Foiling

After having seen both, I'm quite happy with my choice, the foil is only going to be used in sub 14 knots ..... can't see the point in spending the extra $$ just for carbon. And the alloy mast is really stiff/rigid, no flex at all.

neil pryde is going to release a foil for the average/week end sailor with an aluminium mast and g10 wings. I would expect they know what they are doing.

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seanhogan said..
After having seen both, I'm quite happy with my choice, the foil is only going to be used in sub 14 knots ..... can't see the point in spending the extra $$ just for carbon. And the alloy mast is really stiff/rigid, no flex at all.

neil pryde is going to release a foil for the average/week end sailor with an aluminium mast and g10 wings. I would expect they know what they are doing.

Sean - what's the extra syringe for?

It's TF gel, to put on the stainless steel bolts that go into aluminium to prevent hypothetical galvanic corrosion (?) in you don't rinse your gear properly.

Like I said it's already loaded with gel, so you've got time ahead before using the extra syringe.

I asked around locally, apparently that stuff is quite expensive.

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JonesySail said..
Ahh clever ! Is that even an Atom? And is that the Sling Shot Foil system (3 lengths) ... Can you make me an adaptor that at I can use the foil on both my Atom and my Kiteboard? in fact why stop there..I'll plug the thing into my SUP and give it a crack also! A Multipurpose foil, marketing genius!

keen to hear from anyone that's tried foiling on both Kite and Windsurf ...I'm thinking the Windsurf version has to be easier than kite, I'm having visions of me getting lifted on the kite as the board flips over exposing the foil !

Was that your first go GL or have you been in secret training on a remote foil Island off the coast of 'foilmauihawai' land?

First crack Jonesy and was pretty cool in sub "normal" planing conditions and yep mid size slingshot mast and pleasantly surprised how easy it was!

Hey thinking that I'd want to give the foiling thing a go next year, what sort of board would be right? I don't want a dedicated foiling board, thinking a nice slalom board that can also work as foiling would be the goal.

I was spying up the Isonic 107 or 117 as my option and noticed a vid using perhaps the larger version. Anyway be good to get some thoughts.

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JonesySail said..
Hey GL and others that are doing it, foiling that is!

is there a particular board size that's best suited to make this happen?

So GL has used an Atom, with the Slingshot (spell check 10mtimes! SlingShi!) Neil Pryde videos they are on quite big boards.
the French Mob Horue (or whatever the brand) look to have small dedicated board, obviously you want something that floats you, but after that I'm not seeing where/why a big board is an advantage, once your up and away I would make have thought small as possible in the air? Given that you can foil a kite/wake board size doesn't seem to be an issue? Thoughts?

Fin box, aside from it being Tuttle (reg or deep) does the box and its fittings etc have to be super reinforced to handle the load of the foil, or will a normal box handle it?

Hi Jonesy,

I've got limited experience but here's what I found out.

You do need a short large board (Hypersonic is just perfect but hard to find). Most foilers here use xfire 122, or similar. The neil pryde convertible proto was made after those specs.


Even though once in the air the width is not so important you still need it to get going. (and to uphaul before you master waterstarting with those sharp blades close to your ankles.....)

A normal fin box should handle it, provided there is no gap in the top of the fin box. I advise inserting a wedge to make sure there is no empty space between the top of the foil head and the "bottom" of the box.

90 % of the pressure from the foil is vertical (unless you hit something ) so you've got to prevent it from moving upwards in the box.

definitely the 117

......................................The game changer for recreational windsurfers!

What do you guys think about the possibility of a foiling longboard? Obviously the extra windage and weight could be an issue and you'd need a centreboard case insert so the foil was further forward, but it could be interesting to those of us who sail inland and really, really hate schlogging.

I've foiled a Moth and a Laser briefly. Quite fun but I'm not such a huge fan I'm going to spend the sort of money for a top-end specialised foiler. To me the feeling of the board or boat slicing or planing is an enormous part of the joy of sailing.

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Chris 249 said..
What do you guys think about the possibility of a foiling longboard? Obviously the extra windage and weight could be an issue and you'd need a centreboard case insert so the foil was further forward, but it could be interesting to those of us who sail inland and really, really hate schlogging.

I've foiled a Moth and a Laser briefly. Quite fun but I'm not such a huge fan I'm going to spend the sort of money for a top-end specialised foiler. To me the feeling of the board or boat slicing or planing is an enormous part of the joy of sailing.

I thought that with the foiling set up you only needed a board the would hold your weight and allow you to get going well enough to have the foil pop you out of the water.
A long board seems to be a counter productive idea -weight length extra foil.
You would ideally want to use the smallest board that allows you to pump onto the foil & start flying.
I love my RBs and wouldn't want to put a foil on them as they are hard enough to move around on land as they are and then looking for 2 foils, 1 special order, no thanks! Schlogg, pump then fly on something 35-60ltr over your weight thats wide.

only my thoughts. A foil is on my list.

With a 52cm carbon fin or bigger - believe I could get a Patrik 135 litre and a Severne Overdrive 8.6m going in 10 knots.

With the same board and sail - but with a foil - how many knots would I need to plane?

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BSN101 said..

Chris 249 said..
What do you guys think about the possibility of a foiling longboard? Obviously the extra windage and weight could be an issue and you'd need a centreboard case insert so the foil was further forward, but it could be interesting to those of us who sail inland and really, really hate schlogging.

I've foiled a Moth and a Laser briefly. Quite fun but I'm not such a huge fan I'm going to spend the sort of money for a top-end specialised foiler. To me the feeling of the board or boat slicing or planing is an enormous part of the joy of sailing.

I thought that with the foiling set up you only needed a board the would hold your weight and allow you to get going well enough to have the foil pop you out of the water.
A long board seems to be a counter productive idea -weight length extra foil.
You would ideally want to use the smallest board that allows you to pump onto the foil & start flying.
I love my RBs and wouldn't want to put a foil on them as they are hard enough to move around on land as they are and then looking for 2 foils, 1 special order, no thanks! Schlogg, pump then fly on something 35-60ltr over your weight thats wide.

only my thoughts. A foil is on my list.

I'm not really that interested, personally, in going back and forth or in just racing in open water and a breeze. If I am BAFfing on a short board, then I quite like the feel of the board planing.

But the idea of doing something unusual and going around a course really quickly across the whole range of conditions is something that interests me. I also wonder whether the longboard may be more competitive in medium/strong winds against a shortboard, when both are foiling. The longboard won't have the usual disadvantage it has with the aspect ratio of the planing surface.

As I understand it, the Moths are going faster than FW a lot of the time, and they have an even bigger issue with windage and no weight advantage, compared to a longboard.

Moving around is one of those things that you get used to; compared to our 180kg Formula 18 cat with its overall length of about 25' from bowsprit to rudder tips when on the land, a longboard is a doddle!

Kinda interested , 120 kg average sailer , water starter , 9.9 out of 10 gyber , plenty of Tuttle boards , should I try ???

First I have to apologize for my sometimes not technical english (second language... I don't know all the terms, google gave me wedge for spacer )

The wooden spacer goes in first (obviously ) then the foil, on my Patrik I have to wiggle it a bit to get it in too.
(it even still sticks out one mm,which is fine with me)

I agree about the tapper part to prevent a normal fin from coming up in the box if over tightened, but you have to consider the extreme force of the foil in action.
It will stretch the tuttle box (it's only plastic with foam around it) if you don't prevent it from going up. We've all heard those "crack sounds" when over tightening a fin, the foil will do worse.
where's bloody Barn when you need him !!



I'm not trying to prove a point, it happened to me on the hypersonic, it went up and forward !
I ended up with the two bolts sticking out behind my foot

The local shapers told me that you also have to ensure you original box is connected to both top and bottom of the board, I only have patriks and it's the case, no idea if other brands would have "non connected" boxes. (seems strange they would)

What I did for the hypersonic (as the foil strut had made holes in the box) was to insert the foil (greased and glad wrapped), drill two holes in the deck between the bolt holes, put two straws in the bolt holes, and pour microballon epoxy in the drilled holes to fill the gap. Now it's a perfect fit and there's no way the foil can come up (without ripping the board )

Imax, of course you should try, it's such a thrilling sensation !! Plus you can then ditch all those 8.8/9.6 sails and go for a blast in 8 knts !
(but beware it's bloody scary at first !!)