Kickworthy: Boost motorised surf fin
Where creativity meets objective online opinion! In the Kickworthy column we'll shine a light on new surf inventions, most appearing on crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter. The choice? Kick in some funds, or kick 'em to the kerb.
First up, the Boost motorised surf fin.
"Provides twenty pounds of turbocharged energy to catch up to three times more waves!"
Maybe you’ve dreamed of it as a grom, or yearned for it when your muscles burned from hours in the brine on one of those golden days.
Yes, the artificially-driven surfboard is (almost) here. It’s called Boost and it’s a fin with an 800 watt electrically powered inbuilt prop system.
The fin’s Kickstarter page brags a top speed of 17km/h (a mellow running pace), up to four hours of battery life, and the ability to catch three times as many waves as unassisted paddlers, which is sure to go down well at your local.
This little prop reportedly pushes out twenty pounds of thrust. How much is that you ask? One forum suggested as a rule of thumb that twenty pounds is roughly one unit of horse power in the boating world.
The system has two modes. Mode one is an eight second zap to get you into a wave, or perhaps around a flat section. Mode two gives a more sustained push, twenty seconds of boost power to get back into the lineup and into position for your next wave.
Handily, there’s an adapter that’ll fit all major fin plugs and a bluetooth control panel that you’ll have to bore into the deck of your board that’s slightly chunkier than the classic Go-Pro mount. You’ll also have a button remote that’ll strap to your arm like one of those fit cats you see slamming down the sidewalk wearing overpriced lycra.
How much buck for this bang?
Two hundred US dollars will get you the full kit, plus a hoodie, T-shirt and cap so you can represent. Eight hundred and seventy five will get you a five pack of the same to fit out your quiver and make paddling a thing of the past.
All you gotta do is slap it all together, hit the water and experience mechanically-assisted surfing.
But...
I don’t know about you, but to me the thing is ugly, particularly the deck-mounted control panel, and as you’d imagine the extra bulk would surely wreak havoc on the performance capabilities of your stick. You can show me all the groovy hydro mapping charts in the world, but that thing is gonna drag.
One of the pillars of their marketing campaign is set in the idea of surfing longer. That’s generally not a problem for most able-bodied adults. The tide or wind usually wrecks things anyway, or you’ve got kids/wives/husbands/jobs/real life to return to.
Anyway, let’s see it in action shall we?
Despite the endless praises sung by test rider Bobby Hasbrook, at any point in time it’s hard to tell what’s powering his log: Boost, or those ankle-slapping Californian dribblers. For the price, the effort, and the loss of performance, I’d hope he’s legitimately feeling something.
Noteworthy is the fact that their campaign has crushed their $50,000 target nearly five times over. I mean properly smoked their goal. As of today the venture is rolling $243k deep.
Seems there’s a hell of a lot of crew (1,046 and counting) out there looking to get a leg up in the lineup.
I’m all for this gadget bringing something for the physically feeble, surfers long in the tooth, or the jesting grommet, provided they’re surfing away from the rest of us. Who'd stand for snakes whizzing past taking “three times as many waves" as the honest paddler?
It’s taken decades of evolution to shape the pecking order of modern day lineups...and yes, they have their flaws, but the last thing we need is a bunch of “turbocharged” menaces cheating their way to the top.
Still, it’s a fun daydream. Painfully long paddles to and from outer reefs a problem of the past, just tap a button and you’d be whirring away. And why settle for single fins? Fit a three-way Boost to your Thruster to triple the speed.
I’m sure you’ll have questions. I did too. Here’s the FAQ clip hosted by Boost’s frothing CEO, Dmitr Kozhevnikovi.
Gotta hand some credit to the gang behind the creation. They’ve managed to slim down a pretty powerful prop into a tight package. According to the specs, the thing weighs a mere 0.8kg, however I just can’t see this as a respectable surf accessory. A fun toy, yes. Nothing more.
Does the world need more plastic gimmicks? Hell. No.
Oh, and Carribean born pro surfer, William Aliotti has a message for those interested in throwing down on a prop powered craft: Watch those digits!
The first swarm of buzzing boards are due to invade a lineup near you this May...
// RICK SNOWDEN
Comments
Reckon I saw one of these (or something very similar) locally about a year ago.
I was waiting in the lineup, staring out to sea when some motion appeared in my periphery. Something moving at a steady speed, out through the lineup.
I turned my head, and there was a bloke on what appeared to be a mini-mal. He'd obviously started off in the creek, pushed out through the mouth and managed to time things nicely between sets, so he didn't have to duckdive.
Couldn't quite put my finger on what it was that bothered me, until I realised his hands were relaxedly clasped on the top of the deck. He wasn't paddling.
Took me a few more moments to figure out that there had to be some kind of propulsion under the board, though I couldn't see what it was. But he was tracking at about two or three times the pace of a strong paddler.
To the bloke's credit, he motored out about a hundred metres beyond the lineup to play with his toy, and didn't bother anyone in the surf.
And he ended up putting on a proper show too: old mate was unable to hold his stance each time he attempted to stand on the fast moving board, so he ended up falling off, over and over again. After each fall, the board would scoot off into the distance before he was able to retrieve it (I can't recall whether it circled like a jetski, or whether he had to swim after it).
Looked like a royal pain in the arse.
Wasn't some guys out by Torquay Point by any chance? Was a couple of guys there a few years back, on Walden boards by the look so maybe a different device. Etiquette was not on their remit and the f'd up most decent waves! It was then I decided to not surf there again after many decent sessions where one or two of us were cleaning up.
Stick to the lakes if you can't paddle into waves!
Yeah there's a Waldo kook that sits wide at Greeny and drops in on everyone coming down the line, them motors straight back to do it again. Fuck that guy.
Hey Surfalot. I'm that kook you mentioned.
Sorry about the delay here, I normally do not rspond to rubbish.
You have noticed I sit wide - well done - this gives everyone else a chance at the wave first doesn't it.
You should also notice that the drop ins are by other surfers, not me, because I'm already on my feet.
I don't mind them sharing the wave with me.
Make yourself known the next time you see me.
You’re dead right. You are that kook. Seeing as you can’t comprehend the number one rule of surfing, don’t fuckin drop in, I’ll give you another rule. Anyone who uses a machine to catch a wave must cede that wave to anyone who paddles on. Game over. You haven’t found a “hack” for a lack of talent and heavy crowding, you just have a 9’0” vibrator and a shit attitude. No need to talk, I don’t speak kook, but rest assured, if you continue to burn my grom and his mates, we will be having a frank exchange of views.
The 'look mum, no hands' thing would've been a trip to see.
Did it seem locked to one speed? I guess the temporary 'boost' design could get around the whole runaway board conundrum.
Yep, just one speed it seemed.
so would a fucken legrope
Was that on the Tweed Ben? I think I’ve seen the same dude there.
Yep.
So if you fall off with a legrope on your ankle, you're going to get towed around the lineup like a dangling piece of livebait?
Enter, Charles Darwin.
Lol
The founders put themselves on a pedestal next to Jack O'Neil. From their website:
Just like wetsuit creator Jack O'Neill, Boost surfing founders Alex and Dmitri wanted to create something that would allow people to surf longer.
my first reaction when I saw this about a year ago was its a product for kooks and deserved the ridicule it was attracting (probably on Instagram).
6 months ago i had an entire lung removed due to cancer ( my second dance with Ca) Last few months when chemo stopped have been trying desperately to build up stamina to surf again. Its been tediously slow and at times depressing
In the last week on those lovely clean mornings I went out a few times and managed to catch ride a few waves reasonably well. But paddling out and around the line up left me dangerously fatigued very quickly. longest surf was 30 minutes
Starting to think there may be legit applications for the Boost fin
Agree. I guess it'll come down to context. I see no problems if manners are upheld.
But, same as big wave surfing -if we can't swim back to land, then we shouldn't go that far out??
Definitely legit applications. People with spinal cord injury, older surfers with crook hips etc
Looks good. Easy to smash out of the board. The regular fins are a bit sharp and can draw blood if you get your punch wrong.
Courtesy would suggest you first ask the rider if he/she has cancer.
That or a broken shoulder. I saw a bloke in the water about a decade ago with a set of flippers attached to custom-built wetsuit. His shoulder was fucked so he kicked his way back up the lineup, stashed the fins, and paddled into the waves. Big Kudos to the guy.
There's a few things similar coming out onto the market (jet surfboard that G'Mac was shortly sponsored by being another) and they blur the line between powered and passive craft. I got told about a court case recently where MSB charged a guy for riding a powered jet ski in the surf, yet the judge couldn't charge him as it was imported under a category that deemed it non-powered - despite having an engine!
Like drones, the law has to catch up to the technology.
At around the 1:50 mark you can really see how it gets him into the wave, he barely takes a stroke.
Don't even think it, Zen!
Just sayin' is all.
Now... where did I leave my credit card...?
Don't you mean wad of cash ;p
Indeed.
Artistic license in this instance though.
hahahaha
800 Watts of power? That's gold. That's the same power output of elite cyclists going really hard. We're talking 60km/h on the flat.
Can I be the first person to call BS on 800 Watts.
im getting a twin fin mal using these things....broomm broom .....
twin-turbo.
Why didn't wavejet boards ever become more mainstream? Did they go out of business? These things are gona be rife in certain parts of the world eventually and it probably won't be pretty
The Boost fin is conspicuously absent in the Instagram feed of team rider Bobby Hasbrook.
Probably just forgot to install it.
it sort of goes with wave pools, its all fake, not the reel surfing.
although if you saw a shark you might win the race back to the beach.
they should test it at Byron and Noosa.
Does anyone (other than complete novices and those with genuine health issues) actually have problems catching waves on boards that big. For shits and giggles I sometimes take out a big fat foamy 7.6 and i can't believe how easy it is to catch even the smallest ripple...
" if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
I just bought a couple of those fins. Stored them next to my gigantic stockpile of toilet paper, because I'm a selfish entitled cunt who thinks I deserve "three times the waves" because I can purchase them.
given they are having a manufacturing crisis in China.... you must have the first ones in the Western world!! P.S. can i have some bog rolls?
"It reminds me of the heady days of Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin when the world trembled at the sound of our rockets. Now they will tremble again - at the sound of our silence. The order is: engage the silent drive."
Further to Capt. Ramius above, why are we using props still? On Yr10 work experience they had me try to restore a 2hp jet outboard motor from the 1960s, surely with a jet type propulsion you could use the whole body of the board to generate the flow, and it'd be much nicer flow...
True to your name there, Velocity Johnno
Not sure if Dale has done much more with this idea.......
https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/gold-coasters-epic-rocket...
err
FFS
sorry
all that comes to mind
i dont understand what the benefit is? Sure, maybe when the rip is charging you could motor along so you dont go pass the button but 99/100 ypur gonna be sitting in the spot where the wave is gonna break and also have the best read on what it’s gonna do. Pot luck if your just zooming from out the back. That, and peolle will just start burning ya with that shit.
A few years ago I wrote a screenplay for a laugh. It was about a post apocalyptic future where SUPs rule the surfing lineups with an iron fist. Pretty stupid stuff I know, but like I said, just for a laugh. Anyway this arvo I was down at the beach having a couple of cold ones with the boys when someone asked me when I’d be putting out part two. (of Surf Convoy, since that is what part one is called)
Looks like I have some new material to work with here.
Revenge of the Rebel Boost Finners?
Honestly struggling to come to terms with what I just witnessed .
Was there really 40 people out at that fat , half-foot high wave ?
Mind blown.
KOOKS , feck me , that's sealed my week !
Can it come with a shark shield embedded in it, so I can be twice the flog?
I'm thinking about attaching a dunny roll holder on mine in case someone looks at me and I get COVID-19. Hoping everybody else is thinking about what they can add to their boards.
Radio control. Now anyone can get barreled as long as the controls are safely in the hands of an expert. The future is here. Self driving boards next.
Could have an application where previously the risk outweighs the reward, like large unruly beachies. Usually lucky to get a couple good ones, suddenly you can get more. Looks mainly compatible with wrongboard fin boxes at this point.
Seen one at " poor mans point " on the sunny coast a couple of weeks ago , Old Fella zoomed out into the lineup in a passive crowd, in dribbling weak waist high sectioners .
He seemed clearly " abled " . I felt Alarmed , even though i didn't know, "i knew",and now know.
Every morning i'm now going to be taking a dump, scrolling memes ( of course ) and just generally being alarmed - about how im going to clean my unclean snap, My 16% loss in 7 days of involuntary super contribution which is out of my control - enabling wall street pirates to drive even flasher cars, and people of any age with this paddle assist gizmo destroying any point serenity. I say if they are abled, flip the board and kick it that shit out . Alarmed. Serenity now! serenity now!
I’m gonna patent a surfboard mounted cup holder
No a surfboard mounted USB charger
Hi saltman
I’m in a similar situation to you. Lost half a lung about 6 mths ago. I’ve been doing the Wim Hof breathing methods for the last couple of months. And it’s very slowly made a big difference to lung capacity and getting oxygen into my body. Stamina has slowly improved but still have trouble punching through solid beach breaks. Found it best to stick to point and reef breaks. Hang in there
I’ve got a feeling those jet boards were deemed powered motor craft so they hit a legal brick wall.
This boost fin system ought to be considered the same, but as someone said above the law will have to catch up.
I actually think they could be good to get people into the surf who have some sort of disability or health issue precluding them from a full range of physical movement in small/tiny surf. But that’s where my kindness ends.
Realistically does anyone see these becoming remotely mainstream? If you’re that fat, old or incapable kook interested in a “boost” then wouldn’t you just buy a sup like every other knucklehead?
Suggested next cab off the rank .... surf knobs, another product catering for the feeble minded or bodied amongst us. https://surf-knobs.com/
"I actually think they could be good to get people into the surf who have some sort of disability or health issue precluding them from a full range of physical movement in small/tiny surf. But that’s where my kindness ends."
I hear ya!
And how about those knobs!
Hahaha I thought it was a gee up.
If you're that injured that you need these to help you get to your feet, should you really be out there in the first place?
It could help someone like bethany hamilton but i don't even reckon she would use one.
Bethany Hamilton deserves our respect. Fuck knows how she figured out how to surf with one arm.
✔️
Watched her today at the Sydney Pro in Manly. Fit as fuck, a mum, super confident and surfs so friggen well.
before you even think of paddling or duck diving ...
try and do a pop-up at home, on the floor, with one arm
that woman is a complete absolute legend
My fear is that this is the thin edge of the wedge. Once they produce the board as the battery holder with in deck controls and larger / longer power reserves, then expect to see cashed up kooks motoring into green waves out the back on a scale much worse than mals and SUP's.
The End Times begin with the motorised hydrofoil goat boat. It's the mark of the beast!
"It's the mark of the beast!"
Spot on VJ. I'm sure they are the four watermen of the apocalypse.
This would be perfect for my 9'8" Bing "Wannabe" to blow-dry my blond highlights after a sesh at the Pass.
Don't forget to surf without a legrope. May as well do some yoga on the beach while you're at it.
I reckon this device has the potential to open up waves that are too fast or have unmakeable sections on them makeable.
Similar to how towing in made some big waves spots and slab spots surfable.
There are numerous stretches of reefs in indo where you can see barrels reeling off but they're just too fast to make or sections fall down that make the wave not worth bothering with.
This could allow dozens of new reefs to be surfable there.
On the flip side though it could also make the crowd issues even worse at the already standard surfable breaks.
One step forward for tech. 2 steps backwards for surfing as we knew it..
Just saw on Insta an electric foil zooming around Byron capable of speeds up to 50kmh ffs, how are they even legal or are they?
fliteboard
Thank Christ they start at $16 K !
I would really like to know, are these legal? If so, what restrictions if any have been placed on their use?
Powered by 7 HP brushless electric motor
So should be classed as a vessel in NSW..
Fuck it, Next surf I'm taking out my 18V Makita drill with a tile glue whip attached.
hehehe! I'll bolt two electric planers to the deck and become a paddle steamer! toot toot!
That's something I'd like to see. Comedy gold right there.
Time to set up a go fund me for heat seeking mini torpedoes development
It's good to see the Aussie "don't fuck with me " ..is alive and goin' hard ..
Wow this could allow me to ride a 5"5 like everyone else, instead of my 7"6 that paddles better
Artificially-driven surfboards are not new. They are propelled by jet skis. Pros and other alien lifeforms have been using them for years. So much so that one hardly ever sees a half decent point break surfed without them anymore. You are not a pro if you don't have one. You cannot be a pro unless you have one. You cannot make your next pro movie without one. You cannot hold your next pro comp without one. Some little battery powered prop in your fin? pffft, get outta here.....
If I had my way all jet skis would be thrown on a giant pile outside the WSL head office and set alight. Goddamn oxygen thieves.
Jesus. Ah well, there'll be carnage if manners aren't observed, I suppose. I've also been out with older blokes with jet boards who were complete pains in the arse....big mals (ie 10ft) and catching everything 30m further out and wide. Just horrible.
On the tech side, what would the drag from one of these be like? Surely it would limit speed above a certain wave size and create more drag than boost...?
TBH, in waves above two foot dribblers I reckon these fins would have a top speed of not very much.
Highly doubt that, even with the boost zap thing, they could compete with a modern Thruster or quad for acceleration, and the shape and girth of it would act more as a sea brake than accelerator.
Hopefully there will be an inbuilt cut-off switch for anything beyond 2ft dribblers then...
I hope the inventor gets Aids.
Bondi Rescue today on TV featured one of their life guard trainees (ex bra boy) getting towed into 8 foot Cape Solander. Real nice, especially seeing the jetski wizz past a pack of surfers on the peak within distance of around 10-20 feet.
Can you imagine the indignation of the Bondi lifeguards if some knobhead did the very same thing on their beach, fuckin hell they could get all fucking righteous about it for an entire episode.
Anyway, it's all there on national TV including the rego number of the jetski for the cops to see .....
I reckon that ugly bulky fin would slow you down when not boosting. Kind of defeats the purpose really
Haha...this is just like a mini jet ski..I dont hear too many bitching about guys using jet skis :) If you want to say no to this sort of thing, way not say no to those shit heads with jet skis??
'I dont hear too many bitching about guys using jet skis '
...you must be deaf then.
We published three articles in the space of 12 months, attracting many hundreds of comments.
Feb 2018: "The Gold Coast's Tow-in Code of Conduct"
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2018/02/20/gold-coasts-t...
Mar 2018: "Parko, Mick, and Dingo caught by the Water Police at Snapper Rocks"
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2018/03/20/parko-mick-and-ding...
Feb 2019: "PWCs and the new normal on the Gold Coast"
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/02/27/pwcs-and-new-...
And I for one really appreciate Swellnet calling out this unacceptable, illegal and outright dangerous behaviour.
not for me. the wave jet the best one i've seen so far. and the most expensive. especially if i'm only going to use 2 times a year when we get those big sweepy south swells that make it impossible to paddle against. They're about 5 grand. I need a lawnmower before I need a wave jet
Jetboards - aaahh the wonders of modern technology (gulp)
Hilarious stuff Westo. I think rise in poo-stance will also epodential.