Posted this on the Zone but since I traded messages with Pohaku on Seabreeze here on this topic when he got back from Hawaii, figured I would post my review here in case anyone else is curious...
Ordered the GoFoil 6.5" Pedestal and 14.5" Tail and after one session, I am so jazzed on this combo!!!
The 14.5" Tail fills all the gaps I was looking for in a GoFoil tail--pumps like the 18N, tracks like the Maliko and carves closer to the Kai. I was afraid that moving from the 9" to the 6.5" pedestal (GoFoil's equivalent to moving to a short fuselage) would be like learning to foil all over again but after a couple of waves to get used to it, I found that I was able to throw turns that I haven't been able to before without the added twitchiness I was expecting. Had to adjust pump frequency and carve to stay up high on the foil but it is oh so fun... If anyone is considering this combination, to me it is a gamechanger!
Awesome mate! A ton of guys have ordered that exact tail set up. We should see them land in July.
I personally use the 17.5 flip on the 6.5 pedestal. Goes great.
This is great to hear - I've ordered the 6'5" pedestal BUT with the 12.5" flip-tip tail stab. It's mainly for freestyle wind winging (i.e. not downwinders - I'll keep using the 18W for that) and surfing with the 240 & 180. I hope I'm not going too small with the 12.5" - what do you think?
BTW - how did you have to change your pump frequency - a higher cadence?
Select to expand quoteDommo49 said..
This is great to hear - I've ordered the 6'5" pedestal BUT with the 12.5" flip-tip tail stab. It's mainly for freestyle wind winging (i.e. not downwinders - I'll keep using the 18W for that) and surfing with the 240 & 180. I hope I'm not going too small with the 12.5" - what do you think?
BTW - how did you have to change your pump frequency - a higher cadence?
I wasn't aware there was a 12.5"--only heard about a 14.5" and 17.5". That said, I think you will love it! Candidly, I never could find the perfect tail from GoFoil after moving to the GL 180... until now. In case it helps, I weigh ~83kgs and am on a 6'x28x115L SUP.
With regards to pump frequency, I needed to move to a quicker frequency of pumps--I equate this to the shorter fuselage reduces the wavelength and thus increases frequency. The other interesting thing I noticed versus using the Maliko or 18N tail is that with those tails, I often pump to stay high on foil or make sections but because of the quicker turning with the 14.5" and 6.5" combination I found that I could make some quick turns to maintain altitude. With the winglets, the new stab has none of the slidey feeling of my 18N. All this being said, I only have one session in so may discover more as I get it more dialed--would be interesting to see if Pohaku or others have had the same experience.
I will keep my 9" pedestal for bigger days and am still keeping my 18N to potentially use as I embark on winging though I suspect the 17.5" would work wonders for that (but would burn a bigger hole in my wallet).
Haha yeah I get your comment about burning a hole in your wallet - mine went up in smoke a while ago! Having said that I have a feeling I'll end up going for the 17.5" as well as the 12.5" tail just to test them both side by side in all areas of my foiling. I think there's a lot that the right tail can add to the performance of your whole setup.
Do you know if it's possible to mount the new wing-tip tail stabs on the 9" pedestal and the flat tails stabs on the 6.5" pedestal? I know the 6.5" is a bottom mount and the 9" is a top mount, so I'm not sure if you can swap them around. Do you know?
Select to expand quoteDommo49 said..
This is great to hear - I've ordered the 6'5" pedestal BUT with the 12.5" flip-tip tail stab. It's mainly for freestyle wind winging (i.e. not downwinders - I'll keep using the 18W for that) and surfing with the 240 & 180. I hope I'm not going too small with the 12.5" - what do you think?
BTW - how did you have to change your pump frequency - a higher cadence?
Iv found a ton to f guys are ordering the 12.5 but it's aimed at kite surfing .. as for pumping I found its better as the wing has full contact rather than 9.5 pedestal where it breaks contact because of the fuselage. Cadence wise ... hmm ?? not sure never thought of it
Select to expand quoteDommo49 said..
Haha yeah I get your comment about burning a hole in your wallet - mine went up in smoke a while ago! Having said that I have a feeling I'll end up going for the 17.5" as well as the 12.5" tail just to test them both side by side in all areas of my foiling. I think there's a lot that the right tail can add to the performance of your whole setup.
Do you know if it's possible to mount the new wing-tip tail stabs on the 9" pedestal and the flat tails stabs on the 6.5" pedestal? I know the 6.5" is a bottom mount and the 9" is a top mount, so I'm not sure if you can swap them around. Do you know?
I am pretty sure you can. In this video, Alex shows the 17.5" mounted to the 9" pedestal...
Select to expand quoteDommo49 said..
Do you know if it's possible to mount the new wing-tip tail stabs on the 9" pedestal and the flat tails stabs on the 6.5" pedestal? I know the 6.5" is a bottom mount and the 9" is a top mount, so I'm not sure if you can swap them around. Do you know?
Here you go. The new tails have offsets on both sides to support top and bottom mount.
The flip tips are able to seat on both 6.5 and 9.5 pedestals. The 18W flat tail only on 9.5 pedestal.
That's awesome, thanks - this means I can test the new tail stabs on the long and short pedestal to see what difference fuse length makes. Some people say pumping is improved on a short ped, others say the long ped is better for pumping. I guess it depends a bit on conditions, rider style and the size/type of front wing, but it'll be fun to find out. Now I just have to decide which size tail stab to get. I'm assuming that the 17.5" is best paired with the GL240 and 210, the 14.5" goes best with the 180 & 140, and the 12.5" goes best with the 120, 100 & 80, but again I expect it'll be a matter of preference. At the moment I have the GL240 & 180 but will probably get the 140 at some point, so I reckon I'll need (NEED!!!!!) the 12.5 & either the 17.5 or the 14.5 tail as well - just for test purposes of course 
Budget constraints means I might have to settle for just the 14.5 as a compromise
Anyone have experience of which SIZE tail stab helps pumping? - again I've read some people say a bigger tail is better for pumping because it gives more lift, but others say a smaller tail is better for pumping because it's faster. Confused
ok, nice....but WHERE to find just a short pedestal? and flip wings?... i didn't see anything on market places??? i'm supposed to ride the darknet for this kind of gold?
Select to expand quoteyunlecoon said..
ok, nice....but WHERE to find just a short pedestal? and flip wings?... i didn't see anything on market places??? i'm supposed to ride the darknet for this kind of gold?
I've been told GoFoil have them in production at the moment. Should be sending them out to their distributors soon??
