Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

Small stabilizers

A forum dedicated to Hydrofoil riders
User avatar
Peter_Frank
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 12734
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:00 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Denmark
Has thanked: 1007 times
Been thanked: 1187 times

Small stabilizers

Postby Peter_Frank » Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:03 pm

Are GREAT !!!

I am not into monofoils, not my cup of tea for a couple of reasons, even though I admire the few who are excellent at riding these.


But using really small stabilizers is awesome.

My "big" stab now, is an S (for Small), which is 233 cm2, and can be used for everything.

But I have just ridden a 175 cm2 stab the last couple of days, first on the allround WaveXL wing (790 cm2), and yesterday on my ultimate lightwind wing 1100 cm2 and higher AR.

It works just dandy!

More lively so turning and carving is even more fun, and doing 360s is easier.

The most important thing though is, that you (I) dont miss out on the lovely driving feel in a turn - which feels soooo great (and is lost when going stabless in my, agreed not long, experience)

I have used stabs from 200 cm2 up to 340 cm2 before, and definitely prefer the smaller ones, ALSO for my big wings 1100 and 1200 cm2.

The foil gets really lively as said, but for some reason it is not more difficult to make flying foot switches for me - odd, as I would have expected that.
Maybe it is because the "pop" with the rear foot is easier to do now?

Only downside is for beginners, as they will "Billy Bronco Rodeo Ride" with these small ones, no doubt :wink:
So bigger stabs are good for learning, indeed :thumb:

But when you move on, you can go down A LOT, in size, just like some start with a short mast and go up in a longer one later.


Yesterday in 6-7 knots only, Kruiser wing, using a 10 m2 Storm one-strut tubekite, amazing and only possible because of the 1100 cm2 high lift main wing :rollgrin:

The stab is small 170-175 cm2:


Image


Looks small, compared to the main wing, right?

Image


So no matter which foil you got, if you like to ride waves and play around, also in marginal winds which isnt any harder, try a smaller stab :rollgrin:

8) Peter
These users thanked the author Peter_Frank for the post (total 2):
Huib (Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:38 pm) • alowishus (Thu Jun 13, 2019 5:47 am)
Rating: 6.06%

Huib
Frequent Poster
Posts: 202
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:23 pm
Kiting since: 2015
Local Beach: Brouwersdam, Ouddorp
Style: Hydrofoil
Gear: Groove Full carbon Wave, Ketos 118cm board, Ketos Foil, BRM Cloud E8+ 6.2 +4.8+3.7+ 2.8+2.2
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Rotterdam
Has thanked: 30 times
Been thanked: 27 times
Contact:

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby Huib » Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:37 pm

Interesting. Is this stab from Ketos? I don't see it on there website.

User avatar
Peter_Frank
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 12734
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:00 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Denmark
Has thanked: 1007 times
Been thanked: 1187 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby Peter_Frank » Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:57 pm

Huib wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:37 pm
Interesting. Is this stab from Ketos? I don't see it on there website.

No, it was an other bigger stab I had, which I cut down, and sanded.

But they got the XS2 which is about the same shape and size 180 cm2, and also the G10 350 which is 193 cm2 :thumb:

8) Peter
These users thanked the author Peter_Frank for the post:
Wazza Foil (Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:06 pm)
Rating: 3.03%

slowboat
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 783
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2017 2:55 pm
Style: wave foiling
Gear: This and that
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 95 times
Been thanked: 104 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby slowboat » Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:22 am

Peter_Frank wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:57 pm
Huib wrote:
Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:37 pm
Interesting. Is this stab from Ketos? I don't see it on there website.

No, it was an other bigger stab I had, which I cut down, and sanded.

But they got the XS2 which is about the same shape and size 180 cm2, and also the G10 350 which is 193 cm2 :thumb:

8) Peter
I want to start experimenting with smaller stabs. So in general, with smaller stab there will be less lift, quicker turns, less pitch stability and less drag?

User avatar
jkrug
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 640
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:17 pm
Kiting since: 2005
Weight: 200 lbs
Gear: stuff
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 60 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby jkrug » Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:20 pm

yeah, my NP Large wing works so much better with the supplied small stabilizer. With the large stab, it's like being on a longboard regards turning.

User avatar
Peter_Frank
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 12734
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:00 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Denmark
Has thanked: 1007 times
Been thanked: 1187 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby Peter_Frank » Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:52 pm

Less lift?
No not really, as the stab is not a lifting device.
The small lift is downwards if any, and can be trimmed.

Much quicker turns indeed :thumb:

A bit more pitch lively, same as a bit less pitch stability yes, but as said, I am amazed at how easy they still are in jibes.

Less drag?
Yes a tad, but not really worth mentioning, so shouldnt be a deciding factor.

8) Peter
These users thanked the author Peter_Frank for the post:
slowboat (Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:19 am)
Rating: 3.03%

User avatar
Kamikuza
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 7057
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:49 am
Local Beach: Sabae Beach
Favorite Beaches: Ol' Stinky
Gear: This, that, the other
Has thanked: 220 times
Been thanked: 193 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby Kamikuza » Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:36 am

Peter_Frank wrote:
Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:52 pm
Less drag?
Yes a tad, but not really worth mentioning, so shouldnt be a deciding factor.

8) Peter
30% smaller, I'd have thought more than a tad...
These users thanked the author Kamikuza for the post:
slowboat (Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:19 am)
Rating: 3.03%

3InletsWindsports
Frequent Poster
Posts: 424
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:52 am
Local Beach: Shallow Inlet, Corner Inlet, Andersons inlet.
Favorite Beaches: Shallow Inlet, Point Danger.
Style: freeride
Gear: Zeeko
Brand Affiliation: Zeeko importer in Australia
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby 3InletsWindsports » Thu Jul 25, 2019 3:21 am

Tad less drag was the comment

User avatar
Peter_Frank
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 12734
Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:00 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Denmark
Has thanked: 1007 times
Been thanked: 1187 times

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby Peter_Frank » Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:28 am

Kamikuza wrote:
Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:36 am
Peter_Frank wrote:
Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:52 pm
Less drag?
Yes a tad, but not really worth mentioning, so shouldnt be a deciding factor.

8) Peter
30% smaller, I'd have thought more than a tad...

Did some fast calculations, and a 30 % smaller stab with say a 1200 cm2 wing, would only decrease the overall drag about 2 % even in the most ideal scenario foiling at speed only 20 cm mastlenght in the water.
And this drops to below 1 % if riding upwind or slow or turning, where induced drag more than doubles the main wing drag.

Unless you race, I wouldn't care at all about 1-2 percent drag difference, compared to the huge agility change :wink:

That was my point.

8) Peter

Huib
Frequent Poster
Posts: 202
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:23 pm
Kiting since: 2015
Local Beach: Brouwersdam, Ouddorp
Style: Hydrofoil
Gear: Groove Full carbon Wave, Ketos 118cm board, Ketos Foil, BRM Cloud E8+ 6.2 +4.8+3.7+ 2.8+2.2
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Rotterdam
Has thanked: 30 times
Been thanked: 27 times
Contact:

Re: Small stabilizers

Postby Huib » Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:44 am

I have the Ketos with the 1200cm frontwing combine with the Karver stab which is relatively large at 280 cm but for me very playfull and tight turns gives. Would like to try a smaller stab.
What is the difference between a shorter fuselage or using a smaller stab?


Return to “Hydrofoil”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: fleetrico, FunOnTheWater, Tomlutz and 164 guests