.7 lb. (nearly 1200g)
- Measurement – 10.5”*9”*3.5”
- Materials – Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer, ABS Plastic
- Max thrust – 20 lbs.
- Speed – Up to 10 mph
- Buoyancy – − 0.7 lb.
- Battery type – Li-ion 3500 mAh, 24 V, 84 Wh
- Power – Up to 800 W
- Remote – 433 MHz
Conclusion: Is Boost Fin Worth It?
After many SUP adventures and thoroughly testing the Boost Fin, I can confidently say that it is worth every penny. The Boost Fin offers a great combination of convenience and performance. The intuitive design and features make it a great choice for those looking to get more out of their SUP board experience. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced paddler, the Boost Fin is sure to take your SUP boarding experience up a notch!
For more info or to purchase, visit www.boostsurfing.com.