Hi all,
No markings on the Levitator - I suggest making marks yourself. I do that. A couple of comments regarding windspeed, foil positioning and sail size. 10 knots is not the same as 10 mph :-) I know you know that but I can foil in 10 knots but not 10 mph. (yet)
In 10 knots I can pump my 160L Levi up with the 84 wing and my f_type 6.8. I install the 84 wing quite a bit forward. When the wind picks up I move the wing a little back. Perhaps 1 inch to 1.5 inches. This is something you will have to experiment with. and also move your UJ back and forth. In light wind my UJ is in the middle of the track with my 6.8. With smaller sails I move it back. Once you find the right place for your foil and sail mark it up with a colored marker. For example a black marker for your 7m2 and 84 wing ...
It sounds complicated to get to the right configuration but I have gone through it this year and it's not that hard. If you foil with too much back foot pressure move the foil forward. All of a sudden you have the right setting and all is good.
I ordered a sailworks flyer 8.2 and I hope I can foil in 8 knots of wind with that - I will let you know!
Going downwind with the swells is definitely the hardest part - regulating your flight fight require practice and concentration. On the chesapeake bay we don't get the nice long swells - we get shorter and steeper waves mixed with chop. That's when I still crash - a lot :-)
FAST505 previously made marks on his levitator in this discussion (see page 1 in this discussion) that is quite useful for us to communicate in terms of locations of sail/mast and foil/mast so that there would be a good idea for a starting set-up.
He's using cm - I will ask him to comment and upload the pictures in case you want to replicate his measurements. He and I started around the same time and figured it 'all' out.
Guys, my calibration scheme is quite simple. For the foil mast track I put the mast in its furthest aft position by using the set forward set of aft bolt holes (if that makes sense). This allows the mast to be mounted in its furthest aft position. I then sight across from the leading edge of the mast and use this as datum (0). I then mark in 1cm increments forward from 0 to 10. For the universal joint, since I use a Chinook 2-bolt base, I do likewise by sliding it back as far as it will go in the track but still stay bolted. As it turns out, this point is approx. 6.5cm from the very aft cutout of the track. I then mark forward at 1cm increments to 13.
The nice thing about this is that, for me, the numbers seem to match up reasonably well in that with my 84 wing in B position, I use a foil mast track position of about 6 and about the same for the UJ, although lately I'm around 7 with my Ezzy 7.0 Hydra. Still tweaking but those settings will get you in a good ballpark. For the 76, I'm back around 3 on the foil to keep the center of lift between my straps for even foot pressure. So, the 76 wants to be slightly further back than the 84.
Hope that helps!
Something I noticed last night while I was out in the dying wind....
While I never really got up on foil and flying comfortably, the Levitator definitely seemed to respond well to pumping the sail. My Fanatic Falcon seemed more "stuck" on the water than the Levitator.
Got out again tonight. 6.0 Flyer, rigged pretty flat because I kind knew I'd be overpowered tonight. Whitecaps everywhere. Moved my foil mast forward from where it was last night by 3/4" and left the UJ in the middle of the mast track. Had immediate success and it felt pretty comfortable and balanced. At higher speeds I felt really comfortable. The speed felt amazing. I know it's still the i84 wing, but it still felt fast.
I made a black mark last night and then moved up by 3/4" tonight. Will make better and more permanent marks this weekend.
^^^ Salkan - must be something off with the setup - I can't imagine a foil more steady than the Infinity 84.
What fuselage position are you using?
When you're up on foil would you say that the center of lift of the 84 wing is halfway between your feet - and your feet widely spaced?
Hi Salkan,
can you take a few pictures of your set-up? What position is your foil fuselage? A, B or C? We have a Lavitator 160 in our club and it is a pretty stable platform with the infinity 76. I highly recommend the use of both foot straps for better control. If it is to lively, mastfoot forward and/or foil backwards will help to stabilise the board.
Best regards, David
Hi!
Most of us use the Slingshot Foil, Mostly with i76, some with i84. In dedicated foil-boards, everyone uses position B. Even with the i84 it is just great, you can adjust it by moving the foil a bit forward. If you use C and have the foil all the way forward, I can understand where your struggle comes from. I found it easier to start the other way around, with back-foot heavy set-up.
Riding the 84 should be the farthest thing from riding a wild horse. I could make a sandwich and take a nap riding mine. Is it possible your rear wing was mounted upside down? I don't mean any offense, but I know it is a bit confusing with the two wing options and their reversed mountings. Good luck!