Im struggling to decide on a semi sinker as my second board. Currently looking at 50L and 60L options for a semi sinker. All of them are 4'8 - 4'10 long and 21.5" - 22.5" wide.

I weigh 80kg and I already have a 5'2" 90L board as my primary (which I will keep). I love that board, but at 24.7" its a bit wide, and now that I'm doing a bit of jumping and getting a bit more technical, I want something lighter and more nimble. I assume I will continue to ride the larger board up to high teens knots and my wind only rarely gets too far above 25kts. Riding a 7/5/3.5 quiver.

How much difference is 10L going to make (going from 60L to 50L) when I weigh 80kg?

I have some interest in trying out some prone foiling (I am an intermediate surfer), and while I realize this isn't the ideal board, I'm wondering whether a 4'10", 21.5", 50L board might be serviceable to learn on? would a 60L board that is 22.5" be too much volume / width?

Advice?

I can't help much as I've only used +30, +20, and -~7L. I'm 77kg. I have two session on my ~70L home shape 4'6" x 22.75". It's a bit corky so I'm dealing with waves. If it sank more it would probably be better for starting in plenty of wind and waves. However I can slog in 5 knots, just not less than that, and I can sit like a prone surfer waiting for a wave and slog like that as well in less wind and go 1.5knots. I put my 95L up for sale as I think I can swing the small board as my do it all board and now I have the self restraint to not go out when the wind is going to die.

That said, I was caught a mile out slogging my small board on my butt. No danger, just an hour slog when it would have been 20m on my big board.

If I had a 60l would I make the same decision? I don't know. I'm about to shape a 40L prone focused board that may end up being my go to wing board as well, but who knows. I certainly can't use that board if there is any danger of unsteady wind. I'd love to hear from people who have more time on different volumes.

One other thing is that my 70L board is 11.4lbs and is very short with the pad and straps, so that's about what a smaller board would weight anyway.
There isn't much reason to go with less volume. The length is a big deal with regard to swing weight so having a short board with high volume gets you the turning you want, even if it's slight heavier. I'd go as short as possible. JP has very short boards, as do some others like axis.

As a surfer I think your only issue would be duck diving which is not a big deal in tiny waves. The foil helps out in this respect a bit.

I went from a 115L to a 75L wing board and it was quite an adjustment. A couple steps backward in my progression but after getting used to it, it is ideal for me (about neutral volume with suit on). So 40L will seem kind of shocking but you will adapt relatively quickly.

The 50L board will work fine as a prone board but as JT notes will be a bit harder to duck dive. I recently went from a 38L, 4'-11" prone board to a 34L, 4'-6" board. On paper it seems like a minor difference, right? Wow, in the water it's a significant change. Definitely more difficult to paddle and catch waves. I went back to the 38L until the water warms up and I can wear a lighter wetsuit. A buddy told me every liter matters but I didn't think 4L would matter that much. It does.

Yep I attest to that. Difference between my 34l (sold it) my 38l is night and day. I've been bashing around on a 4'11 60L FG lately. Even proning it and for some weird reason have no problem pumping it out back for a link up. Winging wise I'm only losing out on certain marginal days where quite honestly I'd rather do something else. But I do have the stink bud method down pat now. In an ideal world I'd have a 75/80 L floater as well - but I'm over this gear hoarding crap and I am orettt much down to a one board quiver, two front foils and pretty much two wings. I am seriously contemplating selling my 4'10 38 L FG soon. Gonna see how the prone foiling goes this autumn.

honestly though to the dude above - a high 30s to 40L ish prone would be fine as your sinker. Keep your 90L for shifty / marginal days and pull out the 40L when the wind is solid and you can trust it. No point in going half way in between at say 50/60L - if you keep your 90. 22.5 inch is fine width wise. I kinda wish my 60L was just slightly less wide than 23 inch for paddling. You adjust.


and if ya struggling (in what board by the way?) then spend some time mastering the stink bud. It's the best way to sink start.

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eppo said..
Yep I attest to that. Difference between my 34l (sold it) my 38l is night and day. I've been bashing around on a 4'11 60L FG lately. Even proning it and for some weird reason have no problem pumping it out back for a link up. Winging wise I'm only losing out on certain marginal days where quite honestly I'd rather do something else. But I do have the stink bud method down pat now. In an ideal world I'd have a 75/80 L floater as well - but I'm over this gear hoarding crap and I am orettt much down to a one board quiver, two front foils and pretty much two wings. I am seriously contemplating selling my 4'10 38 L FG soon. Gonna see how the prone foiling goes this autumn.

honestly though to the dude above - a high 30s to 40L ish prone would be fine as your sinker. Keep your 90L for shifty / marginal days and pull out the 40L when the wind is solid and you can trust it. No point in going half way in between at say 50/60L - if you keep your 90. 22.5 inch is fine width wise. I kinda wish my 60L was just slightly less wide than 23 inch for paddling. You adjust.


and if ya struggling (in what board by the way?) then spend some time mastering the stink bud. It's the best way to sink start.

Not struggling with anything. Just struggling to decide!

I don't want prone to drive the decision. 95% of my time on this board is going to be spent winging, and per your note, it seems like I could even make a 60L work to try some prone. So then it comes down to whether a 10L reduction is going to make it that much harder to start / require a higher minimum wind, or is the performance of losing the 10L that much better.

Deciding between the Appletree Apple Slice 60L (also comes in a 50L) vs the F-One Rocket Wing S, both great boards I'm sure. My 90L is an Appletree as well.

Im overthinking it.

Thought I would comment since had exactly the same dilema last year, although cannot help regarding prone surfing. I am also the same weight as you. I ride an f-one rocket wing 60 litre most of the time. Can get up on a 950cm2 wing in plus 12 knots. Have a 40 litre prone board and 36 litre custom board but need 17 knot plus for that winging (since sink up to the chest). Also have a 70l board but don't use it.

In your situation you could keep the 90l board and go for the F-One Rocket Wing S 48l. I think you will find the 90l board too big to ride quite quickly. This is a steeper learning curve than the 60l board. Use the 48l litre in 16 knots plus and 90l in light winds.

Another solution (and the one I would recommend) is to sell the 90l and buy the F-One Rocket Wing S 60l. It is a great all around size from 13 knots to 30 knots with a 950cm2 foil and 5m2 wing. With a 1200cm2 foil and 5m2 wing you can use it in 11 knots plus. As you progress, you will probably want the F-One Rocket Wing S 48l as well, together with a smaller foil ;) I haven't tried the 48l yet but it looks like a great shape.

It might feel difficult selling the 90l board but you may find it collects dust quickly, especially if you have a 60l board.

Hope that helps your decision and happy foiling ;)

Get the 60l, keep the 90 for now till you realise in 3 months you have never used it...then sell it. All good.