Forums > Windsurfing Foiling

Using a slalom fin on Exocet RF81 foilboard

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Created by Bennn > 9 months ago, 16 Nov 2019
Bennn
45 posts
16 Nov 2019 4:16AM
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HI,

Has anyone bothered using a fin on a foiling board? More specifically on a exocet RF81. I would be interested to know what it was like before I invest in a fin.

Cheers

Ben

LeeD
3939 posts
16 Nov 2019 10:50AM
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Only consideration is the flat deck putting stress on your ankles when planing.

Grantmac
2068 posts
17 Nov 2019 1:22AM
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At best itll be less comfortable with less range than the foil.

I'd say if that was the plan you should look at swapping it for a convertible like the RS:ONE etc.

Bennn
45 posts
17 Nov 2019 11:46AM
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Grantmac said..
At best itll be less comfortable with less range than the foil.

I'd say if that was the plan you should look at swapping it for a convertible like the RS:ONE etc.


Cool. Thanks. I wouldn't go to the extent of swapping it as it is a great foiling board and I have other boards, but its just that my main spot is very tidal and possibly I could get an extra hour on the water by simply putting a fin on. I think I got my head around the lack of comfort and yeah the exocet rf is a dead flat deck and would be hard work perhaps. I was just trying to think of a lazy way to get going rather that carrying/swappping another board.
Cheers for your input

ZeeGerman
280 posts
17 Nov 2019 11:46PM
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Are you happy with the board as a foil board?
Can you give a review? Looks like an interesting board

Bennn
45 posts
9 Dec 2019 3:36PM
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ZeeGerman said..
Are you happy with the board as a foil board?
Can you give a review? Looks like an interesting board


It's a great board. Solid build. The flat deck is great to control the foil and there is some nice deck pad, like a big lump between the back straps. It feel awesome when out of the back strap on a downwind. I managed foiling in 20kts on a 7.7m rig and I am 65 kg...It was full on but I managed for a little while with the back foot in front of the strap. Lots of control. The bottom shape is good, I hardly feel the water when I touch down. Doesn't slow down much and usually just keep foiling. Even when I stall the foil and dive the nose, I never catapulted. The board bounce me back into the air and then I either fall or manage to keep going. I also hit a sand bank at speed and took a severe crash. The board is still intact. I am very please with that. The only down side, and I can only compare with my Freeride board that I learned with, is it take more pumping to get going. It like a deep bellied sail in light wind to get the initial momentum. The good thing is I can pump it off the plane in the front foot strap. That really help to transmit the sail energy into the foil. Hope this help?!

elmo
WA, 8726 posts
9 Dec 2019 9:32PM
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Used the JP foil as a slapper, extremely harsh my teeth are still loose

oscardog
209 posts
10 Dec 2019 9:34AM
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Here's my RF91 in light winds
Oops looks like the video did not upload. Any tips on how to load a video?

Bennn
45 posts
10 Dec 2019 10:10AM
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elmo said..
Used the JP foil as a slapper, extremely harsh my teeth are still loose


Haha!! I get the point!

Bennn
45 posts
10 Dec 2019 10:11AM
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oscardog said..
Here's my RF91 in light winds
Oops looks like the video did not upload. Any tips on how to load a video?


foiling or with a fin?

oscardog
209 posts
23 Dec 2019 1:10AM
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Benn, this is on a foil. Have a 71cm mast for the lake. Maybe you can get a shorter mast for the tidal areas

Bennn
45 posts
27 Dec 2019 3:17PM
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oscardog said..
Benn, this is on a foil. Have a 71cm mast for the lake. Maybe you can get a shorter mast for the tidal areas



Yeah. That's fine. I can foil no problem with my board. I was wondering how would it be with a regular slalom fin (50-60 cm) I wouldn't foil with a mast shorter than 70 myself. Have you tried your board with a fin? Cheers

oscardog
209 posts
23 Mar 2020 2:57AM
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Bennn,

Did you try a fin?

I don't have fin for deep tuttle, was thinking of buying a fin for the Exocet, any suggestions?

LeeD
3939 posts
24 Mar 2020 12:42AM
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Buy a used Formula fin for under $80 and chop it to length and foil the cutoff.

Awalkspoiled
WA, 493 posts
24 Mar 2020 1:10AM
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oscardog said..
Bennn,

Did you try a fin?

I don't have fin for deep tuttle, was thinking of buying a fin for the Exocet, any suggestions?


You do have a fin - at least one good enough for trying the concept. Remove the fuse and sail with the 71cm mast. You'll want the mastfoot much further forward than with a foil, and you'll probably tailwalk some anyway, but it'll give you a sense of the thing. Working to windward the board will rail to leeward just like a formula board, and with so little twist or flex it'll be pretty unforgiving, but it'll work well enough to get a sense of whether you'd want to invest in a real fin. I've sailed my 95cm slalom board with the 90cm Slingshot mast and had a good laugh. pointed like crazy, unmanageable off the wind and useless jibing, but fun.

LeeD
3939 posts
24 Mar 2020 2:44AM
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Foil is is more than double the effective area of a windsurf fin per size. Area, thickness, and stiffness.
So you can probably go a lot shorter in length than a windsurf fin.

duzzi
1055 posts
24 Mar 2020 12:29PM
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LeeD said..
Foil is is more than double the effective area of a windsurf fin per size. Area, thickness, and stiffness.
So you can probably go a lot shorter in length than a windsurf fin.




not sure what that means ...

Anyway, fin size is mostly related to sail and body size. If you use a 7.5-8.5 a 45-55 cm fin should work. And you can get a G10 fin for dimes (i.e. $150-250) compared to the cost of a foil!. Or apparently carbon: www.ebay.com/itm/Windsurf-Windsurfing-fins-slalom-fin-DTB-Carbon-50cm/264021018019?hash=item3d78e105a3:g:BacAAOSwUpFb3Vqc

LeeD
3939 posts
25 Mar 2020 12:34AM
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50 mast fin probably has double the lift of a 50cm windsurf fin.
I mentioned the used formula fin idea.

oscardog
209 posts
25 Mar 2020 9:39AM
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Thanks Duzzi and LeeD,

Will look for a 45-55cm deep tuttle, and in interim, try with my 70ish cm Slingshot mast.

Look after yourselves.

powersloshin
NSW, 1684 posts
25 Mar 2020 7:05PM
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I used a stingray 140 foil board a few times with conventional fins. It is doable in light wind, you can get on the plane in flat water with a 6.6, but not having cut outs and being heavy it is slow, if the wind picks up it becomes hard to manage. I would not use it if it's choppy or the wind over 15 knts.



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"Using a slalom fin on Exocet RF81 foilboard" started by Bennn