Hi,
Just wondering for those that have tried a few different volume boards what size foil specific board to use.
I've been using a 117 ltr, 80cm wide slalom board with foil (zeeko) but want to try a foil specific board.
The go to size for my location is a 7.5m sail. (Other sails are a 6.5 and a 8.5).
I guess the main questions are whether the 140-160 ltr boards are more for the big 9 & 10m sails or whether these are fine for smaller sails and have some advantage for earlier take off in lighter winds. Similar with something like the JP's is there much difference in performance between the 120ltr and the 135ltr.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

I think it greatly depends on your preferred riding style. If your after waves and manoeuvrability then smaller for sure.

If you're after race speeds then larger is better. 85 to 91cm wide 160-180L boards seem to be popular with foils above 420cm2 and sails of about 6m and above.

I'll have to try my 9.0 sail on my 75 wide 120l board one day "for fun"!

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berowne said..
I think it greatly depends on your preferred riding style. If your after waves and manoeuvrability then smaller for sure.

If you're after race speeds then larger is better. 85 to 91cm wide 160-180L boards seem to be popular with foils above 420cm2 and sails of about 6m and above.

I'll have to try my 9.0 sail on my 75 wide 120l board one day "for fun"!

I have a 125 board and I reckon it maxes out with a 7m2 sail. I've got a couple of foiling friends who use a cammed 8m2 sail with a JP 150 and another who uses a 7.8 with a JP 135. They use race and freerace foils.

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mattn said..
Hi,
Just wondering for those that have tried a few different volume boards what size foil specific board to use.
I've been using a 117 ltr, 80cm wide slalom board with foil (zeeko) but want to try a foil specific board.
The go to size for my location is a 7.5m sail. (Other sails are a 6.5 and a 8.5).
I guess the main questions are whether the 140-160 ltr boards are more for the big 9 & 10m sails or whether these are fine for smaller sails and have some advantage for earlier take off in lighter winds. Similar with something like the JP's is there much difference in performance between the 120ltr and the 135ltr.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

The important question: how much do you weigh? When you say your most used sail is a 7.5, is that for fin or foil?

In general, a board about 83-90ish (135+ l) is going to feel more comfortable with a bigger sail. A lot of 120 l./75cm boards are really short with all the volume under the straps so it may feel uncomfortable before take off (imho). Some race boards for smaller sails are certainly 75-78 cm if you are chasing speed rather than going fast in light air.

The wider the board, the more difficult to get up on foil in light winds, because board on water has a lot more resistance, someone here once said for every 10 cm increase in board width you need 1 m2 more of sail.

I have used a 9.0 on my Goya Bolt 135 (80 cm wide) without a problem, but once I got better technique realized did not need a sail that big for light winds (10 knots and less), now using 7.2 for that range.

I've only got experience of 1 board and foil, AHD Compact 83 (142l) and AFS W85 with the F1080 foil, and I've used 6m Ezzy Cheetah, 6.5/7.5/8.5m Ezzy Lion on it. Although I started as a complete novice, I started using the 8.5m within a month as the wind was light, and you need a bit of power to start with, pointless drifting around with a small sail. As I improve, I think I will be using the 7.5m more instead of the 8.5m. If you have got the hang of foiling on your slalom board, the foilboard will be a breeze with 8.5m.
I'm steadily improving, but havent been out for 3 weeks as the winds not been playing ball.
www.gps-foilsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&smnu=personalbest&uid=2708

I find it amazing that the same board is taking me from novice to Seb doing his thing. The foil and skill is key.

Seb B has his PB with a 5m sail on the Compact 83, and has videos on the FB AHD page of him testing a 8.5m sail. Its an astonishing sail size range, I think. Guess the range is down to foil sizes.
www.gps-foilsurfing.com/?mnu=user&val=386958&uid=5223
His youtube channel


'Tavish' has some good videos on his channel with the Compact 83
Looks like he has been spending money as he has bought a Phantom X-85 & Patrik freeride board, he seems to rate the Patrik highly as a 1 board for everything. He mentioned the foil takes precedence over the board for freeriding.

Couple of questions/remarks:
Your weight matters a lot.
It also matters what your riding style is. Up/down, slalom.
What wind speeds are common when you go out to foil?
What conditions? Open ocean or lake?
What sails do you use? 4 cam racers or freeride foil or wave sails?
What foils do you use? High aspect for going fast or bigger wings for cruising/wave riding
Do you like to go fast or cruise?
Do you like to use small sails or bigger onces
Do you plan to race slalom or course up/down on the foil?

Btw Travish sold his X 85 board and is now ripping on a 78 Patrik foil freeride board. Better suitable for his style acc . what he said on French forums.

I have owned a JP 120 and now own a JP 135 and used 6.0 and 7.0 foil glides on both.
The smaller and lighter 120 takes off slightly earlier than and is more manoeuvre orientated. The 135 can handle more power and go upwind better
I used both with my 7.0m foilglide I definetely wouldn't go bigger than the 7.0 foilglide on the 120 although putting the 7.0 next other sails I suspect it is nearer 7.5.
both are good it depends on what type of foiling you want to do ? this is also worth a read sailrepair.co.uk/jp-hydrofoil-boards/

HI Mattn,
I also started with a very similar custom jp slalom 82 wide 120 ltrs, I used this for early learning days, low volume nose though. I'm 88 Kilos.
After I purchased an Exocet RF81 dedicated foil board my progression was accelerated, the wider tail of the dedicated foil board makes a huge difference. I'm using this with an AFS wind 95 foil and 1080 and 779 front wings. The Exocet board has a volume forward design which helps gigantically with keeping the nose above water on any touchdowns, and is designed to put the foil angle of attack elevated when initiating flight, by having the front of board higher than rear of board. It actually works quite well. The company uses a stated volume of 168 ltrs, but a felt volume of 135 ltrs, and I think this concept feels true, as once in the air the board feels quite small windage wise.
Exocet also list the sail range on the board as 4.0 - 8.0 , and again this matches my experience, in flat water with 7.8 sail NP RS1 foil sail, to open ocean swell in maui with 4.0 NP Free Foil sail, both feel natural and efficient.
If you can try this board before you make a purchase.
I have used also JP 120, JP 135, JP 105 and the Exocet is equal or better to JP 135, and JP 120 as far as early planning and control.
I did purchase also the JP 105 (70cm wide) for my high wind foil board, and this board is excellent for sails at 6.0 and smaller.

Thanks for all the replies, gave me enough info to decide that a board in the 135-145ltr range was best for my current rigs.
Managed to track down a Stingray 140 in stock, so will give that board a go this season.

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mattn said..
Thanks for all the replies, gave me enough info to decide that a board in the 135-145ltr range was best for my current rigs.
Managed to track down a Stingray 140 in stock, so will give that board a go this season.

I'm really enjoying my Patrik FoilRide 145 board. 5.0-8.0 sails. Suits my 92 kegs while slogging pumping & flying. Came from SS Dialer130 board and have progressed heaps with the extra width. Enjoy the journey

Has anyone changed the foot straps of the Jp Hydrofoil 135?
With the Lokefoil lk1 is required a lot of pressure on the front foot.
I'm thinking moving forward the footstraps.