Tail Foil History: Living Document

Initial publishing incomplete. This document has been uploaded early so it can be linked to another article.

Notes on any front foil + tail combo I have ridden.

A closer look and notes with each foil I ride and the tails I've matched:

Examples with medium aspect surf foils:

First off, here's the list of tails I've spent the most time on and some notes on them:

Cloud IX FS157

• Surface area 157cm²

• AR ? (Not published, medium aspect)

• Span 322mm

• Chord at fuse 85mm

• Chord next to fuse 62mm

• Chord 1" from tip 31mm

• Thickness max 5.9mm (thinnest "surf" tail)

• Thickness 1" from tip 3mm

• Sweep: Forward

• Stiffness/flex 9/10

• Build: Unknown Carbon

• Mileage: 1000+

Pro: This is my smoothest feeling tails.

Critique: The pump is very vertical with a "hit the breaks" drag vibe.

Foils I use it with: Only the Silk 650, to slow down and stay in the pocket.

Conclusion: Just surf it in conditions where you need to slow down. Don't pump it!

AFS Silk 132:

• Surface area 132cm²

• AR 6.8

• Span 300mm

• Chord at fuse 69.3mm

• Chord next to fuse 58.8mm

• Chord 1" from tip 31mm

• Thickness max 7.1mm

• Thickness 1" from tip 3.6mm

• Sweep: Rear

• Stiffness/flex: 10/10 (stiffest)

• Build: HR Carbon

• Mileage: 1009

Pro: Best tail for hard high performance turns.

Critique: This tail feels a bit slow and can be unforgiving when pumping through dead spots.

Foils I use it with: All Silk foils and the Enduro 700.

Conclusion: One of the best tails for winging I've ever used. Caution when using on DW runs.

KParts Mako Carve v2 130

• Surface area 130cm²

• AR ? (Not published, medium aspect)

• Span 295mm (shortest)

• Chord at fuse 67mm

• Chord next to fuse 58mm

• Chord 1" from tip 24mm

• Thickness max 6.75mm

• Thickness 1" from tip 3mm

• Sweep: Forward

• Stiffness/flex: 8/10

• Build: Unknown Carbon

• Mileage: 260

Pro: Best high performance DW surf tail I've ever used. The forward swept design is a joy to ride on my monoblock Silk setups.

Critique: There are some things about the universal design I dislike.

Foils I used it with: All Silk foils and the Enduro 700.

Conclusion: Excellent choice for surfing swell when it's well powered.

KParts Mako Glide v2 120

• Surface area 120cm²

• AR ? (Not published, high aspect)

• Span 350mm

• Chord at fuse 64mm

• Chord next to fuse 56mm

• Chord 1" from tip 20mm

• Thickness max 6.25mm

• Thickness 1" from tip 2.8mm

  • About 3.5% thinner at max and near the tips vs the HA 38.

• Sweep: Forward

• Stiffness/flex: 7/10

• Build: Unknown Carbon

• Mileage: 288

Pro: This is the best pumping tail I have ever used. The forward projection is shocking.

Critique: There are some things about the universal design I dislike.

Foils I used it with: All Enduro foils and the Silk 1050.

Conclusion: Insane tail for DW glide, speed, and reasonable surf. Some turbulence issues need to be addressed in future models.

AFS HA 38

• Surface area 135cm²

• AR 11.9

• Span 380mm

• Chord at fuse 70mm

• Chord next to fuse 43mm

• Chord 1" from tip 22mm

• Thickness max 6.5mm

• Thickness 1" from tip 2.9mm

• Sweep: Rear

• Stiffness/flex: 9/10

• Build: HM Carbon

• Mileage: ???

Pro: This is the most stable tail for roll I've ever ridden.

Critique: This is the most stable tail for roll I've ever ridden.

Foils I liked it with: Short front fuse foils on skinny masts. Ultra 750 is the only foil I used this on to help stabilize the experience with the 75cm skinny.

Conclusion: If you are racing DW or new to swell riding I can see the stability being of value. If you are looking for a surfy ride then another tail will serve you better.

AFS Ultra Glide 41

• Surface area 123cm²

• AR 13.7

• Span 410mm (widest)

• Chord at fuse 69mm

• Chord 1" from center 41mm

• Chord 1" from tip 17mm

• Thickness 1" from center: 4.8mm

• Thickness 1" from tip 3mm

• Sweep: Forward

• Stiffness/flex: 8/10

• Build: HM Carbon with HM Carbon Core

• Mileage: 897

Pro: The first UHA tail I've used. Completely altered my feelings around high span tails. Amazing glide and speed range.

Critique: While the UHA design turns far better than expected, this tail is too stable for my Silk 850 and smaller.

Foils I like it with: All Enduros and the Silk 1050.

Conclusion: Excellent tail with foils spanning 900mm and larger. Smaller foils do well with less span.

AFS Ultra Glide 39

• Surface area 113cm² (smallest)

• AR 13.9 (highest)

• Span 390mm

• Chord at center: 69mm

• Chord 1" from center: 39mm (shortest)

• Chord 1" from tip 14.4mm (shortest)

• Thickness 1" from center: 4.3mm (thinnest)

• Thickness 1" from tip 2.7mm (thinnest)

• Sweep: Forward

• Stiffness/flex: 8/10

• Build: HM Carbon with HM Carbon Core

• Mileage: under 100

Testing ongoing.

Next, here's those individual tails matched up with foil specific notes:

AFS Silk 1050

AR: 8

Span 916mm

Ratio with Silk 132 tail (132cm² area and 300mm span): 3.05

Result: High level pivot/snap turns but more sensitive to swell positioning.

Enjoyable? Yes, possibly my favorite light wind winging setup.

Ratio with Ultra Glide 41 tail (410mm span): 2.23

Result: Longboard vibes and dramatically better speed range.

Enjoyable? Yes. Invincibility setup when parawinging.

AFS Silk 850

AR: 8

Span 824mm

Ratio with Mako Carve 130 tail (130cm² area and 295mm span): 2.79

Result:

Enjoyable?

Ratio with Mako Glide 120 tail (350mm span): 2.35

Result:

Enjoyable?

Ratio with Silk 132 tail

Result:

Enjoyable?

AFS Silk 650

AR: 8

Span 720mm

Ratio with Silk 132 tail (132cm² area and 300mm span): 2.4

Result:

Enjoyable?

Ratio with Mako Glide 120 tail (350mm span): 2.06

Result:

Enjoyable?

Examples with high aspect foils:

AFS Enduro 800

AR: 11

Span 940mm

Ratio with Silk 132 tail (132cm² area and 300mm span):

Result:

Enjoyable?

Ratio with Ultra Glide 39 tail (390mm span):

Result:

Enjoyable?

Ratio with Ultra Glide 41 tail (410mm span): 2.23

Result: Longboard vibes and dramatically better speed range.

Enjoyable? Yes. Invincibility setup when parawinging.

AFS Ultra 750 Monoblock

AR: 14

Span 1024mm

Ratio with Ultra Glide 41 tail (410mm span):

***Shortened front fuse***

Result:

Evaluation:

AFS Enduro 700

AR: 11

Span 877mm

Ratio with Silk 132 tail (132cm² area and 300mm span): 2.92

Result: Speed, loose turns, susceptible to low end issues.

Enjoyable? Yes, preferred with wing over parawing.

Ratio with Ultra Glide 41 tail (410mm span): 2.14

Result: Speed, glide, longboard vibes.

Evaluation: Magic for linking on the parawing. Borderline for my style. With the ratio being this low and the front span being over 850mm I question the need for the 700's top end vs the style and looseness that would be gained from more span on the front.

Primary impacts on ride experience: Roll.

Important considerations: Your foil AR, mast chord, and fuselage design (short vs standard front fuse and short, medium, long tail fuse) will impact this dramatically.

Reminder: I ride a short chorded 75cm mast and a medium tail fuse most days.