Fanatic 5’4” foil board?

[Caribsurf]

Thinking about buying a Fanatic 5’4” foil board.  I currently ride the 6’6” 115 liter Sky Sup foil board and like it, but feel I could shorter,  I weigh 180 lbs and am advanced surfer , windsurfer and SUP surfer so I think I could handle 5’4” and 95 liters but not certain.  Ideally I’d like the 5’8” Fanatic @ 110 liters but they are in short supply...

Thoughts?  Anyone riding the 5’4”?    Thanks in advance

[Califoilia]

The length is definitely doable, it's just be a matter of whether you'll be comfortable on a board that'll be floating just at the waterline or slightly below it.

I recently paddled a 5'1 @ 99 liters comfortably at me 185 lbs, but it was certainly a challenge paddling into waves with it, because I was pushing a lot of water, instead of gliding on top of it.

So when I ordered my 5'1x27" SUP foil board, I thickened it up a bit to get a more comfortable, and easier paddling 102.5 liters in it. Just know that you won't be getting as many waves with a smaller, less volumed board as you do with your current board.

But if you're willing to give up a few waves to gain the added maneuverability, and pump-ability of a much shorter, smaller board...then that 5'4 might be what you're looking for. My current board is 5'7x28"@104 liters, which catches waves great, and is so much better in the air than my older 6'0x28.5"@110 liter board.

[Caribsurf]

Thanks Califoilia, good info.

I should have mentioned this board is a wing foil board and not a SUP foil board.  I can still use the 6’6” to foil surf.

The 5’4” is specifically designed for wing foiling which is another reason I was questioning its stability.

[RobM]

Thinking about buying a Fanatic 5’4” foil board.  I currently ride the 6’6” 115 liter Sky Sup foil board and like it, but feel I could shorter,  I weigh 180 lbs and am advanced surfer , windsurfer and SUP surfer so I think I could handle 5’4” and 95 liters but not certain.  Ideally I’d like the 5’8” Fanatic @ 110 liters but they are in short supply...Thoughts?  Anyone riding the 5’4”?    Thanks in advance

@Caribsurf, I'm same weight and 10+lbs with full rubber up here in PNW (Vanc.Isl), riding the 5'0 Sky Wing. Similar story, went from my sup foil BluePlanet 6'6 116 lt to the 5'0 75 lt sky for winging only. I have to get up onto board and onto knees with wing in air very quickly to balance as it's very pitchy twitchy, you cant just sit there on knees or stand without wing pressure. It's a combination of the narrow width (24") and short length that make for a really small balance point/zone on the board while dead in the water, but I love it once up and winging it's is sooo much fun on a small board, and it actually made transitions so much easier for me.  There are times i have to prone paddle out to wind line or in from wind line.   That being said, I have a friend with the 5'4 Sky Wing and he to loves his board and has none of the issues that I have for stability as it's a considerably wider board, more length, and with 20 litres more volume.  He was a windsport rookie going directly to the 5'4 Sky. He is 165 and 10+lbs with rubber, so close to you if you're not all bundled up too?  I'm quite sure, I would have no issues with the 5'4 too at those dimensions, haven't tried his board yet but hope to.

For a dedicated wing board, if you're keen to advance, I'm sure you'd love the 5'4 Sky Wing (or something similar in volume, like DW's). I don't think I would be going bigger than 100 lt (floats 220 lbs), you won't need it at 20+ litres over your weight, and the length just takes up space once you're flying!

[Califoilia]

Thanks Califoilia, good info.

I should have mentioned this board is a wing foil board and not a SUP foil board.  I can still use the 6’6” to foil surf.

The 5’4” is specifically designed for wing foiling which is another reason I was questioning its stability.

Roger that. Saw you mention everything but wingdinging in your post, but should have realized that being that you posted it in the "Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP" section.

So from what I've seen (I don't wingding myself), 95 liters will be more than enough for winging, and you could probably go even lower with a little experience.

From what I'm told, the wing adds stability wanting to hold or pull you up once you get it above your head...in essence, making you lighter as it pulls you up off the board somewhat.

The general rule of thumb I've heard for winging board volume is your weight in kgs. So at 180 lbs, a wingboard even down around 81-82 liters would work for you (I use weight in kgs + 20 (give or take) for my SUP foil boards) .

[Caribsurf]

More Good info Califoila, and since I will SUP foil in surf as well, that is very helpful.  Right now trying to advance with my winging.

I think my SKY SUP will do well in the smaller waves and swells...I expect to get out and try it soon.
thanks again

[Caribsurf]

Thinking about buying a Fanatic 5’4” foil board.  I currently ride the 6’6” 115 liter Sky Sup foil board and like it, but feel I could shorter,  I weigh 180 lbs and am advanced surfer , windsurfer and SUP surfer so I think I could handle 5’4” and 95 liters but not certain.  Ideally I’d like the 5’8” Fanatic @ 110 liters but they are in short supply...Thoughts?  Anyone riding the 5’4”?    Thanks in advance

@Caribsurf, I'm same weight and 10+lbs with full rubber up here in PNW (Vanc.Isl), riding the 5'0 Sky Wing. Similar story, went from my sup foil BluePlanet 6'6 116 lt to the 5'0 75 lt sky for winging only. I have to get up onto board and onto knees with wing in air very quickly to balance as it's very pitchy twitchy, you cant just sit there on knees or stand without wing pressure. It's a combination of the narrow width (24") and short length that make for a really small balance point/zone on the board while dead in the water, but I love it once up and winging it's is sooo much fun on a small board, and it actually made transitions so much easier for me.  There are times i have to prone paddle out to wind line or in from wind line.   That being said, I have a friend with the 5'4 Sky Wing and he to loves his board and has none of the issues that I have for stability as it's a considerably wider board, more length, and with 20 litres more volume.  He was a windsport rookie going directly to the 5'4 Sky. He is 165 and 10+lbs with rubber, so close to you if you're not all bundled up too?  I'm quite sure, I would have no issues with the 5'4 too at those dimensions, haven't tried his board yet but hope to.

For a dedicated wing board, if you're keen to advance, I'm sure you'd love the 5'4 Sky Wing (or something similar in volume, like DW's). I don't think I would be going bigger than 100 lt (floats 220 lbs), you won't need it at 20+ litres over your weight, and the length just takes up space once you're flying!

Hey Rob, that is very encouraging news and thank you very much. Wow you are on the 5'0  that sounds so tiny.   
Knowing that a virtual beginner started with the 5'4" gives me more confidence that I will be fine on that board.  It's possible the much larger Sky SUP foil board might be holding me back some as well.  I was set on the 5'8" @ 110 liters, but maybe I will go via the 5'4"  They are in demand, so if I could always sell it if I didn't like it but I am sure I will like it.

[Admin]

Hi Carib,

I bought the 5'4 last spring and rode it all last season on every wing-able day.  It is the one.  We have the 4'8 as well and we had the 5'0.  I have also ridden the 5'8.

The 5'4 is different from all of the other Sky Wings i that it has no tail chop and is flat out to the rails (no bevels).  That maxes out its volume for its size and combined with zero tail rocker it makes it very fast on the surface. 

It is super easy to get foiling in light wind, lets you ride smaller foils, is reasonably stable, and remains great fun when it is full-on nuts. 

The other boards in the line are OK.  The 5'8 is bigger and more stable but is kind of a dog to get moving.  The smaller boards are fun once up, but frankly they would be way better with the flatter maxed out design of the 5'4. 

A lot of the fancy pants shaper stuff really has no positive result on wing boards.  The 5'4 is almost like an unshaped board.  It is a block with some nose rocker...and that works great for winging. 

The only downside is that it is heavy.  If and when the make a lighter one, I will buy it again.

[Caribsurf]

Thanks so much Admin, I knew you would offer some helpful  insight since you have owned many Fanatic boards.  I appreciate your feedback , and glad to hear the 5'4" in your estimation is THE board.
I am just about sold on this board...

Can I ask how much you weigh?

[Admin]

I am 172 right now but I rode it at 180 towards the end of summer .  It is a great size for us.

[Caribsurf]

I am 172 right now but I rode it at 180 towards the end of summer .  It is a great size for us.

Perfect, thanks again...good incentive to stay in shape so the board floats me

[Caribsurf]

Just ordered the 5’4”.  Very excited to have a wing foiling specific board!  Thanks for everyone’s helpful input.

[gone_foiling]

Awesome, congratulations! I received my first wing board - 5.4 quatro wing drifter. Still waiting on florida to deliver some winds for maiden voyage.

[PonoBill]

I had a 5'4" Sky Board which I sold pretty quickly. At my size it was a complete bitch to get up on, and the few times I managed to I was sweating gumdrops about falling on the far side of the river. I went to the extreme of making some training wheels for it (yeah. stupid) but they didn't help at all, the instability is in pitching forward, not simply the fact that it was at least 6 pounds of buoyancy shy of floating me. It's a startlingly heavy board for its size so that weight has to be subtracted from the 95L.  I figured net available buoyancy to be about 89 liters.

I loved the feel once I got up on it, but I only managed that a few times. Mostly I just flopped around until I got fed up and grabbed my 6'4" Flying Dutchman. 

[Caribsurf]

Thanks Pono, even if its a heavy board, its still 3lbs lighter than the 6’6”...It also has a handle next to the foil box, so it will be a lot easier carry.   15 lbs isn’t that heavy to me, and hopefully heavier equates to more durable...