I recall someone suggesting a certain stab to make the silk 850 handle bigger surf - anyone know?
I want to play around with some different setups for a bigger swell coming. Share any tips you have!
search up afs silk. you may be thinking of the silk 132 tail.
Winging, Prone foil, SUP foil?
Lots of components here how big is big surf? Are you towing in to every wave or looking to pump and link a few?
If you are looking to just carve the wave face in a more critical zone the silk 132 and 142 are the ticket their “edge to edge” roll and grip when on rail feel really good. It also feels like it slows you down just enough to keep you on the wave instead of gliding too far and outrunning the wave into the flats.
However the ha 38 and 40 will give you that extra bit of speed and glide and do big carves on the roll of the wave where you want the extra glide because there’s not as much umpf in the wave. These will also pump back out more easily.
Also if you are towing every wave I’d consider shimming the mast 1 degree (thick end forward) it will make pumping significantly worse but feel more comfortable at higher speeds due to the nose of the board being angled up.
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I comfortably ride the 850 + 132 up to slightly over head high including steepish waves. Don’t really ride waves much bigger than that. I also have an ha40 that I chopped about an inch off of each tip so it’s smaller area (higher AR) but similar span to the 132 and I also really like that tail - rides faster and pumps similarly to the 132. Doesn’t carve quite as predictably as the 132 though. I prefer the chopped ha40 if it’s fast and rolling or more DW type connecting and I need the speed to keep up but prefer the 132 if it’s steeper and more powered.
Bennetts rides an ha38 that he chopped 3 inches off of so that seems to work for him although I’m sure he’s pairing it with a smaller foil than the 850. That’s a really small tail.
These are the only two tails I ride now with the 850 and 1050 and find them very versatile.
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Sorry - specific to prone/towing. Going to Chicama next month and just to be prepared for a potential bigger swell!
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I just got back.
The 850 may be the best swiss army knife for that wave.
I’d definitely try the HA tails. I rode the 650 Silk with the 38HA tail on the biggest days. But if you don’t like the HA, then use a 142.
The beginning of that wave can build some speed and then slow down slightly. The HA tails help give a but of extra glide and I find they are easier to pump.
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Depending on what exactly you want to accomplish you might have interest in these:
Currently testing (Silk 1050, 850, 650, Ultra 750) the Glide 120 and waiting on the Carve 130. The glide 120 has dramatically better high and low end, better glide, better pump, than the ha38 or silk tails IMO. I think it’s a must try for the 1050 and 750. However, it does lose some roll with the 850 (not as bad as the ha38 tho) and a bit of stability in the most powerful turns as it’s not as infinitely stiff as the AFS tails are. My testing is all done in the river though, so translate as you need!
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These are all good comments/suggestions. What I want to say is get the 650 for towing anything chest and bigger. But assuming that isn’t an option, one other thing I have done towing the 850 in bigger surf is adding a .5 degree negative shim to the 132. It takes a bit of the front foot pressure off in the faster, more critical wave sections while still preserving that incredible rail to rail characteristic of the 132. Lastly, bumping the mast back can also be a lever to play with. Have fun down there!
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How about the 650 and the Foil Drive in place of towing? Anybody have experience with this setup?
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Sweet, just picked up the 650. Stoked!
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That’s how you do it!!!
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Good call, the 650 is a dream.
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