I run that tail all the time with the evolutions, and it pairs well, but the afterburner will turn quite a bit better (expected when compared to a DW race wing). Unless you’re trying to maximize glide, the afterburner will be better IMHO.
EDIT:
Just adding one more thing–we had some really good DW conditions this past weekend with more spaced out fast moving bumps, 6ft+ seas. The KD race 15" tail did fine but topped out on the bigger bumps. I stepped down to smaller tail and it made all the difference.
TLDR if you’re doing slower DW’s or surf, the KD race tail is fine, but if you want more top end, the afterburner 14.5" will definitely handle those better and turn way better.
Anyone else spend any time on these yet? curious to get a few different opinions on how the top speed and low end compare to the progressions mainly for downwind. Still new to DW but spending a lot of time on the new Evos has me curios to find both the most efficient tail options and the most well rounded setups for surfy carving style downwind. would love to get on some more efficient tails without sacrificing too much low end pump when I make a mistake and need to dig out. considering trying them out but after seeing them in person they’re a lot smaller than the progression tails so that has me hesitant to pull the trigger on one.
I spent some time DW with Evo155 paired with the afterburner 14.5. I have never been a big fan of the Progression tail 13.5 for pumping and I can say the AB fills the gap nicely.
The game in downwinder changes as to do big carves with the AB, while the P13.5 was more for sharp turns and more surfy feeling.
Tavis, Did you know if you got one from the new production run? Apparently there was a manufacturing defect, see above, that had to be resolved. I am also looking to get the 15.5. I did demo a 14.5 and yes it definitely whistled quite a bit.
I spent a bunch of years kite foiling before prone foiling. The dreaded whistling is much worse at kite foiling speeds. In my case the whistling was almost always from the trailing edge of the stabilizer. A quick sanding of the trailing edge and the whistling was typically gone.
If that didn’t solve it I would then sand the trailing edge of the front wing and then the trailing edge of the mast.
Anyone try a Evo155 with the 15.5 afterburner? I have stuck on the old 18" race tail on the Evo155 and really like the pump and super stable at speed though admittedly in surf feels cumbersome. Was thus thinking of rather going for a larger 15.5 tail than the 14.5 (am 80kg without wetsuit et al). Currently using 13.5 prog tail and it does not pump nearly as well as the race tail
I surf the Evo155 with the AB 14.5 and shim +0.5 + medium fuse. At 82kg, It does not turn as good as with the progression tail 13.5 but noticeably more efficient and stable in the pump.
I would not consider AB 15.5 for surfing. Instead I am considering choping down the AB14.5 to 13.5 or get a short fuse.
thanks, will see if I can try before buy - I actually like the race tail for DWinding so maybe smaller AB better complements the race tail and 13.5 prog tail
The Afterburner tails will be available on the website the end of this week. For anyone that has had a cracked tail we have replaced and it’s been less than a handful. Unifoil is in the process of receiving more products in the US in the next 2 weeks.
