Fuselages / Top plates

Which foil mast?

Apart for launching, you have everything to gain using a long mast.

More length = more margin = easier = more efficient.

Unlike kite foil, in wing there’s little opposition to the wing because it doesn’t pull as hard. So we put relatively little angle on the mast to counter the pull. Thus mastering a large wing mast isn’t an issue.

And since the boards used are much bigger than for kite foil, the inertia is greater. As a result your foil is less crazy. Everything is calmer. So don’t be afraid of a long mast.

In choppy water, in transitions, in challenging winds, a large mast will be ten times more pleasant. Go on a mast of about 85cm, whether it is aluminium or carbon. This is the hey size.Shorter is a hassle.

Of course the must in freeride and race is the Carbon Monobloc 100cm. Absolutely magical. But the Alu 95cm are also amazing.

• For beginners: Alu 65cm at the start then 85cm.
• For the experienced: Alu 85cm (or 95cm in freeride), and Carbon Monobloc 85cm in freestyle and surfing or 100cm.
• For the Pros: Carbon Monoblock 85cm for freestyle and surfing; and 100cm to race.

What technology?

You have two main choices:

1/ Aluminum foils

Aluminium foils are those with an aluminium structure: platinum, mast, fuselage. But the wings are generally made of fiberglass, or glass plus carbon.

It is easy, quick to produce, and not expensive. Ideal for beginners but limited in dynamism and therefore in performance. The biggest disadvantage is corrosion, which requires good maintenance. The multiple pieces have inevitably some looseness, even if it is close to zero with our new conical fitting.

2/ Carbon foils

All the pieces are made of carbon, which doesn’t mean they are 100% carbon. The mechanical and technical constraints often require the addition of foam, Kevlar, glass, in key areas to mix the qualities and have no weakness.

The huge advantage of carbon is its dynamics. It is not necessarily stiffer than aluminium, contrary to what many people think, as an aluminium foil is by nature quite thick. But it will return to its original shape twice as fast as aluminium.

The sensations are maximum, and the piloting is precise and light at the same time.

Solidity of aluminium or carbon mast

• Aluminium can bend but rarely break. The carbon will return to its original shape unless you go beyond the critical point, which will cause it to break like glass…
• Aluminum can be bent and welded, but repairs are difficult. Whereas repairing carbon is very simple.

3/ High Modulus Carbon foils

TORAY M40J high modulus carbon offers incredible stiffness. It is a high-end carbon that delivers high mechanical properties while remaining resistant. A carbon popular in aeronautics as well as for high-end sports equipment. Its mechanical characteristics such as its superior tensile strength and Young’s modulus make it possible to obtain exceptional performance on the water.

The huge advantage of high-end carbon is its stiffness. To the point that it is not useful to put as much material as with other materials. Thus, we gain a significant weight, almost 20% compared to aluminum. And beyond the measured weight, the dynamism brings a feeling of liveliness and therefore of incredible lightness.

The HM coupled with the stringer increases the performance of this mast tenfold. The decrease in bending is around 30% and the decrease in torsion is around 40% compared to the V2 carbon mast, yet of excellent quality.

At GONG

• We only make top-of-the-range foils. Whether they are made of aluminium or carbon, they are well made and well thought-out foils. Our low prices can only be explained by our choice of exclusive direct distribution. At GONG you will not find Asian copies of well-known foils. We are shapers, designers, engineers and developers of our profiles, architectures, technologies and production processes, and all the skills that make a GONG product come alive are in-house.