Rear Stabilizer Differences

Rear stabilizers are probably the least understood component of a given foil system.  You hear a lot of chatter on the front foil.  And the distances between the front foil and the mast, and the mast and the rear stabilizer are things most people know how performance is impacted.

But there are just several things going on simultaneously with rear stabilizers -

For the AFS Enduro 900 - while on Foil Drive - I have historically used the HA40 stabilizer.  It works well - turns nicely, provides a lot of support, and glides easy.

I recently tried using the HA38 with the FD setup.  The system turned harder and picked up speed, but it lost the support (for pumping) and even though there was less form drag, it seemed to lose the "glide".

When you line up the HA38 and HA40, it isn't hard to see there is less chord, span and surface area in the HA38.

Now to mix things up, I recently got a Mako Carve 130

The photo above shows the HA40 and the Mako Carve 130, with the Mako having:

- less span

- maybe the same/similar surface area

- more chord and more of it centered

- narrower tips

Today was my third time using the Mako.  The first time I used it, the waves were decent sized and the system felt way more pitchy.  The second time I used it the waves had gotten a little smaller, and I had gotten used to the pitch "looseness" and even started using it to my advantage - banking turns harder.

Looking at the HA40 and the Mako - they probably have nearly the same surface area - just distributed very differently.

Today the waves were even smaller.  I was originally thinking I should put the HA40 to make sure I could get across flat sections - but then the tester in me said screw it, see what happens.

When Foil Drive-ing, the lower end of the foil system is never really an issue for me.  I just jam the throttle and get to foiling speed and take the drop on a wave - I have all the energy I need and don't worry about dropping off.  So riding with the Mako Carve/Enduro 900 was not really an issue today - I got the same performance even with the smaller waves.

I wouldn't say the same if I were prone foiling - I can't just pull a trigger and get powered up.

Long story short - the Mako Carve 130 will likely stay paired up with the AFS Enduro 900 for Foil Drive-ing.