Entry level cost effective foil

[plummet]

Hey bro's

I'm keen to try hydrofoiling and am interested in making my own foil.

However i would prefer to buy a cost effective foil first to learn on then think about building a better unit once i know what i like and dont like.

I already have a board that i can use so I simply need the mast and foils without board. What are my options and costs? Are the latest cheaper aluminium designs worth to learn on?

There seems to be very little second hand here in nz. What does come up for sale is usually board and hydrafoil for $2000nzd. I need to lay my hands on something for less than $1000nzd.

[revhed]

Are the latest cheaper aluminium designs worth to learn on?

From what I have read you are more than capable of making your own wings, drilling holes, countersinking.
Sorce a STRUT, alu, from either Zeeko or The kitefoil, Manta, cosmetic defect, not funny foil, to thick and poor profile.
Get some square alu stock at least 3mm wall thickness, Thicker would be fine, 24mm or so wide, for fuse.
Alu board base plate 8mm thick to allow counter sunk M8s to be flush.
2 x 1 cm anti crush tubes inside fuse at STRUT around M8 fuse to STRUT screws.
Make a simple curved male wing mold or be more creative and make a profiled mold, Clark Y ok.
A flat bottom profile for the bottom front wing and top for the rear flys just fine and easy to set A o As.
I am happy to provide specs for a good F ,R wing to learn on.
Straight T E are easier to get nice.
I am sure you have or can find a board that will work.
Cheap, strong, a little heavy but to learn no prob.
Easy to test diffrent wings.
Just drill holes as accurate as possible, respect 90° angles.
See my ALU DIY post thread. Use product, sacrificial anode, to help combat galvanic corrision.
GO FOR IT, been awhile you have been sitting on the fence, hop over.
R H

[Starsky]

However i would prefer to buy a cost effective foil first to learn on then think about building a better unit once i know what i like and dont like.

A better unit? I'm sure the guys at Zeeko get a chuckle out of statements like that.

I bought theirs, put it on my own boards, under $1000 CDN to my door.

[jespin4845]

zeeko aluminum is hard to beat, if it weighed less it would be perfect

[plummet]

However i would prefer to buy a cost effective foil first to learn on then think about building a better unit once i know what i like and dont like.

A better unit? I'm sure the guys at Zeeko get a chuckle out of statements like that.

I bought theirs, put it on my own boards, under $1000 CDN to my door.

That would be $1600nzd landed to my door.

[plummet]

Are the latest cheaper aluminium designs worth to learn on?

From what I have read you are more than capable of making your own wings, drilling holes, countersinking.
Sorce a STRUT, alu, from either Zeeko or The kitefoil, Manta, cosmetic defect, not funny foil, to thick and poor profile.
Get some square alu stock at least 3mm wall thickness, Thicker would be fine, 24mm or so wide, for fuse.
Alu board base plate 8mm thick to allow counter sunk M8s to be flush.
2 x 1 cm anti crush tubes inside fuse at STRUT around M8 fuse to STRUT screws.
Make a simple curved male wing mold or be more creative and make a profiled mold, Clark Y ok.
A flat bottom profile for the bottom front wing and top for the rear flys just fine and easy to set A o As.
I am happy to provide specs for a good F ,R wing to learn on.
Straight T E are easier to get nice.
I am sure you have or can find a board that will work.
Cheap, strong, a little heavy but to learn no prob.
Easy to test diffrent wings.
Just drill holes as accurate as possible, respect 90° angles.
See my ALU DIY post thread. Use product, sacrificial anode, to help combat galvanic corrision.
GO FOR IT, been awhile you have been sitting on the fence, hop over.
R H

Yeah I know I can build one. But it would take me a lot of time. Time is something I am very short on at the moment.

[FLandOBX]

Related question....how particular does a beginner need to be about which board to use with a production foil. So, assume it's a Zeeko mast, wings, fuselage...can you attach the unit to most anything? Again, talking about a beginner. Can you put it on an old twin tip, take off the footstraps, and make decent progress learning to foil?

[Mossy 757]

I learned on a Sword 2 and think it's just wonderful. They're not super expensive...you can get a used Spotz2 for next to nothing on the 2nd hand market. Bay Area Kiteboarding has a classified forum with 4 or 5 good options available right now.

as far as board selection, make sure it has enough volume to hold you up when you're riding on the surface. I have a buddy with a nice wide floaty Delta foilboard and I have the Taaroa Addict board...his learning progression for transitions has been WAY easier because the Delta board doesn't mind touching down and cruising on the surface. The Taaroa board is relatively smallish, so it wants to go underwater when I put my full body weight on it.

[revhed]

make sure it has enough volume

And nose scoop, unlike a certain low cost brands board, not even purpose built for KBHFs, if you get my sense of humor, not "funny" for beginners!
R H

[davesails7]

1000 NZD (about 650 US $) is pretty low for a new foil.

I think the only one selling a foil that cheap is thekitefoil.com with their manta foil starter setup. They have an option for a plate setup which would be easier to attach to your board. Not sure what their price for shipping to New Zealand would be.

I haven't tried it. Heard some mixed reviews, but overall reviews looked good.