Why are hydrofoil boards so damn expensive?? Need advice

[Adventure Logs]

Trying to justify spending 1500-2000+ on a foilboard that can break the first time you run around is kinda hard. But I'm thinking of making the leap for those light wind days and for the super long downwinds I've been itching to do. Need some suggestions. Not going to race, need something durable because I'm hard on my toys and do plan on jumping, frequently. Any advice?

[queneseb]

Hi ! i just take the manta From the kitefoil, accessibility, possibility to evolve, good price !
First flight in only two session, now it's just fuuuuuuuuuuuuuun !

[Oldman_Dave]

Zeeko, Alpinefoil, Sroka and LF also make cheaper & stronger foils.

[Adventure Logs]

What's people opinions on those. I like how the lf board can also be used as a surf board. No real knowledge on the others. Not really interested in a high performance foil since I'll be using my sonic 18 and lotus 10 so don't need to go that fast. Just want those super light wind days.

[dusta]

when you say hydrofoil board and then you state $2000 i assume you mean board and foil ?

$2000 for a high end carbon board and foil is not unreasonable . You want to see expensive go buy a foiling moth and then come back about expensive . Our version of foiling is bloody cheap by comparison to other sports

[davesails7]

What's people opinions on those. I like how the lf board can also be used as a surf board.

I wouldn't really count the LF board as a plus. It's not all that great as a hydrofoil board or a surfboard. It is cheap though! I've seen a few complete used LF foils listed for around $1000.

http://c.ikitesurf.com/classifieds/1493 ... &terms=all

[jplmain]

You can diy a board and foil setup but, I can swear to you that you would need $700 in materials and, the tools that you would need would break the bank. Then the labor would cost over 1500 at 25 a hour.
The cheapest way is to gather peoples broken part and try to repair them. You can even mix and match them together if you know some common foil logic.

[Tone]

You'd be very surprised at the strength of the carbon foils.

I hit the bottom (sandy) every once in a while and it isn't much of an issue. I have a Zeeko 2014 which is full carbon and has a base plate.

2 weeks ago, I saw a chap who wasn't familiar to the area, travel full tilt into a submerged storm drain. He was hacking it along, hit it and went flying. He came back to the beach and all that was damaged was the wing tip which needed some carbon powder and epoxy. He was riding a sword 1.

Another local left his Spotz 2 on the beach and somehow it ended up getting lifted by the wind and it flipped over and landed on concrete. Board had a ding while the wings which took the brunt of the flip didn't have a scratch!

Flip side to this - Local with a Moses, hit a rock going slowly, split the whole main wing in two along the seam. Took someone very handy with carbon to get it back to useable. The Moses is very lightly made.

A high end carbon foil is VERY strong. There is a reason they make formula one cars etc out of carbon. It's strong stuff!

[Denisesewa]

Another player at a reasonable price, http://www.windance.com/Bellacera-Custo ... FL0000585/

[Johhnn]

I got the AlpineFoil all carbon with their board, the AFB 50 in winter of 2013. Started riding spring of 2014. No problems. It is a great foil and board! It both looks and performs very well. I have bottomed out with it at speed a few times in sand, gravel and mud. No issues aside from some scratches on the wing tips that don't affect performance a bit.