Turbo Tunnel Fin and Longer Noserides?

Filed in: Surf Equipment Reviews | On: June 9th, 2007 | Comments: (10)
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I’m sure all of you have seen various ads in Surf magazines claiming that the funky looking fin called Turbo Tunnel provides longer noserides and smooth powerful turns. I was curious as ever and tested the company’s 9.5″ fin as a single on my 9’0 Kimo Greene Honolulu model. I tested the Turbo Tunnel fin at one of Oahu’s popular town spots, Queens in Waikiki, which produces perfect slow and rolling waves that sets up perfectly for noseriding. Conditions were clean and the waves were in the waist to occasional head high range. I was pretty excited to see how much of a difference this fin would make in my noseriding ability and on the first few waves I got to the nose without much problem on my Kimo Greene. The Honolulu model in itself is quite easy to noseride but after testing the Turbo Tunnel throughout that session, it appeared that the fin didn’t feel any different than the standard 9″ Proteck Superflex fin I have been using.

The Turbo Tunnel website claims that the fin basically improves all aspects of performance in your current longboard providing longer noserides, quicker turns, and extra speed. There are also numerous testimonials on the site with customer claims of more noseriding stability and overall improvement of the surfer’s performance. In my opinion, the Turbo Tunnel felt like any other fin and the results weren’t as significant as the company has claimed on their website and various magazine ads. While I don’t doubt that their customers are stoked on the Turbo Tunnel, perhaps the actual measurable difference is minute and is more of a mental state where the surfer thinks that the fin is really pushing their performance to a new level.

I will test this fin again a few more times to find a definite conclusion on the Turbo Tunnel fin.

10 Comments »

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Paolo Zanotto, on November 8, 2007 @ 6:20 am |

This is highly controversial issue causing lots of threads on several forums over the Internet.

I did try the 9.5″ Turbo Tunnel fin on two different boards on different occasions. The first time was on a 9’2″ noserider based on the Model-T. I cannot say much about that instance, since I did not know hat board well, and did not test it with other fins, etc., other then I was a bit suprised with the stability of the board during cross stepping.

Recently I read postings elsewhere of people saying that the Turbo Tunnel fin compensated the corky feeling of some Surftech surfboards making them more stable and better to ride and, therefore I did set up an experiment with a surfboard that I knew well and that was not a nose rider, but had some length.

I had this fin for an entire day on a 9’3″ board I have used from 1999 until 2005, before moving into my current over-10′ traditional logs. I did adjust the fin position to angle the tunnel in relation to the horizontal plane in a way to cause the tail to be sucked into the water (because I wanted to check its effect on added stability). While riding the board during the day, I did further changes in fin position to fine tune the effect. I guess that now I have some empirical basis for my 2 cents on the subject.

The interesting result was that the added stablity allowed me cross step over the board at ease (it is 21.5″ wide, 13″ nose and 11″ tail and less than 3″ thick with considerable rocker) and I found the board easy to turn and to ride from its first third and to stretch a few fives (but not hang 10). It was like having a considerably bigger board. I am not sure if it lost speed since the waves were not that fast or demanding speed at that day.

Im sum, I guess one could find it worthwhile to try on different boards and then come to a conclusion. Next week end I will try this 9.5″ Turbo Tunnel fin again on a 9’6″ HP as a single fin and possibly on some of my traditional logs for the sake of experimenting it.

Robert E., on November 18, 2007 @ 8:56 pm |

I tested my new 9’6″nose rider today at san onofre.I bought a turbo tunnel and tryed it I never surfed with one .It was chest high and consistent .It was a difference,turns were more solid and carve like and real stable.my nose riding was very solid and cross stepping was alot easier. It was a good choice to buy the 9.5″ turbo tunnel I know it will be fun . THANK YOU

Spen45, on December 8, 2007 @ 12:23 pm |

I tried it on my 9.0′ Hobie in chest high waves, didn’t really notice a difference, but I could hear a whoosh sound whilst surfing the face. The manufacturers recommend the 9.5” turbofin for board >10′. In my opinion – Ok but the jurys out tbc.

Dean Johnson, on April 16, 2008 @ 1:54 pm |

My 9.5 turbo tunnel would not seat into the fin box of my 10′ Infinity Nose Rider. In fact it broke while trying to install it. My son “fixed” it with a small fiber glass rod, resin, and a lot of sanding. My friend bought me a new one and I had the same installation problems. It seems not to set deep enough without some grinding and sanding. Anyone else having the same problems?

Rick Sacayan, on June 5, 2008 @ 10:30 am |

To Dean Johnson, I purchased two Turbo Fins in the last three years; 7.5 and 8.5. I had to do quite a bit of filing on both to get them to fit properly. I Mic’d both fins from end to end and found the thickness did vary quite a bit. I’ve used the fins on boards ranging from a 7’2″ egg to my 9’2″ L/B and I they all felt smoother and more stable but the juries still out on noserides. If I hadn’t purchased them at a discounted price, I’d be pretty pissed about all the filing.

Butch Gordon, on June 6, 2008 @ 2:14 am |

I have a 9’9″ Jimmy Lewis board and have the same problem as Dean. I received my 9.5 turbo fin yesterday and went to install it and it would not fit. You could slide the pin in but the rest of it would not seat into the box. Rather than sending it back I’m in the process of sanding it down to make it fit. I hope this solves the problem.

badfish, on October 26, 2008 @ 4:23 pm |

has anyone tried the fin on anything shorter, would like to get one for my 6’4″ fish as a single

Arthur Nerber, on November 30, 2008 @ 3:31 am |

I have just bought a turbo tunnel. And i have to agree that the fin does not fit the fin box the way it should. It took a lot of sanding to get it the way it should slide. i was using a rain bow hatch fin. and tryed the turbo tunnel for two days it don,t realy do any thing they say my rain bow fin wont do. its harder to turn. i have had it on a nose rider and on my 9,6quiet flight performance not really inpressing me but going to try it a few more times

Bloodrush, on September 5, 2010 @ 10:37 am |

It looks like they OVER compensated on their new models. I just recent bought the 9.5″ turbo tunnel and it is too loose in my fin box. So much so that it slides around when tightened to the max. Not sure what I am going to do to “thicken” it, but I will first try to get my $$ back!

Nate, on April 12, 2011 @ 2:36 pm |

Been using my 9.5 T.T. for a few years now, never took it off after putting in on, I like it. Have a 9’2′ custom from P.Carter, it fit in the box fine no sanding required. Would recommend it.

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