Yes you will be forever changing the design keeping up with the forum. Dive in and give something a go I reckon.
I’m in Kohi, Auckland. Do you kite foil?
Yes I believe it is based on the Takuma wing. Not sure which model it is closest too and hard to tell from the photos. Looks very close to either the V400 or V100. See photos of mine here Another build from Kiwi land - #6 by g.gregory8 - Builds - FOIL.zone.
Wing details from supplier, yet to confirm:
foil wing material : carbon fiber (I’m skeptical because of the weight)
the front wing size : L63cmW27cm
the rear wing size : L38.5cmW11cm.
Too true Bro! You must be about 4 min foiling from me in Devo
I had never ridden a board in my life before getting hooked by this!
Hats off to you kite foilers, the mad bugger innovators that we all owe a debt of gratitude to for initiating the personal foiling ride
Your wing can very well be carbon fiber even if it’s heavy…
Carbon fiber is lighter only if you really want to optimize your design.
If it’s not hollow (or with a foam core), because it’s quite thick, it will be heavy… (thick is not a bad thing if you want a slower wing)
Depending on the fiber to resin ratio, the weight mainly come from the epoxy, the strength comes from the fiber.
Handmade / low volume / Quality foil are made by lamination, either hollow or around a core. With the fibers properly oriented, you get the needed strength with very little carbon.
A lot of those mass produced foil are “forged”. Instead of using fabric, it’s made by injecting a mix of short fibers and resin in a mold. I guess it’s way cheaper.
The good new: if your wing is solid forged carbon fibers it’s bomb proof!
but only way to be sure is to cut it in half…
If someone manages to break one, post pictures!
Thanks for the response. So what length mast would be best? I have never foiled, or surfed. I do water ski. I plan to pull the foil around behind my boat so I can learn. Then equip it with a motor. I’m 195 pounds.
I’m not entirely sure of mast length, having not foiled also. I know its easier to learn to ride with it shorter, but too short and you risk running the motor out of the water. See this post from Hiorth who has a proven setup and suggests even 65-70cm. Sss 4092 electric hydrofoil for disbaled guy - #9 by Hiorth - Builds - FOIL.zone
Did you purchase it form Alibaba? I have never bought from Alibaba. I did get a quick response asking for my phone number and address for shipping estimate. I have not heard anything in 2 days now. What was your experience like?
Yes I got it from Ican Sports Products on Alibaba. They were very good to deal with, always quick response. Only downside is the chips in the front wing from shipping, make sure they package it better.
Thanks, maybe I made some kind of error.
Strange the add that pops up from your link does not say anything about mast length options.
@Mat Thanks for the info. It would be interesting to know how it is made. There is a small chip on it but still hard to tell. Maybe a resin core with carbon on the outside.
@MAC You should be able to get any size mast you want, it’s just a length of aluminium extrusion. I got 80cm and it came with another size also.
What is the trick to get them to respond to me. I have sent several requests. All I get is a robot message saying they may be sleeping at this time. Was your contact Jenny Liu?
She’s terrible. It took a month after payment for her to organise to send my foil.
are they not on public holiday for a month about this time of year
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Thanks for the heads up. I just got a reply from her on price.
She asked how I will be paying, Pay-pal or Alibaba. I asked is VISA ok? I have never bought from Alibaba. At some point does that orange dot move to 2 and then 3,4,5. Hoping for quicker responses.
Yep. Make sure it’s a trade assurance deal(i had to invoke it to get a response and shipping)
Until she gives you a price/shipping cost, the order cannot move.
Excellent point about Lunar new year, I believe today is the last day of the holidays for it.
When you say make sure its a draft trade assurance deal, what does that mean?
I would avoid ican
I just escalated a dispute with jenny liu as the spec said carbon and the same size you are looking at so i ordered that… but the picture showed the colorful foils and thats what she sent… turns out the colorful one is much smaller and heavier …
She wont recognize their mistake with completely wromg specification on the webpage and then claim that caerbon is more than 100 usd more … before saying she doesnt have carbon…
Probably her english is really bad and she is guessing based on google translate…
Buy from someone else and get the to send you specific pictures with measure cofirmation before ordering…
And use tradeassurance so you can claim refund if problems…
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Wow. I guess I have been warned.
g.gregory8 had a positive experience except for the chip in his foil.
This project has me attempting to communicate with these Chinese vendors. for Motors, batteries, foil, and such. Its hard to have much confidence that we under stand each other. Waiting to see the next response from ican.
So, did they send you the F001. And you intended to get the F004?
Don’t think f004 was listed as the spec I wanted was all listed under F001 but she has now updated the wing spec text.
But fuselage And mast measures is still wrong if it’s the colourful one.
The Learning is to have them send photo with measure of actual for your specific order. (Also good support in any dispute)