Select to expand quote

dejavu said..
From another forum -- here's Wyatt Miller on how to set up the Levitator 150 for the i76 and i84 foil wings:

"For the Levitator I usually put:

The 76 in Fuse position B and then move it all the way back in the track (Using the outer most pedestal holes)

I have my front straps all the way forward and outboard and my back strap one hole from the back.

Mast base at 107cm from the front of mast or in the middle of the front half of the track (3/4 forward).

Then when you want to use the 84cm instead of having to flip the fuselage and remove all those bolts, I just remove the 76 and mount the 84 in the same Position B. Now if you move your pedestal mount 2 inches forward it should be just right. If you are riding with too much weight on your back foot you can move it another inch forward. Too much lift you can move it back a bit. But 2 inches forward should be perfect.

Stoked you are having fun on all the foil gear. Best tip I give people is that it is all about really moving your hips; forward over the front foot to keep it down and then back over your back foot to rise higher. Just trying to apply pressure to one foot or the other does not have a continuous effect unless you actually move your hips over that foot."

Nice one dejavu, perfect cook book instructions for me to get out on the water with a balanced setup from the get go!

Select to expand quote

SA_AL said..

SA_AL said..

Dar said..

I really started getting confidence in foiling when I did this and use my harness lines to create mast base pressure, along with keeping your weight forward to keep speed and the foil down. Move harness lines forward when feeling overpowered and vice versa.
Keep the review of the l-99 coming

I finally find out the balance point and started to get foiling long distances in light days. I am on 160 levitator with 84/48 infinity and 7.0 Flyer. Despite others recommendation, my set-up ended up as top plate of mast/foil is 1 inch away from the front of the foil track and using "C" position in contrast to others using mast all the way back. Sail mast is 3 inches away from the insertion site. I am using the front foot straps and pumping until I start to lift off. Foot straps did help me to find best position as I was putting my feet too far from where the straps are located. I think finding the best set-up might be weight related as I am heavier than most windsurfers. But I am excited to see that I gifted my 9.5 sail to a formula windsurfer friend and I was foiling on 7.0 while he was occasionally plaining on the 9.5. I felt that I will never go back to a large sail/formula set-up as it is very exhausting for me and glad to finally figured out my setting for foiling. Now, I will work on my speed to sustain long runs and eventually progress to foil jibing. Those new beginners checking this site, I want to share that for the intermediate sailors like me; try to put time to learn and figure out the best setting for your own skills, board and weight. If you can, you may consider putting a track under your own board to use slingshot system or buy the Levitator.

Here is picture of my final set-up:

Hi SA_AL, I notice on the picture of your final setup, that both your main foil wing and the stabilizer wing are pointing the end wing tips in the same direction. Is that something special required for your specific sizes/models of these or why please? As I tend to recall reading that the Infinity wings are to be mounted with their wingtips in opposite directions, to help to stabilize the flight?

Select to expand quote

Cyber said..

SA_AL said..

SA_AL said..

Dar said..

I really started getting confidence in foiling when I did this and use my harness lines to create mast base pressure, along with keeping your weight forward to keep speed and the foil down. Move harness lines forward when feeling overpowered and vice versa.
Keep the review of the l-99 coming

I finally find out the balance point and started to get foiling long distances in light days. I am on 160 levitator with 84/48 infinity and 7.0 Flyer. Despite others recommendation, my set-up ended up as top plate of mast/foil is 1 inch away from the front of the foil track and using "C" position in contrast to others using mast all the way back. Sail mast is 3 inches away from the insertion site. I am using the front foot straps and pumping until I start to lift off. Foot straps did help me to find best position as I was putting my feet too far from where the straps are located. I think finding the best set-up might be weight related as I am heavier than most windsurfers. But I am excited to see that I gifted my 9.5 sail to a formula windsurfer friend and I was foiling on 7.0 while he was occasionally plaining on the 9.5. I felt that I will never go back to a large sail/formula set-up as it is very exhausting for me and glad to finally figured out my setting for foiling. Now, I will work on my speed to sustain long runs and eventually progress to foil jibing. Those new beginners checking this site, I want to share that for the intermediate sailors like me; try to put time to learn and figure out the best setting for your own skills, board and weight. If you can, you may consider putting a track under your own board to use slingshot system or buy the Levitator.

Here is picture of my final set-up:

Hi SA_AL, I notice on the picture of your final setup, that both your main foil wing and the stabilizer wing are pointing the end wing tips in the same direction. Is that something special required for your specific sizes/models of these or why please? As I tend to recall reading that the Infinity wings are to be mounted with their wingtips in opposite directions, to help to stabilize the flight?

He has the larger 48 cm rear wing which mounts the opposite on the bottom of the fuse from the smaller 42 cm rear wing. So both wing tips are pointing the same way when using the 48 cm.

Select to expand quote

Hi SA_AL, I notice on the picture of your final setup, that both your main foil wing and the stabilizer wing are pointing the end wing tips in the same direction. Is that something special required for your specific sizes/models of these or why please? As I tend to recall reading that the Infinity wings are to be mounted with their wingtips in opposite directions, to help to stabilize the flight?

He has the larger 48 cm rear wing which mounts the opposite on the bottom of the fuse from the smaller 42 cm rear wing. So both wing tips are pointing the same way when using the 48 cm.



Here is picture of my final set-up:

Yes the larger 48 wing is recommended to put exactly like in the picture to get more stable run while 42 wing should be put the wings pointing up. I found that 48 wing is slower but breaches are very rare and also provides more lift than 42 wing; so that I am not freaking out with heights of levitation. I am not there yet but I feel that jibes would be easier on the 42 wing. I also recommend moving your mast on the track to find your balance point. Others recommended putting the mast all the way back but for me this set-up was the balance point for my 225 lbs body. Where you put your sail mast is also important, my sail mast is put about 1.5-2 inch from insertion point. By the way, I recently got Sailworks Flyer 8.2 with Lightstick 460 mast that is significantly lighter than many other sails of this size combined with Maui wave carbon boom. I could foil on 10-11 mph wind to my surprise and quite satisfied with the outcome. I could tell you that while flying , you only hear the water splashing on the back of the mast and sometimes seagulls flapping to get out of your way. This feeling of the quietness and serenity is very different than regular windsurfing. I keep my regular board in my van if the wind picks up, I switch to regular windsurfing, I also like the physical nature of the regular WS. I guess there are many ways one may enjoy this sport like other joys of life!

For the Levitator boards, is fuselage position B then always the best way to go for with an Infinity 84cm foil?
No matter rider weight? No matter experience level? No matter sail size?I understand from other subject threads on this forum that Position C will make the board/foil combo easier to get up and flying, but also at the same time much more sensitive and potentially difficult to control. (some described it, as riding a wild horse).

The Levitator boards use a foil fin box and the Infinity pedestal for mounting it, so guess by sliding it all the way backwards, then it gives same result compared to placing the fuselage in position B versus having put it in position C and all way forward in the fin box?
The difference between all way forward and all way backward in the fin box is 6cm (when using the outer screw holes in the pedestal), so near exactly same difference between the position B and C placements of the fuselage and the resulting main foil placement that will bring. But granted, always best to use the fuselage position that brings the optimal balance point from the start, and then fine adjust by sliding the pedestal a bit forward or backward in the fin box?

Select to expand quote

Cyber said..
For the Levitator boards, is fuselage position B then always the best way to go for with an Infinity 84cm foil?
No matter rider weight? No matter experience level? No matter sail size?I understand from other subject threads on this forum that Position C will make the board/foil combo easier to get up and flying, but also at the same time much more sensitive and potentially difficult to control. (some described it, as riding a wild horse).

The Levitator boards use a foil fin box and the Infinity pedestal for mounting it, so guess by sliding it all the way backwards, then it gives same result compared to placing the fuselage in position B versus having put it in position C and all way forward in the fin box?
The difference between all way forward and all way backward in the fin box is 6cm (when using the outer screw holes in the pedestal), so near exactly same difference between the position B and C placements of the fuselage and the resulting main foil placement that will bring. But granted, always best to use the fuselage position that brings the optimal balance point from the start, and then fine adjust by sliding the pedestal a bit forward or backward in the fin box?

I have felt to wild horse experience with the 76 in C position but not the 84. I would suggest going with the 84 in C position and start off in the middle of the track.

I would probably go with everything middle to start. Mast track middle. Front strap middle, foil track middle, no rear strap. Then if it foils too easily and breaches move the mast track back. If you cannot get up on the foil easily then move the foil track forward. It takes about three or four sessions to adjust these +ve/-ve lift variables to how you like it.

If you are a big dude you can probably get away with the 84 in B position, but my goal is to have things set up so that most of the time 70% of my weight is on my front foot, so there is a trend to lean variables towards the +ve lift side of the equation.

Position C with the pedestal full back will increase directional stability since it moves the foil mast rearward relative to the board much like sliding a fin back.

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..
Position C with the pedestal full back will increase directional stability since it moves the foil mast rearward relative to the board much like sliding a fin back.

That is actually a nice observation Grantmac, as it does indeed place the mast furthest back possible for most directional stability, while still placing the front wing furthest ahead for earliest lift possible, right?

But if in position C and furthest back in the fin box, then one could argue that the upwind is also the hardest, versus if using the foil in position B, where front wing is placed at same position, but then the mast would at same time be 6-8 centimeters further forward also. Is that not better for keeping height up against the wind? Or is that in any case so easy when windfoiling, that its not a 'challenge to keep up wind' as otherwise on traditional smaller windsurfing funboards without any dagger-board?

And even when in the C position, do you still when you gain more experience push the whole foil fin further forward in the fin box, as you get more comfort in flying more consistently and distribute the load equally between your two feet?

Placing my Infinity 84 in position C and furthest back in the fin box on the Levitator 150, will place it here between the footstraps!

So looking something like straight in the middle between the footstraps or slightly behind the mid point. (If centre of lift point for the wing is like 1/3 in from its front?). I have my footstraps in second holes from the front. But that is of course another point that can adjusted on...

The other good thing about going c position with it further back in the track is that it very easy to slide it forward to create more lift if needed.

I would suggest no back straps to start though. I ride my levitator with a horizontal strap/bar eg

Select to expand quote

thedoor said..
The other good thing about going c position with it further back in the track is that it very easy to slide it forward to create more lift if needed.

I would suggest no back straps to start though. I ride my levitator with a horizontal strap/bar eg

What does the strap at the back do?

Moving the mast back doesn't seem to impact upwind capability but it does improve directional stability.

Select to expand quote

Windbot said..

thedoor said..
The other good thing about going c position with it further back in the track is that it very easy to slide it forward to create more lift if needed.

I would suggest no back straps to start though. I ride my levitator with a horizontal strap/bar eg

What does the strap at the back do?

It is mostly a frame of reference and possibly could stop my foot going off the back of the board by accident. Most of the time my foot is resting against it.

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..
Moving the mast back doesn't seem to impact upwind capability but it does improve directional stability.

Do you mean horizontal direction or port/starboard?

Yaw stability.

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..
Yaw stability.

Interesting, I find the opposite. the further the sail mast comes back towards the foil mast/my feet the more sensitive it is.

Select to expand quote

thedoor said..

Grantmac said..
Yaw stability.

Interesting, I find the opposite. the further the sail mast comes back towards the foil mast/my feet the more sensitive it is.

I'm talking about moving the foil mast back. Moving the sail mast back for me reduces the sensitivity to changes in mast base pressure but does make for less yaw stability.

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..

thedoor said..

Grantmac said..
Yaw stability.

Interesting, I find the opposite. the further the sail mast comes back towards the foil mast/my feet the more sensitive it is.

I'm talking about moving the foil mast back. Moving the sail mast back for me reduces the sensitivity to changes in mast base pressure but does make for less yaw stability.

I see

I've been foiling a ton on the 160 this spring so I feel comfortable offering some additional advice on foil setup that I think will help and maybe corroborate what others are seeing. I use the 76 when the wind is consistently in that 14+ knot range, so upper end of my Ezzy Hydra 7.0. I find that the 76 offers both more speed and maneuverability over the 84 (duh) and that's where my foiling seems to be headed. Even though the 160 is a "big" foilboard, the maneuverability with the 76 is fantastic, and I find myself carving up waves at will, even short chop. Makes me want to try the Wizard 125 actually. With the 76 in B position, I place the mast all the way back with screws in back holes. This is "2.5" on my scale. I think I can go further back than this for more back foot pressure when it's windy. UJ is somewhere in the middle usually but still playing with this. If it's blowing 20 I'm on a 4.5 fully powered. I think that as my skills improve I might find myself on slightly larger sails but we will see. I have no issues now ripping through nasty chop upwind w/o fear of foiling out. Off the wind is a little trickier! Generally, my 84 placement tends to be about 2-3cm further forward than the 84 which makes perfect sense since the center of lift for that foil is further back.My next project is to fit the Slingshot foil to a used Falcon Foilboard (2019 version). I will definitely need to go to position C for this. The Tuttle adaptor will hopefully work but the box is quite a bit deeper than the standard deep Tuttle. I will need long screws to make it work (ordered 120 and 130mm long M8s). No, I won't be making a regular habit of using the SS foil on this board. Just want to see what it feels like. Will need to get a proper race foil at some point.

Select to expand quote

Fast505 said..Makes me want to try the Wizard 125 actually. I think that as my skills improve I might find myself on slightly larger sails but we will see. I have no issues now ripping through nasty chop upwind w/o fear of foiling out. Off the wind is a little trickier!

Try the W125 - it's a great board.
I think the smallest board (overall size, not volume) you can feel comfortable on the better - easier to carve with less swing weight.

Downwind can be the easiest direction to foil when overpowered. It takes confidence - which comes from practice

Select to expand quote

azymuth said..

Fast505 said..Makes me want to try the Wizard 125 actually. I think that as my skills improve I might find myself on slightly larger sails but we will see. I have no issues now ripping through nasty chop upwind w/o fear of foiling out. Off the wind is a little trickier!

Try the W125 - it's a great board.
I think the smallest board (overall size, not volume) you can feel comfortable on the better - easier to carve with less swing weight.

Downwind can be the easiest direction to foil when overpowered. It takes confidence - which comes from practice

or the Freestyle 115. The 115/76 is such a versatile combination. If i had to have only one foilboard it would be the wizard 125. Fortunately, I can have two the Freestyle 115 (infinity 65 and 76) and Levitator 150 (infinity 99).

As we are all locked up in the country I live, I have at least had time now to familiarise myself with the new Slingshot and Ezzy Hydra gear that i acquired before Easter. Mounting it, trimming it, dismounting it etc.
And already found out that with all those screws and bolts and wrenches we need for this windfoiling sport versus classic Windsurfing, then i need somehow like a practical toolbox of some kind. And also a couple of good practical screw drivers and Allen key bundles. I found the biggest Phillips screw bit tip i had, to use for the mounting of the mast pedestal to the Levitator fin box. But even that appears to be just a bit too small in size. Any of you experts out there who knows the exact technical description of the type and size it is please?
ideally i want to find a real screwdriver matching this, as can otherwise foresee the horror scenario of standing at the beach rigging it up, and then the bit tip flips off and into the sand or grass area where you stand to assemble it. So better have it as one steady screwdriver. Maybe ideal would be the short shafted stubby version of the right type/size for this?

and now when we are at it: What is best for turning the air ventilation screw on top of the Levitator board? Just a big coin or a large flathead screwdriver?

Select to expand quote

Cyber said..
As we are all locked up in the country I live, I have at least had time now to familiarise myself with the new Slingshot and Ezzy Hydra gear that i acquired before Easter. Mounting it, trimming it, dismounting it etc.
And already found out that with all those screws and bolts and wrenches we need for this windfoiling sport versus classic Windsurfing, then i need somehow like a practical toolbox of some kind. And also a couple of good practical screw drivers and Allen key bundles. I found the biggest Phillips screw bit tip i had, to use for the mounting of the mast pedestal to the Levitator fin box. But even that appears to be just a bit too small in size. Any of you experts out there who knows the exact technical description of the type and size it is please?
ideally i want to find a real screwdriver matching this, as can otherwise foresee the horror scenario of standing at the beach rigging it up, and then the bit tip flips off and into the sand or grass area where you stand to assemble it. So better have it as one steady screwdriver. Maybe ideal would be the short shafted stubby version of the right type/size for this?

and now when we are at it: What is best for turning the air ventilation screw on top of the Levitator board? Just a big coin or a large flathead screwdriver?

In the US we call that a philips #4. I am still looking for the best object to turn the vent plug.

Get some replacement bolts which use the same size Allen key as the foil. I've done that for my tuttle head bolts as well.

Select to expand quote

Grantmac said..
Get some replacement bolts which use the same size Allen key as the foil. I've done that for my tuttle head bolts as well.

Great idea Grantmac, would actually have been helpful if Slingshot had considered that in their own production line already, as all the bolts/screws needed to assemble the infinity foil would all be with the same single size head for tightening them up. So we only needed one good tool in our bag to mount it up. And then use same size also for the fin screws to attach the Infinity pedestal to the Levitator or Wizard boards...
Now for the tools needed, maybe just buying a universal stubby version like the Stanley FatMax model, and then just find the ideal bits (big flat screwdriver bit for air vent screw and a Philips #4 for the pedestal to fin box screws (Thx to thedoor for model/size info ! ) and then glue them permanent into it, one for each size we need? And then keep those two in the Infinity bag going forward....

How's everyone liking their Levitators so far? I've been having a great time with mine. Using sails from 3.8 to 8.0... have a 9.3 Duotone S-pace, bit haven't had a chance to use it yet. Did a great camping trip in July and had 4 days in a row of very consistent wind. Used my 6.0 flyer and i84 front wing. Had a camp site right on the Straits of Mackinaw with 3 other friends. Rigged our stuff and could windfoil, wingfoil and SUP surf right at our camp site. In close was relatively calm water. Maybe 1-3 footers. Offshore a bit and they were 3-5 foot. Such a blast carving turns on the foil. Still LOVE my Levitator 160, but wouldn't mind having a 150.

Select to expand quote

thedoor said..

In the US we call that a philips #4. I am still looking for the best object to turn the vent plug.

I now keep an ordinary bread knife in my tool kit just for that purpose -- the end fits nicely and it doesn't mess up the slot in the plastic vent plug.

Select to expand quote

excav8ter said..
How's everyone liking their Levitators so far? I've been having a great time with mine. Using sails from 3.8 to 8.0... have a 9.3 Duotone S-pace, bit haven't had a chance to use it yet. Did a great camping trip in July and had 4 days in a row of very consistent wind. Used my 6.0 flyer and i84 front wing. Had a camp site right on the Straits of Mackinaw with 3 other friends. Rigged our stuff and could windfoil, wingfoil and SUP surf right at our camp site. In close was relatively calm water. Maybe 1-3 footers. Offshore a bit and they were 3-5 foot. Such a blast carving turns on the foil. Still LOVE my Levitator 160, but wouldn't mind having a 150.

The levitator 150/paired with the i99 was a great lightwind/flatwater board for me at 75kgs. Now we are in the often crappy winter winds, I kind of regret selling it. I have been thinking that a wizard 130 might be a good replacement, maybe a little more agile than the levi but still lots of volume for slogging around

Hey Cyber,

Your photo that shows where you want the wing to be is right on the money. Center of lift balanced at or near the midpoint between front and back feet.

However, you don't need to guess it. Measure it. See my old youtube here to show you how. Since your Slingshot has a straight-up 90 degree mast, you don't need the right-angle tool like I used in the video. Measure it, and move your dual track mount accordingly.

Is everyone still loving their Levitator? I still love mine! Been wondering about going down to the 150 Levitator. I know it's a small jump down, but I wonder if having 6" less board will be worth it. I really like the floatation of the 160 and wonder if I'd notice much difference in going down to the 150? I'm not doing real aggressive wave riding or anything like that, just enjoying the feeling of flying. I've been out in as big as 6 foot waves on Lake Michigan and had a lot of fun just cruising around and making some turns on the non-breaking waves.
Do you think I'd notice a difference in boards?