Let's talk about foiling

[telus022420]

Any production board is built with team rider input They're the ones that give feedback, therefore the board/sail is optimal for the size of the rider. If you have the same physical characteristic as the team rider the board should be golden for you.

Custom boards are built to your weight/size and perhaps your most sailed location. They would also have the latest proven designs.

I would also ensure it has rails to maximize flexibility in foil placement.

Perhaps you should ask from the following forum as the foiling participant and knowledge is extremely high. https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Foiling

[Michael]

At what point or why would you choose a custom Roberts foiling board over a Slingshot? I think that a (new) custom Roberts foiling board is around 3k and a Slingshot 2019/2020 is almost the same. Just looking for some feedback on quality, repair, design and cost.

The build quality will be way better and will outlast any production board. Plus he is working on some very cool new designs. Unfortunately you can't drop by the shop these days to check things out but here is a link to his facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

For those without facebook.....

[grantmac]

I wonder what benefit the cutaway tail has? Doesn't seem logical to reduce volume there unless it greatly reduces drag which I'm not seeing. Did he post a picture of the bottom?

[Michael]

Doesn't seem logical to reduce volume there unless it greatly reduces drag which I'm not seeing. Did he post a picture of the bottom?

You would need to ask the man himself about that, but here is another pic.

[grantmac]

Extremely parallel rails and looks completely flat on the bottom. The next few years will probably see some very interesting designs.
I was actually thinking it might be a catamaran underneath when I saw the first picture.

[adam2]

I was out on an easterly day at Jericho back in January where Rob had this board out, he had it paired with a high aspect front wing that was a meter or more in span. Needless to say he meant business on this thing, super fast and was pointing incredibly high (even for foiling) with a big Flyer sail. It was a very different setup than my Wizard with a low aspect wing and small sail. Comparing something like this with a Wizard is like comparing a sports car to an SUV.

[telus022420]

Taaroa Foil and Condor concept.

https://www.windfoilzone.com/post/intelligent-foil-and-windsurfing-innovations

[ZeroR2]

For those that purchased a new Slingshot (Levitator/Wizard/Dialer), did you wish that you just got a Roberts board? Is the resale value worse with a custom board (not extreme custom- meaning within normal volume)? The cost for a Roberts board isn't that much more with the higher USD (now) than a Slingshot new board.

[BigD]

Resale value on current foil gear is likely a crap shoot given how new foiling is, the speed of innovation and the relatively poor resale value of older windsurfing gear in general.

I watched Tony (Slingshot) a few times last summer, he used a few different boards. His gear seems more freestyle oriented, short nose, lots of up/downwind 360s, big S turns. Often staying on the same part of the river going in circles. The pros on his team are more into jumps and forwards etc.

Watching Dale and Bruce (on Roberts boards) is more like watching a formula or slalom race on foils. Long reaches at high speed and big smooth jibes at full speed.

I have the Dialer145, I'd like to demo a few different boards before I buy a different one, not sure which way I would go. I'm sure the Roberts boards would be very nice. I've even considered carving the nose off my Dialer and to make it a bit shorter. It works great as a paddle board form my 10yr Daughter as it is tho.

Make sure you check the fin box for compatibility with your foil (see my previous post with Bruce from Sailworks re: medium(Slingshot) vs Deep Tuttle

[grantmac]

Taaroa Foil and Condor concept.

https://www.windfoilzone.com/post/intelligent-foil-and-windsurfing-innovations

Yeah that's more what I was thinking. Getting very close to a miniature Moth dinghy.

I wonder how it will perform compared to a more traditional wide board? In theory better sub planing performance.