In that thread, he posts a chart that confirms my impression - at the speeds we travel 600-800 is fine. However at speeds pros race, it's worth it to use a higher grit. And that's the problem about "research". The serious money is trying to figure out how to make an AC foil go faster in the area of 36-50 kts which really doesn't apply to us.
Probably a bigger deal is fill in those dings and scratches, and make sure your wings are clean of grease, fingerprints, tef-gel, etc. The biggest thing slowing me down is the small size of my... fortitude, limiting my ability to send it down wind for fear of ripping the nose of my board straight off.
The GPS max speed can be way off. Rather than using 1, 2, 5 or whatever seconds, I think the logical thing to do would be to use the 90th percentile, or average of the top 10% of speeds. That said, no matter how one measures it, the wind speed is also being measured (indirectly though board speed) at the same time, like it or not. Same can be said for sailor efficiency* and state of the water. I like some of the things on Windsport tracker like % of time planing and moving average speed, upwind/downwind speed.
I too would be much faster if I were braver. I've found it's easy enough to get hurt doing something stupid slowly. I'm rather not find out what happens doing something stupid and fast.
* Or inefficiency. I've got Dashware video somehwere showing I did hit my max speed from getting launched......
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I ordered a FoilDrive plus last week. It should be more consistent for these kind of tests on flat no-wind days.
My mast is the only thing I'm currently interested in sanding. But maybe this summer, if I find a good affordable GPS watch I could play around with some comparisons. This stuff really got me curious.
If GPS watch is out of budget, consider getting a recent model Android phone (like last 5 yrs) off ebay, waterproof bag and this app: https://www.windsporttracker.com I tuck the bag in the back zipper pouch of my impact vest. I'm using my old Moto 5 - you can find them on ebay for $50-60. Added bonus is you can make 911 calls on the water if you need that.
Lots of nifty features plus audio call out of speeds plus you can download the files for more examination of those "peak" speeds.
Don't sand your mast if aluminum. Not worth it and you lose the protective anodization.
One thing about getting a GPS - most of us are going slower than we realize.
Yeah speed is relative. I really don't care that much about going fast, because for me that's usually followed by crashing fast?. But I guess it's inevitable, at some point you always want to go a little faster.
I think Gong dropped the ball on the V2 to aluminium mast finish. The V1 had a smoother matte finish but this V2 has a 80-100 grit sand blasted like finished. It Wong be to hard to improve that. The coating won't be a problem, me and aluminum go way back, but thanks for the heads up.
I ordered a FoilDrive plus last week. It should be more consistent for these kind of tests on flat no-wind days.
My mast is the only thing I'm currently interested in sanding. But maybe this summer, if I find a good affordable GPS watch I could play around with some comparisons. This stuff really got me curious.
Please keep us informed on your foil drive when you get it.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Yeah speed is relative. I really don't care that much about going fast, because for me that's usually followed by crashing fast?. But I guess it's inevitable, at some point you always want to go a little faster.
I think Gong dropped the ball on the V2 to aluminium mast finish. The V1 had a smoother matte finish but this V2 has a 80-100 grit sand blasted like finished. It Wong be to hard to improve that. The coating won't be a problem, me and aluminum go way back, but thanks for the heads up.
An alternative idea is to coat it with a satin clear enamel and build up a layer thick enough to wet sand without touching the anodization. Sounds like you are good, though. Will be interested in what approach you take. And, like Randy, we are all interested in how the Foil Drive turns out. Are you getting the v1 or turbo v2 ?
The V2, Plus version. I considered making one myself but I have no RC experience, the time to learn all those in's and out's and getting all the parts i figured id be better off just buying the FD-P. aside from the $250 for shipping and the price for the extra it seem pretty reasonable. I do plain on making my own a back up batteries.
I just mainly want to minimize the chance of mast ventilation again. I'm sanding, then painting, and the last finish will be on the paint. After sanding my 85cm mast I could see why they likely basted it with such rough grit. The extrusion surface imperfection lines were probably more than expected.
I forgot to mention that powder-coating is also an option. My Tillo foil came with a powder-coated fuse and they are easily sanded within reason.
The V2 is exciting - even some efoiling on light days!
I don't think that mast ventilation is a really big issue as much as the wings. We've only seen it in windsurfing at high speeds (ie excess of 30 kts). I'd pay a lot more attention to the wings first. Of course, I fully understand having a mast that looks like it has chicken pox might bug someone (including me) and can understand the desire to get it smooth.
dachopper has been at it a while: https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Foiling/Polish-makes-you-go-Faster--?page=1
In that thread, he posts a chart that confirms my impression - at the speeds we travel 600-800 is fine. However at speeds pros race, it's worth it to use a higher grit. And that's the problem about "research". The serious money is trying to figure out how to make an AC foil go faster in the area of 36-50 kts which really doesn't apply to us.
Probably a bigger deal is fill in those dings and scratches, and make sure your wings are clean of grease, fingerprints, tef-gel, etc. The biggest thing slowing me down is the small size of my... fortitude, limiting my ability to send it down wind for fear of ripping the nose of my board straight off.
The GPS max speed can be way off. Rather than using 1, 2, 5 or whatever seconds, I think the logical thing to do would be to use the 90th percentile, or average of the top 10% of speeds. That said, no matter how one measures it, the wind speed is also being measured (indirectly though board speed) at the same time, like it or not. Same can be said for sailor efficiency* and state of the water. I like some of the things on Windsport tracker like % of time planing and moving average speed, upwind/downwind speed.
I too would be much faster if I were braver. I've found it's easy enough to get hurt doing something stupid slowly. I'm rather not find out what happens doing something stupid and fast.
* Or inefficiency. I've got Dashware video somehwere showing I did hit my max speed from getting launched......
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I ordered a FoilDrive plus last week. It should be more consistent for these kind of tests on flat no-wind days.
My mast is the only thing I'm currently interested in sanding. But maybe this summer, if I find a good affordable GPS watch I could play around with some comparisons. This stuff really got me curious.
If GPS watch is out of budget, consider getting a recent model Android phone (like last 5 yrs) off ebay, waterproof bag and this app: https://www.windsporttracker.com I tuck the bag in the back zipper pouch of my impact vest. I'm using my old Moto 5 - you can find them on ebay for $50-60. Added bonus is you can make 911 calls on the water if you need that.
Lots of nifty features plus audio call out of speeds plus you can download the files for more examination of those "peak" speeds.
Don't sand your mast if aluminum. Not worth it and you lose the protective anodization.
One thing about getting a GPS - most of us are going slower than we realize.
Yeah speed is relative. I really don't care that much about going fast, because for me that's usually followed by crashing fast?. But I guess it's inevitable, at some point you always want to go a little faster.
I think Gong dropped the ball on the V2 to aluminium mast finish. The V1 had a smoother matte finish but this V2 has a 80-100 grit sand blasted like finished. It Wong be to hard to improve that. The coating won't be a problem, me and aluminum go way back, but thanks for the heads up.
Please keep us informed on your foil drive when you get it.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
webguy
The V2, Plus version. I considered making one myself but I have no RC experience, the time to learn all those in's and out's and getting all the parts i figured id be better off just buying the FD-P. aside from the $250 for shipping and the price for the extra it seem pretty reasonable. I do plain on making my own a back up batteries.
I just mainly want to minimize the chance of mast ventilation again. I'm sanding, then painting, and the last finish will be on the paint. After sanding my 85cm mast I could see why they likely basted it with such rough grit. The extrusion surface imperfection lines were probably more than expected.
I forgot to mention that powder-coating is also an option. My Tillo foil came with a powder-coated fuse and they are easily sanded within reason.
The V2 is exciting - even some efoiling on light days!
I don't think that mast ventilation is a really big issue as much as the wings. We've only seen it in windsurfing at high speeds (ie excess of 30 kts). I'd pay a lot more attention to the wings first. Of course, I fully understand having a mast that looks like it has chicken pox might bug someone (including me) and can understand the desire to get it smooth.
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