Did any one ride this combo of fanatic carbon foil version? Can you report how it performs, did you have the chanche to compare with the alu version of the 90 cm mast?

Thank you

100% better. Had the aluminum version and switched to carbon asap. My normal ride is the 105 mast and 90 fuse. I have complaints, but they all apply to the Al version exactly. Much stiffer and much "slipprier". Definitely lower drag. I'll give the downside in a sec, but I want to stress that it applies to the aluminum as well.

1. it is a foil forward fuse. This is good for slalom style and racing, but not as good for wave, small sail big foil sailing. Why? Because the Flow 1250 and 1500 push the CoL so far forward that it's really hard to get the foil far enough back, especially on their own boards!
2. Ok, another. The foil selection is limited. Fanatic realizes that wing is where the money is now and is concentrating there. Some of those foils cross over well, but not all.
3. One more? The 105 mast is not 120. Ok fine, I'm not Greg Glazier, but what if I want to try to be?

Since switching from the Al flow series to the carbon series essentially requires a re-buy of everything you should think hard about the points above. Yes, the carbon is better than the aluminum, but there are more complete lines out there.

BT

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BullroarerTook said..
100% better. Had the aluminum version and switched to carbon asap. My normal ride is the 105 mast and 90 fuse. I have complaints, but they all apply to the Al version exactly. Much stiffer and much "slipprier". Definitely lower drag. I'll give the downside in a sec, but I want to stress that it applies to the aluminum as well.

1. it is a foil forward fuse. This is good for slalom style and racing, but not as good for wave, small sail big foil sailing. Why? Because the Flow 1250 and 1500 push the CoL so far forward that it's really hard to get the foil far enough back, especially on their own boards!
2. Ok, another. The foil selection is limited. Fanatic realizes that wing is where the money is now and is concentrating there. Some of those foils cross over well, but not all.
3. One more? The 105 mast is not 120. Ok fine, I'm not Greg Glazier, but what if I want to try to be?

Since switching from the Al flow series to the carbon series essentially requires a re-buy of everything you should think hard about the points above. Yes, the carbon is better than the aluminum, but there are more complete lines out there.

BT

Thank you BullroarerTook for your feedback, very much appreciated.
I own the second generation AL version of 90 fuse and 90 mast, and I am pleased with the performances so far. Never tried the carbon version though and wanted to understand if is worth the investment. I have two front wings the flow 1000 and the free 800 I use with same stabilizer.

I think the entire industry is now heading towards wing-wind foiling equipment to be the same, Slingshot is very much an exception, it is a matter of business sustainability; frankly speaking I don't know how many 125 masts they are selling so far...I doubt much.

Personally I am fine so far with the 90 cm but would get the 105 in the carbon version to give myself more room for improvement, but that is it.
On the forward fuse, I made myself a new board with foil mounting track system so I can move the stuff and adjust, didn't have any problem so far, moreover I don't use that big wings.

Interesting on the Fanatic kit is that they have the carbon fuselage as well. Nice to hear from you that they are significantly stiffer than the AL version even though they do not claim to use ultra high modulus carbon probably since this would be more fragile and delicate.
What about the reflex or rebound? Is that something that you felt helping in pumping or carving? wheight wise is the carbon version significantly lighter than the AL version as they claim?

Cheers

Edoardo

First, the attachments between the carbon and aluminum are completely different. You can't mix and match. The stab attachment is the same for all, but for the front wing the carbon is now using the same attachment as the aluminum foil.

So I'm a bit confused how you are getting the flow 1000 and free 800 to work with your aluminum set. According to fanatic they shouldn't both work. Please ask Craig over on Fanatic's forum.

I don't feel any flex at all. Super stiff.

I got version 2 of the alu set, the attachment on the front wing and stabilizer are the same and for all wings of fanatic set, they didn't match on version 1 of the same Alu set

Oh gotcha! I forgot they did that.

yeah, product line conceptual design questionable at that time :-)

Hi Bullroarer
For windfoiling, have you got any insights into:
- the differences between the Flow series and the Free?
- difference in COE between the two?
- solutions to push the foil mast track back when the track mount's most rear position isn't enough?
Cheers
ss

Excellent questions.

1. I literally just got my first Free (1250) 3 days ago and only have 1 session on it. The CoE is definitely further back than the Flow 1250, but I need more time to discuss the other tangibles. (I think slightly forward compared to the older HA line.)
2. I guess I answered that above, but I will post again after I get some good sessions on the Free 1250. Made my first jibe on it fwiw.
3. Maybe. I can use the Flow 1250&1500 just fine on the Stingray 125, but on the 115 it's just too far forward for me. I also dabble in winging and so I have the 78 cm fuse and tried that. It was very pitchy, but I think I could stiffen it up with a larger stab and maybe some +shims. I don't need to with the Free or HA foils though.

You didn't ask, but the Flow 1000 is a very different beast than the 1250/1500. Much, much faster, but also less stable in roll.

I'll post again next week with more about the Free and feel free to remind me.

I've had one session on the Free 1250 as well. Moved from Flow 1500. Look forward to your thoughts.

I have a couple good sessions on the Free 1250 now. I had hoped for a couple more before I wrote this but here goes: the CoL is a bit farther back than the Flow 1250, but the foil still generates a lot of lift (85 kg rider) and can be a handful in SF Bay chop and wind swell (3.4 sail). I was using the 250 stab though and fanatic recommends the 215. I'll try that next time, but I also hope to demo a smaller foil such as the Free 1000 or Carve 900. I was using with the 900 fuse at the rear of the Stingray 115 tracks. I sail without foot straps and had my front foot on the sail mast track to keep the board down when turning in swell.

This is going to be a bit of a long post so. dr: the difference between the carve and free series is like the difference between a quad-wave and a slalom board.

Over our long weekend Sunset Sailboards kindly lent me his Free 1000 and Carve 900 along with the 216 stab. The wind was a bit stubborn but I managed (through the large expenditure of fossil fuels) to find conditions to test them.

The Free 1000 is a great all around foil. Since I already have a 1250 Free that I'm getting along with it felt really comfortable. I DID have to move it a touch forward in the box, which was a major relief since I was worried i would have no wiggle room. I did use the 216 stab mostly, but I also tried the 215. (One better right?) And the 215 is faster by my gps. Almost 2 clicks, but the conditions were not identical (they never are). That said the 216 is more stable and I like it better, but maybe I'm just a wimp. So the Free 1000 was like putting on a pair of track shoes from the same brand that I wear my hiking shoes. They fit, felt good and were predictable.

The Carve 900 is a wave board. It wants - nay needs - power to get going. I used the 216 stab with it and moved the mast forward in the box 2 cm again. Needs more ooomph to get going (no doubt), but once going is very predictable. The best part of this foil is that it has more drag than the free. So, yes, it's slower, but it also gives you more time to react. When going down a swell face it doesn't accelerate and shoot to the moon, it slowly speeds up and gives you time to move forward. That was really, really, nice. But in the corners it comes around SO fast I was completely unprepared. My current skill set is definitely more Free biased than Carve, but maybe in another year or two.

My soul wants me to ride the Carve, but reality demands the Free. Maybe someday.

But again, I needed to move bother the Free 1000 and Carve 900 forward in the box. 85 kg.

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BullroarerTook said..
This is going to be a bit of a long post so. dr: the difference between the carve and free series is like the difference between a quad-wave and a slalom board.

Over our long weekend Sunset Sailboards kindly lent me his Free 1000 and Carve 900 along with the 216 stab. The wind was a bit stubborn but I managed (through the large expenditure of fossil fuels) to find conditions to test them.

The Free 1000 is a great all around foil. Since I already have a 1250 Free that I'm getting along with it felt really comfortable. I DID have to move it a touch forward in the box, which was a major relief since I was worried i would have no wiggle room. I did use the 216 stab mostly, but I also tried the 215. (One better right?) And the 215 is faster by my gps. Almost 2 clicks, but the conditions were not identical (they never are). That said the 216 is more stable and I like it better, but maybe I'm just a wimp. So the Free 1000 was like putting on a pair of track shoes from the same brand that I wear my hiking shoes. They fit, felt good and were predictable.

The Carve 900 is a wave board. It wants - nay needs - power to get going. I used the 216 stab with it and moved the mast forward in the box 2 cm again. Needs more ooomph to get going (no doubt), but once going is very predictable. The best part of this foil is that it has more drag than the free. So, yes, it's slower, but it also gives you more time to react. When going down a swell face it doesn't accelerate and shoot to the moon, it slowly speeds up and gives you time to move forward. That was really, really, nice. But in the corners it comes around SO fast I was completely unprepared. My current skill set is definitely more Free biased than Carve, but maybe in another year or two.

My soul wants me to ride the Carve, but reality demands the Free. Maybe someday.

But again, I needed to move bother the Free 1000 and Carve 900 forward in the box. 85 kg.

maybe you need the carve 1150 and 900

Fair, and if I could jibe 75% I might do. But I need more forgiveness.

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BullroarerTook said..
Fair, and if I could jibe 75% I might do. But I need more forgiveness.

Free is more consistent on the gybes for you?

Yes. The Free is more at home with longer sedate jibes. The Carve turns faster and slows down quicker so you don't have as much time.