I love how a skate looks with a foil but in the end have found the right skim is way more forgiving.
https://dbskimboards.com/
These guys make skims that can be ordered in rigid construction for an additional 10 bucks.
9 ply plasticized maple hard wood with super tough thermoplastic top and bottom sheet. Bowl shaped rocker reduces flex and helps it ride on the surface. Full deck pad can be ordered double thick for a bit more float.
Tough as nails, easy to mount, priced right dual purpose board.
19.7" at the wide point gets up on foil at 10 knots. Most people foiling a skate will tell you its better to wait for at least 12. Of course this is kite and wing specific but there is easy a two knot difference between a skim and a skate when it comes to get up and go.
A little more width and a little less rocker go a long way on the low end, both with or without the foil.
Its not just about min power needed to foil. Biggest difference is how they handle riding on the surface. A skim will surface ride and transition nicely where your not getting that from a skate. You really need to do it all flying on the skate. They have loads of staged rocker, which you might think a plus, but combined with less width, they bog down pretty quick after touching down. A skim can keep you up and riding on the surface as long as you need. Even experienced foilers can appreciate that kind of forgiveness in a board. I always know I can carve a quick turn, touch down to swap feet and get the hell out of there when things get sketchy, where a skate is far more likely to leave me in the drink and struggling to start back up in a bad spot.
Skates are still dope, that's just my 2 cents.
Zeeko mounted to a skim. Board is 1/2" shorter but 3.8" wider with much less rocker than the skate w/zeeko pictured above.
