Hello! I am looking for a recommendation and some perspective. I ride on the Chesapeake Bay, where we get really nice conditions, but would definitely be classified as marginal by anyone visiting the area. We get winds in the 12-20 kt range, with wind-driven swell that can be really nice for linking bumps. I’m winging, as the region does not lend itself to long downwinders. It’s mostly upwind, then flag out for a 1-2 mile sector, then head back up.
I am very happy with my current gear, but I am considering changing brands, as there seems to be big progress in the market. I currently ride a GoFoil, mostly on the P1125HA and P1300. I can connect bumps when the conditions are right for about 3/4 of a mile.
Today I borrowed a friend’s Code 1250r + 151r + 75cm mast, and wow was it unbelievable, even in our pretty marginal swell. I did some of my longest glides ever, albeit with limited turning/jibing performance. After switching back to my GoFoil gear, I got nowhere near as long glides, and my heart rate was way higher while pumping.
Before I take the dive and buy a code setup, which other brands should I be seriously considering for better long-distance performance in our marginal bay swell? Is the 1250r still an excellent benchmark for the application? Or have other brands already found something else?
What is your weight? I’m down the bay from you and ride 90% of the time in wind against current setups with really fun bumps. I weigh 68kgs and switched from Armstrong to F4. Super stoked on the switch. Not knocking Armstrong, love that gear, but for bay conditions the Orca is magic.
You might consider the new kid on the block, Hydrocraft. They have a connection system that is in my opinion a big step forward from the other mortise and tenon type connections currently on the market, a super thin mast that seems to be competitive with the other high performance masts coming out now, and the brand is run by a crew with a solid background. I had a chance to demo the foil kit briefly and was super impressed. Stable and smooth and it just felt very slippery without being squirrely.
Yeah If I hadn’t jumped on F4, I’d seriously be considering Hydrocraft as well. They are going to be in the same league with F4’s Orca. I think they tested F4 and completely reworked their mast fuse connection to get it as thin as possible as a result. That narrow, clean connection on the fuse has undeniable benefits.
I’m riding the 685 as my daily driver and 800 for low end. At 80kgs you’d probably want to get on the slightly thicker mast (RC) and maybe go 900 and 685. GP Orca – F4 Foils
(I get a small credit with F4 if you use that link and purchase within 30 days or something)
I’m also riding the Chesapeake Bay, just outside of the Choptank. Riding a Code 1300s and 1250R primarily. This talk of F4 is hard to ignore though. I actually just put in a pre-order for a One Ocean SSS 84cm mast in the hopes that the drop from 15mm thickness to 11-12 will get me closer to the glide of the F4 setup. . 4k is a tough number to stomach after all these new parawings dropping.
Jake1, if you liked the glide of the 1250R, weigh 80Kg and have mostly 15-20Kn conditions, forget about a 685 Orca or anything smaller than about 950. That would be too much like work. Your conditions sound very “gorge like” or short period so 13AR foils won’t be as much fun.
Try the Code 1130 or 1300s with the One Ocean Sports 78SSS mast. The 100mm cord length makes a big difference in maneuverability. I use it with a Code 1075R sometimes, weigh 90Kg and its stiff enough for my purposes.The mast is cheap and you can probably find either of those front wings used. Just say, $4K… no way
The 685 and 800 have a a magic low end. Plenty if you are on a wing. I used to PW an 880HA Armstrong and the 685 seems to have replaced it easily. Winging was primarily on the 680HA Armie.
Golden opportunity there to try first with Foilgraham
Still I’d consider something in the 9.5-10.5 AR for your conditions aka Code S, Axis Surge, or Armstrong HA. My foiling fun doubled when I quit trying to ride 13AR foils in the Gorge. Still like them for my winter ocean spot but frankly ocean downwinding is almost boring in comparison to current-opposing-wind conditions.
The F4 is pretty awsome, but I was not impressed by anything bigger than the 800 on that skinny mast. I think the magic is in the small foils on that mast, perfect for the 150lb guys for sure, but the 200lb guys on the 1250 not so much, the thicker mast is not bad at all just not any better than the rest of the market.
. 4k is a tough number to stomach after all these new parawings dropping.
