Here is my review of Herbs superchargers. For any of you not familiar with Herb Spitzers superchargers. They are small 1x1 inch canard type fins. At first glance you may mistake them for Rustys C5s or a twinzer type setup. The superchargers are different than either of those and the effects are also different (ill get to that later). After winning a free set of these from Herb I recieved them in the mail about a week later. Upon opening the letter I was surprised at how small they actually are. The color for me was also a little strange, kind of like a translucent green jolly rancher. Anyway of checking them out and reading the directions that came with it i proceeded to install them on my board. The board i installed them on was an old favorite. 6’8" x 19 x 2 1/2 x 11n x 14t with lots of rocker 5 7/8 in the nose and 2 3/4 in the tail. Still rides magic after a few years. Installation with 5 min epoxy was fairly easy, acually the hardest part was taking the measurments. First session was at my backyard surfspot Laniakea. chest to head high okay conditions. First thing i noticed on my first few waves was a little extra glide. Coming off the bottom felt a little strange, almost like the side fins were smaller with less bite. But the board accelerated easily up the face and snapped off the top like butter. I usually have to push the tail through the snap, with the superchargers it snapped all on its own. A little difficult to control of your not used to it or expecting it. The extra loosness was almost too much on the larger waves but worked unreal on the smaller ones. Another wierd thing is that although it was really loose it still held in. Normal snaps in the pocket I like to drift the tail a little right after the apex of the turn but found it was harder to break the fins free to get it to drift. The first session with the superchargers really had me intrigued. I emailed herb to see what he recomends as far as positioning and then rechecked mine and found that the tow on the superchargers was the same as my main fins and herb recomended half the tow and cant of the mains so i repositioned them that night. I also moved my whole fin cluster back 1/16 to gain back some control. Here on the North shore a little extra control doesnt hurt. Next session at Lanis on a building NW swell was better. The repositiong of the fins seems to have done what i wanted. The board had bite off the bottom but still accelerated up the face and snapped effortlessly. Really could feel the extra drive and found i could acually slide up a little and do big pumps down the line rather than the smaller pocket pumps that modern shortboards are designed for. Overall The superchargers seem to work for me and they do work as advertised by Herb. If like me you like to ride thrusters and are looking for a little extra drive then perhaps you should give the superchargers a try. I will repost after i get a chance to ride it is waves a little bigger to see how that goes.
Great report, glad to hear it. Not surprised that the SCs need less toe-in than the side fins. Part of my theory on the way fins work suggests that you should be able to ride with the rear fin a little further forward (relative to the side fins) with SCs than without. The SCs should allow the side fins to hold with more angle - moving the rear fin up a little should accomplish that. Something like 1/8 ot 1/4 inch further forward. Anyway, just a suggestion, like to hear the independent assessment, very valuable. http://www.blakestah.com/fins/
Herb’s superchargers work,is a understatement.It’s the next logical step if side fins are used.I have 3 personal boards with superchargers installed,and use them in my free surfing time.I talked with herb awhile ago and he seems to be bored with the supercharger projects,just when things are taking off for him.He was planning on stopping any futher construction in this area.I have encouraged him to continue his efforts,and that it will not go in vein.“There is a lot more to them than meets the eye”, one top rated pro told me,after trying them out.K
Don’t know anything about his supercharges but I think he is a cutey ! You charge baby and maybe we will hook up some day,handsome !
Thanks Jason,KS,and Leann, Jason,I’m sending you a couple sets for you and your friend today.Let me know what he thinks. KS,What can I say,but THANK YOU for your support and time.You’ve been a big inspiration to me. Leann,Sorry gal,but I’m married,love to party with you sometime in the near future,got a friend putting together a weekly TV surf show that will help the out-of-the-box builders and surfers.He plans on doing stories on local heros,and builders,away from the mainstream.I’ll let you know where and when this is more tangible. Thanks to EVERYONE that supported me down this page,seems the gremlins are at work again.And Jeff Wells if he does approach you,and there’s anything left of him after your done,direct his sorry ass to me please.Herb
…Hey Jeff,on second thought,I think I’ll let Wayne take care it.Herb
Thanks Herb!
Wrong Leann sweety, I saw you last summer at Bolsa.I was learning how to surf and I noticed you from afar.I asked my friend who the guy riding the bright orange fish was and she told me all about you.Do you know who I am now? I’m much cuter than that Leeann Tweeden with the chest floaters.
…Yes I do, how old are you?Your friend wasn’t into giving you surf lessons as much as he was planning on giving you some other type of lessons,from what I heard anyway.Hope to see you at the local beach and I’ll hand you over to Kim Hammrock,she’s great at teaching the fine art of surfing.Herb
…Herb,my instructor was a woman.The guy you are talking about was my and now ex-boyfriend.By the way I’m legal !
…Thanks for clearing that up for me. …email me sometime @ …And yes you are much cuter than Leeann Tweeden.Herb