First time out on a foil today.

Light NE 6-8 knots.
Fanatic H9 Foil
Fanatic Gecko Foil 122
North S_ Type 6.6

Got thrown off once. And a couple of big splash downs.
Had some nice long 1.2 klm runs, this is addictive.
I haven't used any other foils but I think this foil is user friendly as the foil is raked forward so the foil is under the board as apposed to at the back of the board.
Next time I will try the harness lines and back footstrap.

Nice one

so addictive you wont work again

Select to expand quote

AUS4 said..
First time out on a foil today.

Light NE 6-8 knots.
Fanatic H9 Foil
Fanatic Gecko Foil 122
North S_ Type 6.6

Got thrown off once. And a couple of big splash downs.
Had some nice long 1.2 klm runs, this is addictive.
I haven't used any other foils but I think this foil is user friendly as the foil is raked forward so the foil is under the board as apposed to at the back of the board.
Next time I will try the harness lines and back footstrap.

Hey There,

I was just wondering about the durability... How has it been? And can i put the foil on another board? I personally really like the JP Australia Foil edition... How has it been going?

Select to expand quote

AUS4 said..
First time out on a foil today.

Light NE 6-8 knots.
Fanatic H9 Foil
Fanatic Gecko Foil 122
North S_ Type 6.6

Got thrown off once. And a couple of big splash downs.
Had some nice long 1.2 klm runs, this is addictive.
I haven't used any other foils but I think this foil is user friendly as the foil is raked forward so the foil is under the board as apposed to at the back of the board.
Next time I will try the harness lines and back footstrap.

Here some inspiration for ya:

Dude looping the Gecko:

Select to expand quote

Radicalstate said..

AUS4 said..
First time out on a foil today.

Light NE 6-8 knots.
Fanatic H9 Foil
Fanatic Gecko Foil 122
North S_ Type 6.6

Got thrown off once. And a couple of big splash downs.
Had some nice long 1.2 klm runs, this is addictive.
I haven't used any other foils but I think this foil is user friendly as the foil is raked forward so the foil is under the board as apposed to at the back of the board.
Next time I will try the harness lines and back footstrap.

Hey There,

I was just wondering about the durability... How has it been? And can i put the foil on another board? I personally really like the JP Australia Foil edition... How has it been going?

No problems. Okay for other boards as long as they have a deep Tuttle box.

Got two days on my fanatic foil and a total mileage of 22 km before the fuselage snapped where the frontwing bolts on.
Watertemperature was 0,5 degrees celcius so this might have made the material more brightle. Otherwise maybe something went wrong during the casting as I am only 80 kg.

Select to expand quote

Kasper79 said..
Got two days on my fanatic foil and a total mileage of 22 km before the fuselage snapped where the frontwing bolts on.
Watertemperature was 0,5 degrees celcius so this might have made the material more brightle. Otherwise maybe something went wrong during the casting as I am only 80 kg.

Have you taken it back to the shop were you purchased it from ?
what did they say ?

Given that carbon fiber airplane wings and bike components (among other things) work at much lower temps, I don't think temperature should be that much of an issue. I'm no carbon fiber expert but the lack of carbon fibers instead of amorphous black stuff is surprising. I know this must be absolutely disappointing.

Select to expand quote

AUS4 said..

Kasper79 said..
Got two days on my fanatic foil and a total mileage of 22 km before the fuselage snapped where the frontwing bolts on.
Watertemperature was 0,5 degrees celcius so this might have made the material more brightle. Otherwise maybe something went wrong during the casting as I am only 80 kg.

Have you taken it back to the shop were you purchased it from ?
what did they say ?

Fanatic is on the case. They got pictures yesterday, and tomorrow I am going to the shop to collect two new fanatic boards and hope to get a new foil with me as well.

Select to expand quote

Paducah said..
Given that carbon fiber airplane wings and bike components (among other things) work at much lower temps, I don't think temperature should be that much of an issue. I'm no carbon fiber expert but the lack of carbon fibers instead of amorphous black stuff is surprising. I know this must be absolutely disappointing.

Carbon Compound not black stuff.

Select to expand quote

Paducah said..
Given that carbon fiber airplane wings and bike components (among other things) work at much lower temps, I don't think temperature should be that much of an issue. I'm no carbon fiber expert but the lack of carbon fibers instead of amorphous black stuff is surprising. I know this must be absolutely disappointing.

I would think that aircraft components made of carbon and used in the A380 and 787 are made to higher specs. Remember these components come from US and European factories rather then a cheap components supplier in China.

Select to expand quote

Kasper79 said..
Got two days on my fanatic foil and a total mileage of 22 km before the fuselage snapped where the frontwing bolts on.
Watertemperature was 0,5 degrees celcius so this might have made the material more brightle. Otherwise maybe something went wrong during the casting as I am only 80 kg.

Considering the amount of time we've used carbon gear in low water temps (below 4 C) here in Sweden (boards, extensions, masts, booms, fins etc), I'd say that this is down to construction rather than material. Hope you will get the correct help from your store and brand. Otherwise, the foil looks good and would love to try one myself.

I asked when I got mine, only 1 warranty case I was told & that stuff is what warranty is for.

The foils & fuselage of fanatic does not claim to be "carbon" as we think of it, it is carbon frp, maybe the carbon is the recycled chopped strand stuff (good on fanatic if it is).

It's not the same "carbon" as you are used to in fins and masts.

Pretty sure these foils are basically just injection moulded plastic. It may have carbon fibres reinforcing it, but they are most likely short and tangled, rather than long and orientated for optimum strength/stiffness as you would get in a mast. Would not be surprised if the "carbon" they are talking about is just used to tint the plastic black. Either way would be surprised if the carbon content of these things is more than 5%.

Happy to be proven wrong.

Select to expand quote

swoosh said..
It's not the same "carbon" as you are used to in fins and masts.

Pretty sure these foils are basically just injection moulded plastic. It may have carbon fibres reinforcing it, but they are most likely short and tangled, rather than long and orientated for optimum strength/stiffness as you would get in a mast. Would not be surprised if the "carbon" they are talking about is just used to tint the plastic black. Either way would be surprised if the carbon content of these things is more than 5%.

Happy to be proven wrong.

Even so, I would be (very) surprised to find out that the breakage was/is related to low water temp. And agree, this is most likely not carbon prepreg constructed as we are more used to in booms, masts and extensions.

Tinted stuff that is referred to as carbon is, unfortunately, found in many places these days.

Select to expand quote

swoosh said..
It's not the same "carbon" as you are used to in fins and masts.

Pretty sure these foils are basically just injection moulded plastic. It may have carbon fibres reinforcing it, but they are most likely short and tangled, rather than long and orientated for optimum strength/stiffness as you would get in a mast. Would not be surprised if the "carbon" they are talking about is just used to tint the plastic black. Either way would be surprised if the carbon content of these things is more than 5%.

Happy to be proven wrong.

Select to expand quote

AUS4 said..

Paducah said..
Given that carbon fiber airplane wings and bike components (among other things) work at much lower temps, I don't think temperature should be that much of an issue. I'm no carbon fiber expert but the lack of carbon fibers instead of amorphous black stuff is surprising. I know this must be absolutely disappointing.

Carbon Compound not black stuff.

My pencils use "carbon compound", too.

Select to expand quote

swoosh said..
It's not the same "carbon" as you are used to in fins and masts.

Pretty sure these foils are basically just injection moulded plastic. It may have carbon fibres reinforcing it, but they are most likely short and tangled, rather than long and orientated for optimum strength/stiffness as you would get in a mast. Would not be surprised if the "carbon" they are talking about is just used to tint the plastic black. Either way would be surprised if the carbon content of these things is more than 5%.

Happy to be proven wrong.

No I think you are right, it is carbon filled injection molding. That said, this is why it is one of the more economical foils out there. Seems like a good material if they stand behind it.

Well it probably costs them less than $200 out of the factory, so I'd sure hope they are good about the warranties. As long as they stand by it no problems. That said, might not have been the best thing to use on the fuselage, tbh I think its a fantastic material to use in the wing application and hopefully should result in very economically priced foils in future, at least for low speed high lift stuff with a thick foil.

Anyway just chipping in as it seems some people have been mislead into thinking this product has carbon fibre in it. At least fanatic have been honest with the marketing and avoided saying "fibre". I think we can safely conclude that it's probably carbon black, which is usually used to tint plastic black. Not something that manufacturers usually mention because it has no real bearing on the products performance, but in this case I'm guessing the marketing team couldn't help themselves. Maybe the tyre companies will see this as a great idea and start marketing their tyres as having carbon compound in them

Select to expand quote

gorgesailor said..

swoosh said..
It's not the same "carbon" as you are used to in fins and masts.

Pretty sure these foils are basically just injection moulded plastic. It may have carbon fibres reinforcing it, but they are most likely short and tangled, rather than long and orientated for optimum strength/stiffness as you would get in a mast. Would not be surprised if the "carbon" they are talking about is just used to tint the plastic black. Either way would be surprised if the carbon content of these things is more than 5%.

Happy to be proven wrong.

No I think you are right, it is carbon filled injection molding. That said, this is why it is one of the more economical foils out there. Seems like a good material if they stand behind it.

Hope so as most new super cars have spoiler and parts made with carbon infection molding. Not so sure about the 5% content though.

echo... echo...

it is all carbon "fibre", just because it's low modulus or not woven doesnt make it not carbon fibre. But what everyone windsurfing thinks is twill or axial carbon.

A few companies produce something like chopped strand we are used to seeing in fibreglass, this is done either new or with the woven offcuts and/or burning the resin off damaged parts. This is similar as has built boats & other glass fibre reinforced plastics (frp) for eons only the carbon version is lighter & stiffer, though not as stiff as matrix? fibre (the carbon we think of) product. The amount of carbon used is up fanatic or the car makers.

But it is a perfectly acceptable solution to keep costs down, the fuselage may be a problem but that'll work itself out & if they do become a problem fanatic will lose alot of customers if they dont replace with improved component.

I suspect it is Compression Molded.....but could be wrong.

Reading between the lines of the marketting speak, I suspect its not a matter of low modulus or choppsed strands. There is zero carbon fibres in this product. If it was anything fancier than carbon black (not a fiber) used in injection molded plastic, then Fanatic would be telling everyone about the new fangled technology they were using, rather than calling it an ambiguous "carbon compound".

Yeah they could compression mold, and yes there is plenty of new tech recently with higher end injection molded plastics used in automotive applications with short carbon fibres (though nowhere near the strength of "proper" CFRPs). But I reckon if they were using anything high end like that, they would be yelling it from the rooftops. In proper performance applications, i.e. race cars, aeroplanes, foils like the NP F4, they are likely using autoclave cured prepreg systems with >55-60% fibre volume fractions, which are on a different order of magnitude cost wise.

Again, not that there is anything wrong with plastic. It actually bodes well for the costs of the sport, as if these construction techniques can be made to perform with sufficient durability (which I don't doubt), it will hopefully rapidly bring down the entry cost of foiling. If cost price for that foil is <$2-300, even with the typical markup these companies charge you would think that the retail prices will be ducking under the $1000 mark pretty quickly.

Went to the shop today. They phoned the importer, and after a quick chat, where the shopowner told about my experience 23 years of windsurfing and sailing competition, I was handed a new foil.
Also picked up a falcon 129 which I could test right away with 8,4, great board worked from minute one.
And a Stubby 99
so better than xmas and my north platium boom is arriving next week.

Select to expand quote

Kasper79 said..
Went to the shop today. They phoned the importer, and after a quick chat, where the shopowner told about my experience 23 years of windsurfing and sailing competition, I was handed a new foil.
Also picked up a falcon 129 which I could test right away with 8,4, great board worked from minute one.
And a Stubby 99
so better than xmas and my north platium boom is arriving next week.

Good on you for rewarding their good customer service!

Hi, as there is not much on this thread about the H9 performance and usability I have a few questions for those that are or have used them.
1. Would it be suitable for a 95kg person to learn on.
2. If so, would I get bored with it after a few months and want something better or is it good enough to keep for a season or two.
3. Apart from the breakage above are they proving to be durable.
4. Would you recommend a different foil.
5. I intend to use a 135 slalom board and a 6.5 twin cam sail in 10 to 15 knots, would this be ok.

I have been windsurfing for 40 years and am pretty competent but this probably counts for nothing when learning to fly.
Thanks in advance.

HI Rodger hope you take the plunge Firebob just bought a H9 you should check it out it's a good introduction to foiling and a good price if you get hooked and no doubt you will be in need for an upgrade to carbon 95kgs plus equipment will max anything that's not carbon and by the way foiling is possibly the most amazing feeling you can experience in windsurfing
happy days

Thanks Stroppo, what size sail do you think I would use most to get me flying in moderate winds. I don't want to use my race sails while learning so need to get something else.

Rodger that sail you mentioned would be fine but it's nice to use a sail your familiar with race sails arnt a problem to learn with.

I have used mine a lot and the new one is still in one piece.
I use sails from 7,2 to 9,0 and the falcon 129 80 cm wide. I find that the board could easy have 10 cm more in the tail when Foiling.
At DEFI there was one H9 foil with an carbon-fiber, not moulded, frontwing at the Fanatic stand but it was gone the next day. Maybe Fanatic is planning an upgrade kit.