Inflatable foil boards..

[Wetstuff]

Our new Swedish friend -who seems unfazed by coldwater- ping'd me this morning...

"I Was using a 5`8 rocket air yesterday and it was fine to pump it. "


Jim

[Admin]

Hi Wet,

Check out this vid of the Rocket Air.  Man, do I love drone video!  These are very tempting for travel.  I wonder about a concept where the stance and foil mount area could be rigid material and the rest inflatable. 

[Wetstuff]

He is clearly not in distress...   F-One seems a great choice in the category. It is a strong brand. They are priced well. I'd probably buy one if they had footstrap provisions ...and in another color other than Robbie Yellow.

Jim

[surfcowboy]

Admin, that's a great idea. 3' of platform would give you all you need.

Though I already think my travel rig will be a prone board. This would make SUP easy.

[Admin]

Admin, that's a great idea. 3' of platform would give you all you need.

This hybrid inflatable concept could work in a number of configurations, none of which would be limited to Tuttle.  In fact, it could provide a much more reliable foil mounting platform than laminated rigid boards and would allow full fore/aft foil adjustability and would allow multiple footstrap positions in pre-threaded M6 inserts for those who choose straps.  Of those, I have a design in mind that will work really well.  Ultimate portability with very few performance compromises when surface bound and potentially numerous advantages over fully rigid boards when on the foil.  It could also be a modular system offering multiple size/volume options per single rigid stance/foil/footstrap platform.  Due to its simplicity it could be inexpensive at top quality.  It could be an amazing way for new foilers to progress down through board sizes.  Experienced riders could have a quiver of board sizes in their Frunk with a single rigid platform or you could carry 3 or 4 board sizes with you on airlines in a normal, light check-on bag.  You could have your wing board, SUP board, surfboard, etc with you at all times with one foiling platform.  Show up and Blow up. 

The same design could be extended as a huge improvement to all inflatables for all watersports including the non-foiling flavors. 

[surfcowboy]

Admin, the efoil guys are on it.

http://www.cabratec.com/

Dig that inflatable efoil.

[Quickbeam]

Admin, the efoil guys are on it.

http://www.cabratec.com/

Dig that inflatable efoil.

Has anyone here tried one of these efoils? If so, what were your impressions?

[Admin]

Admin, the efoil guys are on it.

http://www.cabratec.com/

Holy crap!  I had pictured it with a narrower board slot but otherwise identical.  A mod on this design would be an outstanding travel option for Winging.  The deck plate could be be whatever size you wanted.  Thanks for the post!

[Wetstuff]

Boss,  I've been sniffing around the 'inflatable' contractor scene...  This may be the source of the one Cowboy posted.

https://ucsports.en.alibaba.com/product/62017944029-808188002/Hot_Inflatable_Foi_Board_Hydrofoil_Surfboard_Inflatable_Paddle_hydrofoil_efoil_Boards_for_E_Foil_5ft_8ft.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.33511.13.5b7c52ebUHiAwO


Jim

[Admin]

Boss,  I've been sniffing around the 'inflatable' contractor scene...  This may be the source of the one Cowboy posted.

https://ucsports.en.alibaba.com/product/62017944029-808188002/Hot_Inflatable_Foi_Board_Hydrofoil_Surfboard_Inflatable_Paddle_hydrofoil_efoil_Boards_for_E_Foil_5ft_8ft.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.33511.13.5b7c52ebUHiAwO


Jim

You are right Jim.  There it is!  Check out this one from the same factory.  They aren't doing much in the styling department and it loos like they are focused on electric but that general concept could be used to make some really nice inflatables for winging. 

[surfcowboy]

Admin, I had the same thought. Buy the inflatable part and make your own insert. It'd be pretty easy and if you did it right it could be super light. Some carbon tubing and a couple of sandwich deck plates and you'd have a serious travel rig. Imagine a large suitcase with your wing and sup foil rigs in it. 3 piece paddle and boom.

[Admin]

I'll be stoked to see what you build!

[supmmmm]

There was a very impressive rider down in DR last month. He was kiting but - his board if we can call it that resembled one of them brown McDonald's eat in trays which he bolted onto his foil. Dude ripped once get got it going 😉

[MLB]

My only worry is how the soft flexible inflatable affects the feel for the foil. Foiling is a finesse sport. You need delicate feel through your feet, for what the foil is doing to fly well. Sure a good foiler could deal with it long enough to make a YouTube promo video, but what about the kook trying to learn foiling. Does it add to the learning frustration

When a 20 psi board is fully inflated it's hard to tell that it's not a hard board.  They are not "soft" or especially flexible (cheapest ones at 15psi may be).