I can get a bargain on a Sab S430 gullwing stab. My foils are Balz 899 (most used) 799 (favourite when wind is constant enough) and 999 which I use in low or very irregular wind, I like the torque of the big wing but obviously it is slower than the smaller ones and the one I use the least. I use the 93 cm fuselage and 93 mast.

so far I only used a S399 stab which looks small to me and felt quite unstable in pitch initially but am coming more & more to grips with it. I run 1 deg shim which improved pitch stability, but may try to reduce that to gain some more speed on the smaller wings.

for the 999 I feel this stab is either too small or I need to shim it more than 1 deg because even when moving the foil mast 2 cm fwd it remains very back footed.

Does anyone have experience with either of these stabs? What can I expect from changing from S399 to S430? Sab does sell some glider sets where the balz wings are paired with the S430 stab so does not seem like I can go wrong, but would there be actual benefits?

I have no issues with roll and yaw stability on the S399 but it is quite sensitive in pitch so I have to be really on top of it. Could the S430 gullwing be more relaxed?

I started by Sabfoil setup with the 430 and 899. I don't use the 899 anymore. But exclusively use the 395(newer 399) with 2 degree shim with 909 and 769 in all conditions. I am never back footed. Maybe move your UJ all the way back and move forward until you find the sweet spot. Yes the 430 is more stable in pitch but find that is a disadvantage in rougher water as it is not as agile.

I'd shim it until you notice it becoming front footed at speed. Then back off a little or run it there if comfortable.

I used the BALZ/W969 with s430 to get used to the wind foiling again. That stab makes the foil super stable from side-to-side, even too stable I'd say, but in light wind, with a board that has front straps wide apart, that was kind of helpful. I am using a shorter 74 cm mast, and a very light rig, so no shims needed for me.

Today I switched to a smaller board, with front straps closer together, and to a s370 stab. Much much more agile now, and getting used to a smaller stabiliser was instant. Again, no shims needed for me, but with a longer mast and heavier rig you may well need to shim either of these stabs you mentioned.

Long video, nothing much to see, but I am so hyped about windfoiling again : ) Good crowd in the water too, we had 5 people with wind foils, 2 with fins, and a few wings too. The last glimpses of summer.

Select to expand quote

Mr Keen said..
I started by Sabfoil setup with the 430 and 899. I don't use the 899 anymore. But exclusively use the 395(newer 399) with 2 degree shim with 909 and 769 in all conditions. I am never back footed. Maybe move your UJ all the way back and move forward until you find the sweet spot. Yes the 430 is more stable in pitch but find that is a disadvantage in rougher water as it is not as agile.

I've a question on the S395 to the older S399
How do they compare

Select to expand quote

nerdycross said..

Mr Keen said..
I started by Sabfoil setup with the 430 and 899. I don't use the 899 anymore. But exclusively use the 395(newer 399) with 2 degree shim with 909 and 769 in all conditions. I am never back footed. Maybe move your UJ all the way back and move forward until you find the sweet spot. Yes the 430 is more stable in pitch but find that is a disadvantage in rougher water as it is not as agile.

I've a question on the S395 to the older S399
How do they compare

I found no real difference I just got a new one as the 399 was a bit banged up. I have since touched it up and it sits as a spare

430 is a less lifty less locked in version of the 450 but way more locked in than the 399. The best riders love the looseness of the 399, I prefer a locked in less skaty feel so am 450 all the way. I do add 1.5 deg shim to my 999 relative to my other 899 799 with same stab (450)

Interestingly on my geezer downwind set up I run the w1110 with 399, good combo. I was running the leviathan 950 with s380 (a smaller version of 430) and the thing wouldn't turn, so I dropped down to 370 and it really loosened up the pig levi 950.

Select to expand quote

Mr Keen said..

nerdycross said..

Mr Keen said..
I started by Sabfoil setup with the 430 and 899. I don't use the 899 anymore. But exclusively use the 395(newer 399) with 2 degree shim with 909 and 769 in all conditions. I am never back footed. Maybe move your UJ all the way back and move forward until you find the sweet spot. Yes the 430 is more stable in pitch but find that is a disadvantage in rougher water as it is not as agile.

I've a question on the S395 to the older S399
How do they compare

I found no real difference I just got a new one as the 399 was a bit banged up. I have since touched it up and it sits as a spare

I'm thinking doin the same

I bet you can balance things with what own. Why not try moving your mast and sail further to balance things, 20mm of foil movement is not that much.
I use the 999 and the 799. They have a about a 55mm difference in cord length. I find I need to move the foil mast by at least that distance to maintain the same pitch balance.
My foil package came with the 430 back when the brand was still Mosses. I think it is a very user-friendly stab and that's consistent with where the market was at that point trying to help people learn and not scare them off. The gull wings help simmer yaw and help resist sail side loads when you are too flat in roll. It is big in span and area, so it has a calming effect in general. The big con for me is that the wing tips turn up so they are closer to water's surface, and I would often breach the wing tips of the stab mid gybe particularly in short chop. I switched to the 483 stab that is flatter and has down turning tips, it's been working well. Its faster and it doesn't breach the tips; it took a minute to tame yaw and learn to sail with more windward heel when the sail is loaded. I have not used the 430 since and I am considering downsizing my choice in stab.

Select to expand quote

Taavi said..
I used the BALZ/W969 with s430 to get used to the wind foiling again. That stab makes the foil super stable from side-to-side, even too stable I'd say, but in light wind, with a board that has front straps wide apart, that was kind of helpful. I am using a shorter 74 cm mast, and a very light rig, so no shims needed for me.

Today I switched to a smaller board, with front straps closer together, and to a s370 stab. Much much more agile now, and getting used to a smaller stabiliser was instant. Again, no shims needed for me, but with a longer mast and heavier rig you may well need to shim either of these stabs you mentioned.

Long video, nothing much to see, but I am so hyped about windfoiling again : ) Good crowd in the water too, we had 5 people with wind foils, 2 with fins, and a few wings too. The last glimpses of summer.

Always great to see your video's Taavi!
see you're enjoying the Banzai Surf. I just got two slightly used Fringes in 4.0 and 4.5 and loving them for foiling. Much more playful and less present than my regular Banzais for foiling.