I’ve browsed this site for a long time but just joined. I enjoy most board sports and I will be new to foiling when I try it and looking for advice. I’m interested to start foiling with something I can use behind a boat and for pump foiling. I do plan to use it surfing when I get to the beach in South FL, but I live in North Alabama so it will be mostly in lakes and behind a small Whaler.
My budget is about $400. I don’t have the money for a new (or I think even used) setup so I’m contemplating a home build. I’ve worked with fiberglass, wood and foam for a while so I’m comfortable building some or all of it. Not a lot of foiling going on in North Alabama so I think renting or even meeting other foilers won’t be likely.
I’d love to hear some general advice for someone looking to get started.
Some questions I have:
Are any parts worth buying vs home building?
Would I want a different front wing for pumping vs boat? any other different parts?
I probably have access to a good sized 3 axis cnc router.
I have an old skurfer I may be able to modify for foiling:
Hi Dan, welcome to Foil.Zone! Unfortunately I think $400 won’t get you far enough, even if you’re trying to make things yourself. Just shopping for used mast/wings you might struggle to find something near $400. Maybe there are options on Alibaba/Aliexpress, I haven’t looked much but I have a hard imagining something getting delivered below $400. A few people have made their own mast and wings, but it looks very challenging and most builds end up buying these parts.
You’ll need an esc, motor, and remote. Depending on what you get I think you can find those 3 for under $400. Then the battery, this can get pricey. If you make your own pack and buy some reclaimed cells you can likely spend under $400.
Basically I think each of those things (electronics, battery, mast/wing) can easily cost $400 or more on their own.
Thanks for the reply. Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I wasn’t planning on it making it electric. I would love to at some point in the future. But it sounds like even the materials for a DIY non electric foil are over $400.
Oh my bad, I had just assumed you wanted to build a foil assist.
You might find something used close to $400 if you search enough. Mackiteboarding has a few discounted foil/mast sets for $500 (but then you add some tax and shipping)
For the foil setup, it’s totally doable for 400$ being in the US. I’ve seen plenty of deals in the different buy/sell facebook groups for foilers. Ebay has some and you could make a ”wanted” ad here.
400$ with a board, even a scrapheap build, don’t think it’s realistic, it’ll probably be a 100$ more to get you a chance at getting something OK. But the US market is huge, you could get lucky
After looking I’m definitely convinced it’s worth buying used vs DIY build. Thanks for the suggestion to post a wanted ad. I’m leaning towards buying the foil setup and bolting to one of my old boards just to get out on the water to play, and then look for a proper foil board down the road.
I was looking at the Cabrinha H series 1200 on Mackiteboarding website. A little over my budget at $500, but free shipping. Im 75kg/165lb, would this setup for work for wake/surf/pump? Maybe it won’t work as well for pumping? I assume nothing is ideal for all 3.
aiming as a beginner to do all three on one setup is like not having a drivers license but planning to compete in dakar rally and formula one with the same car.
Pumping means huge wings and slow speeds, i wouldn’t consider it as a beginner with low budget. Take pumping as step two, or step ten😀
Nice! Thanks Josh. I’m close to the Tennessee river and an hour away from some lakes. I plan to learn behind a boat and see how it goes. I’m amazed at the pump foiling I’ve seen on YouTube and I’d like to learn eventually.
and looking for advice. I’m interested to start foiling with something I can use behind a boat and for pump foiling. I do plan to use it surfing when I get to the beach in South FL, but I live in North Alabama so it will be mostly in lakes and behind a small Whaler.
