Ceramic coating foils?

[consumer]

So now ceramic coating sprays are being pumped for foils.

Anyone have experience with coatings on foils and how they might influence performance? Is a hydrophobic coating desirable?

[evan]

Source?

Are they also using it on the America's Cup or the formula kite foils already? If not I would say it is just a way to earn money.

[nothing2seehere]

Wouldn't a hydrophobic coating be more prone to cavitation (or ventilation or whatever the term is where air bubbles attach themselves to the bits under the water). That wouldn't seem like the way to make things faster for racing?

[Matty V]

Additional surface coatings on AC foils are prohibited.

They use an epoxy based paint called Durepox or Durepox extreme that takes a sanded/wet sanded finish and is incredibly hard wearing and resistant to cavitation damage

It isnt cheap

[evan]

I know the performance foils aim to be as hydrophilic as possible, so also confused about a hydrophobic coating. Would make for an extremely ventilating foil!


Tried googling, but only found this: https://www.armouredlabs.com/products/surf-guard-250

They don't target foils specifically. My only guess is that the surface finish on normal foils is so bad that any coating would improve their performance? Or the hydrodynamics work differently on those big slow SUP/Wing foils, but I think a good sanding finish would be better than a spray coating..

[darippah]

I would imagine that hydrophobic would cause a foil to go really really fast... BUT lose all it's lift

[downunder]

Is Sebfoil or Moses hydrophobic?

All my Moses gear is ultrashine. This might be a PU coating tho. Dunno.

Mike Lab is matt, so I guess prepped for performance.

[Matty V]

Kiters like shiney things and believe the marketing dept

Racers like things that are fast.. that’s the difference

[windmaker]

Is Sebfoil or Moses hydrophobic?

All my Moses gear is ultrashine. This might be a PU coating tho. Dunno.

Mike Lab is matt, so I guess prepped for performance.

Anyone with minimum racing experience in sailing, windsurfing, foiling etc knows that mat surfaces have less friction than shiny surfaces. Moses probably thinks that looks are more important, and most first-time buyers have no idea. One of the reasons I never gave a second look at Moses foils.

[Matty V]

Oh come on Short of the Brands that actually make racing foils everyone of them paints Laquers, polished or makes it look pretty with stupid fucking stickers