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Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:55 pm
by ladomi
I'd like to build a cheap, easy, no frills foilboard. I have a SS hover glide and am a beginner (foiler and builder). Can it be as simple as a piece of marine plywood with t-nuts to attach the foil? Any advice would be appreciated.

Re: Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:20 am
by Jyoder
It can be as simple as fiberglassing a piece of plywood, but it will be much harder to learn on. I did it and it took a while to learn, but it was still a fun experience. If you have time and patience, go for it.

Re: Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:21 am
by Jyoder
I know of someone who almost lost their foil when their ply board broke at the front edge of the foil plate. Gotta make sure you glass it strong enough.

Re: Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:28 am
by patrelsa
birch plywood,drill 4 holes,polyeurethane,lasted six months of heavy use and no signs of breaking

Re: Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 2:12 pm
by junebug
I’ve been foiling for a couple of years, and I want to build a paipo foil board. I’m thinking about making it 42x20 inches made with strips of paulownia. I’m either going to make it flat or try to use a steam box to add some rocker.

My question — What is the minimum thickness I should make it to not have to worry about splitting it? I’m going to be riding strapless and no jumping.

Sorry for the dual posts (here and in the hydrofoil builders thread), but I wasn’t sure where I should put this.

Re: Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 2:22 pm
by jumptheshark
I think the minimum thickness you can get away with depends a lot on the glassing schedule of the plate and surrounding area. My board is commercial hardwood ply with a melamine top and bottom sheet and its only about a cm thick. I ride strapless, don't jump but carve a big wing around as hard as I can and have had no issues. Simple stainless T nuts as hardware. Adequate flotation and plate competence are pretty much the only real requirement. Size, rocker, visibility, etc can all be pretty variable and you still have a great board. For learning I would say go big with the intent to chop it down as you progress.

Re: Simple Foilboard?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 2:35 pm
by Jyoder
Hover glide is heavy. Wood is heavy. If you don’t add a big deckpad for flotation it will sink or at least sit low in water and be hard to find/see after a crash.