Slingshot Ghost Whisperer Foil

[TomW]

Moses fuse is circular in section. I have one. Be a real pain to get that thing stabbed into me, and frankly, I fear it. Already call the thing " Jaws" after ripping up my wetsuit during 3rd ( crash) session. too bad you mess up the finish by reshaping it.
Peter, would you just make a bulbous round tip and tail? will it effect foil performance?

[Peter_Frank]

Moses fuse is circular in section. I have one. Be a real pain to get that thing stabbed into me, and frankly, I fear it. Already call the thing " Jaws" after ripping up my wetsuit during 3rd ( crash) session. too bad you mess up the finish by reshaping it.
Peter, would you just make a bulbous round tip and tail? will it effect foil performance?

A bulbous round "tip" ? Assume you mean nose ?

No problem - did that with my first hydrofoil which was extremely pointy too, and in theory the drag difference is so small or not present, that you can not feel any difference IMO, I for one would never have a pointy nose.

The tail ? You could do the same - but the tail never "fly" towards you, like the nose does ?
Make it rounder if you are afraid of hitting it with your feet - but usually after a year or so, you never hit the hydrofoil accidentally nomore before starting or when handling the board.

Although, if you ride in medium or bigger breaking waves, yes, the hydrofoil could tumble all around tail first - yes

Peter

[3InletsWindsports]

I find it a bit irritating that the big kite companies are buying in technology rather than contributing to the development.

[grigorib]

I find it a bit irritating that the big kite companies are buying in technology rather than contributing to the development.

Eminem feat. Dido wasn't bad....

[TomW]

I find it a bit irritating that the big kite companies are buying in technology rather than contributing to the development.

yes, somewhat- but on other hand its a small industry and co-operating concentrates limited finances to a company with core competence and allows them to move ahead faster in early days of development curve. It might take Slingshot a long time to catch up if ever, organic growth is slow.

If things grow, then its ripe for consolidation and companies get bought up, or JV´s formed.

[tegirinenashi]

Bulbous tail doesn't make any sense: it would negatively affect performance by creating turbulence. Bulbous nose, however might slightly increase performance. Unlike bulbous tails, bulbous noses are common in marine vessels: tankers, submarines, and even latest generation aircraft carriers. Needless to mention that a century ago all ships and submarines had sharp noses.

The fact that hydrofoil manufacturers still insist on sharp noses highlights that hydrofoil construction is still voodoo craftsmanship rather than science, influenced by gut reaction what shape makes underwater objects fast.

[Mossy 757]

Bulbous tail doesn't make any sense: it would negatively affect performance by creating turbulence. Bulbous nose, however might slightly increase performance. Unlike bulbous tails, bulbous noses are common in marine vessels: tankers, submarines, and even latest generation aircraft carriers. Needless to mention that a century ago all ships and submarines had sharp noses.

The fact that hydrofoil manufacturers still insist on sharp noses highlights that hydrofoil construction is still voodoo craftsmanship rather than science, influenced by gut reaction what shape makes underwater objects fast.

Bulbous nose wouldn't make a lot of sense with a foil since you don't need any nose. The good foils have wings built into the fuselage so that there's no "nose" to speak of. The goal is reduced frontal area...adding a nose where there need be none is just foolish. I think the only noses you'll continue to see on foils will be for designs that have a fuselage with a removable front wing, i.e. Alpine and what not.

Spotz, Mike's Lab, Levitaz, Delta, Banga, Taaroa, and KFA all have a smooth front wing leading edge with a fuselage mounted to the rear.

[TomW]

It's a mystery why it's pointy then. There's no mechanical reason the point could be blunted or shaped so it's at least not protruding in front of the wing leading edge.
I'm going to take a look at it thus weekend and make a proposal to Moses and see what they say.
Probably voids warranty, ya think?

[TomW]

I could cut off nose at an angle, lower edge at wing leading edge, 30-40 degrees angled back, then round off edges.

[Mossy 757]

It's a mystery why it's pointy then. There's no mechanical reason the point could be blunted or shaped so it's at least not protruding in front of the wing leading edge.
I'm going to take a look at it thus weekend and make a proposal to Moses and see what they say.
Probably voids warranty, ya think?

Yeah it probably does...it's just a manufacturing thing, their design is more modular and easier to pop out a variety of wings that way. That's how the Sword2 is put together as well. Making an attached front wing + fuselage like the newer race foils is definitely a bit of a compromise in terms of disassembly and makes changing wing setups a more expensive proposition.

I think it's because of this that the Moses and Sword2 line up are right on the border between the top-end and race offerings. What they give up in outright performance they make up for in having a wider consumer base because they have more options. Levitaz has really figured this out well in that they have a low frontal area wing/fuse construction that's also just as modular as Moses.