Liftfoils materials and durability

[grigorib]

Can someone comment on materials used in 2017 Lift wings/masts?
- the wings/fuselage seems to be wooden core with carbon layer over.
- the mast does not look carbon. It looks like mold ABS plastic and weighs some more

Thoughts on that?

[norcom]

Are you sure you're not just seeing the top weave? I very much doubt it's "ABS plastic". There are different carbon weaves and not all carbon has the checkerboard pattern. Below are examples. Some are glossy, some are matte. It's all carbon fiber but the top layer is a different weave for a specific look and doesn't really affect the structural integrity.

[BigSky]

I can't answer your question but I can tell you the Lift wings and fuselage are incredibly well made, super light and have a great finish and look. Even more important they are incredibly stable and easy to ride. I was shocked at the difference between the Lift and an aluminum (liquid force) ride. The Lift is silky smooth and user friendly. I should know, I am and was a noob when I bought it and I couldn't be happier. It's a great time to support a small company given what they've been through. The service was great and I couldn't be happier. Cheers.

[grigorib]

Are you sure you're not just seeing the top weave? I very much doubt it's "ABS plastic".

That's the trick. I can't see under top layer and the top layer is plastic foggy-glossy with ZERO pattern. Where it connects to the fuselage it looks exactly like a chunk of plastic.

For structural, who knows what's inside but the foil is not that light. 150 wing with 32" mast is 6.7 lbs.

[BWD]

The pictures don't say a lot. They look like they are of a hydrofoil I guess.
It could be that its painted or faired with a black compound.
I would expect to know before ordering if I was buying (1)a clearcoated "carbon look" carbon foil, (2) a painted/faired carbon foil, or (3) something made of other composite/plastic. I would choose (2) I think, given free choice.
If it's just abs it will probably not perform, and probably quickly break.
But if the mast plate has an abs layer on top that might actually be smart, design-wise.
The weight is good for a 150in^2 (968cm^2) wing, keep in kind if comparing that most foils are 530-600cm^2.

Hope things work out for you, have heard mostly good reviews of Lift.

[pitbulldoug]

Not sure exactly what the mast is made of but personally been riding mine for many hours hard freeriding in swell and small waves and I'm a lg rider 225b and put a lot of stress on any foil and currently riding 36' and 32" mast with 150 wing and find it very solid/stiff compared to other foils I've used,quite a few in the area here and have a friend who jumps the the crap out of his and it seems to be holding up fine as skying it out will put any foil to test.I will say it has that abs look appearance,but think thats about it as if I'm a betting man must have some CF in it as its just real solid riding it.Seems like a good question which i can't answer but with the performance of the foil got to be some quality in there and its been ridden around my area since they came out and i have not heard of any issues of yet.

[Dwight]

It’s not plastic. Everyone has to do some sort of black pigment to hide weave where it transitions. Otherwise you’d see ugly weave not straight and cut edges of carbon

[BWD]

The funny thing is that people are impressed by the bondo/sand-through look on their boards, showing laps print through etc...
Why is that so cool on an always-visible board, but not necessarily in a foil, which you hardly see while riding?
Some questions have no answer!

[norcom]

All those jagged edges on the chips says its carbon. I don't think plastic would chip like that, at least not with such straight edges. Those little pinholes you see are also part of the layup process. It could be painted with a soft paint that makes it seem like plastic.

[TomW]

I've not seen a Lift in person. But It's highly likely the carbon is sanded smooth, fiber transitions feather sprayed with black to cover, then clear coated with 2 component polyurethane in either gloss or Matt. The polyurethane is in fact a plastic coating, and it serves a function to protect against UV and abrasion.