I am wondering what are people's thoughts in relation to volume for sups or prone are most just sticking roughly to the volume they would on a normal board or have people started to go down or up a bit?
From what I hear prone riders are adding on a decent chunk of volume as it helps with easy paddling and doesn't make too much difference once your up.
What about with sups? Does a bit of extra volume make the board a bit too corky or does the foil help to counteract that? I imagine a bit more volume would add a little paddle speed and if your board is less sunk down in the water surely it would be easier to pop up onto the foil.
A lot of the latest shapes both prone and sup are packing as much volume into as short a length as possible. Obviously the main reason is that it means all sizes riders can get their shortest possible board but are the designers finding that a little more volume is generally helpful. Interesting to see blue planet has released the carver with the 6'2" having 142L!
I am currently on 125L (I weigh around 100-105kg) this is roughly the same volume as I would use in a surf sup and is quite comfortable. I think for my next board I might actually go up to 130l as this is an easy volume for me but not so much that it is corky
Only 2 reasons to go with less volume:
1. Duck diving (prone)
2. Less swing weight once up on foil
If chasing small waves, could give up the ability to duck dive in exchange for more volume, so easier to catch waves.
From what I've seen with SUPs, people go with a little less volume, because the foil adds some stability.
Seems like everyone is headed in the direction of thicker boards. Get the volume you need to catch waves, but with shorter lengths for easier pumping once up on foil.
Anyone tried pumping an inflatable SUPfoil board?
F-One makes them (though I hear they have tuttle box fitment issues?)
Manta makes them:
110liters (low end for SUPfoil, but
160cmx70cmx12cm (5'3"x28"x5")
6kg (sounds heavy?)
They also make a 72liter (for prone or very lightweight SUP rider)
and a 170liter (too big for pumping?)
For prone I use the same volume (32L) as I use on regular surfboard but on a board that way shorter (surfoil 4'2 vs surf 5'5).
For SUP I mostly use it for DW so I added more volume to have the buoancy effect and to handle the choppy water. I can ride 90L on a classic SUP but on my SUP foil I'm at 5'5 x 26 - 100L (thick rails, recess deck, wide outline). Super light and strong : 4kg
Volume will not add much weight but lenght will do.
Construction is also very important. My board is full carbone with reinforcement (sandwich construction) on the deck (feet area) and in the fin box area. Better connection and transmission.
That is a super cool board french foiler!! And 4kg is crazy light!!
Thanks for the replies everyone, as I would expect people will have various different opinions on volume.
The shape of sup foil boards and the big keel of the foil adds a lot of stability so one could go to a lower volume than with a conventional board, but the main thing I am wondering is there really any advantage to dropping volume? my thinking is that keeping a generous volume would add a bit of paddle power and help to pop the board up on the foil, all things being equal
I'd be careful with dropping volume too much if you're going really shorrt.... and as you say there's not really any point performance wise. What I have learned is that there is obviously less surface area/surface tension in a 5'10x26 than there is with a 7'6 regular SUP. My 5'10 actually sits lower in the water at 98 litres than the 7'6 with 89 litres. I'll be going north of a 100 litres with my next 5'5.
Defo agree with you on the stability though. There is a lot of lateral stability from the foil. Because I still (occasionally) regular sup surf on small ish boards I deliberately go narrow with SUP foil boards. I would quickly lose the balance required to stand on a small sup (without a foil) otherwise.
My view. Seriously depends on the waters you SUP foil on such as swirly choppy sloppy compared to smooth & calm surface. If I only wanted one foilboard then I would have the most comfortable board for fairly rough conditions as this would obviously cover just about any water conditions. For me at a weight of anywhere from 77 to 85 kg max. My comfortable SUP foilboard is 7ft X 31.5 wide X 115 litres volume. Which does me in knee high to overhead waves. Its a heavy board that I converted probably 2 to 3 kg heavier than a commercially made Foil SUP.
Absolutely love the stability in lumpy choppy water & love using it in offshore wind as well. Excessive nose rocker too which I dont regret either.
Its my go to board 90% of the time compared to my JP 6ft 8" X 26 wide X 96 litres. which I use at a different normal beach break only about 10% of the time anyway. And of course for my wingsurfer or prone foiling if wanted.
If I wanted a smaller lighter SUP foilboard for most conditions then I would go for a 6 to 6ft 6" X 30 wide X 105 litres. But again it wouldnt be as stable. So less wave count.
As for a prone foilboard stability isnt the problem. but volume to catch a wave early.
Picked up this morning my new, carbon wrapped - Amos shapes 4'4" x 18" x 2 3/4" 31.5 Liters - 1st impressions in really crappy conditions were very positive
Looks good, what's everyone's experience with construction and durability of boards. Obviously there is a lots of stress on a foil surfing board. So far my Slingshot boards have been fine ,they are bamboo laminate with carbon reinforced, and no depressions or cracked tracks.My mates Fanatic Sky prone board has a big depression in the middle where his front foot goes but the boxes are fine.Both boards are 12 months old.
that's a nice board toppleover, hopefully one day they will explore the sup foil seen.
I'm guessing the carver 6'2" will suit you Youngbreezy, also BP have the easy folier range which might be a good start if you like the BPlanet range.