NSW
4521 posts
Thinking of getting a bigger sail around 7.5m to get my Tabou 105 going in marginal conditions.
The recommended sail range is 4.5 to 7.0. (or 4.5 to 6.5, depending on who you believe). Would there be a problem using a 7.5? Would simply getting a bigger fin do the job?
Thanks,
Harrow.
WA
152 posts
I tried my 7.5m on my 105ltr board recently. Same thing, wind dropped of and my 6m was not much cop. The 7.5m felt entirely over the top and uncomfortable. Went in and out, then changed to my 130ltr - much better. I would suggest that the max of 7m is just that.
It may have been better with a bigger fin, but I couldn't be bothered to muck around when I had the right board anyway.
WA
398 posts
I use a 7.5 Overdrive with an Stype 104. I am planing and going upwind well in 11 knots (experiment with fuller rigging settings on your 7.5 - flat rigging will knock your bottom end up to 13 or 14 knots) With a 6.0 that figure would be more like 15 / 16 knots. A big difference on the marginal days.
As long as the 7.5 has a good efficient foil the combination will work well. Also bad low boom technique will make a 7.5 fee heavy - get the boom sitting semi high on the cutout and the rig will feel light.
The combination works beautifully and has actually won me some good prizes in the ledge to lancelin marathon (finishing right up in the top of the fleet - on a 7.5 no cam sail!) - so there is proof positive that it works.
My reccomendation - look at A Severne no cam NCX 7.5 OR go full mega performance with the Overdrive 7.5.
WA
40 posts
I can vouch for the 7.5 NCX. I've used one on a 95ltr board. A little big for that board in the light winds but it did work. The NCX has good low end power to pull you up onto the plane in winds you thought would never be enough.
I'd imagine how a 7.5 goes on a 105 ltr board will depend on the actual board, it will work on some 105ltr boards but not others. I've never used a Tabou so I can't comment on that. Can you borrow a 7.5 from someone? It will also depend on your skill and weight.
Cheers
Brett
NSW
4521 posts
What is it that actually limits the recommended max sail size for a board? Is it board length, width, fin size? If you planing, then I would have thought the only critical factors were the tail and the fin, so the length wouldn't matter so much?
How does all this work out?
QLD
217 posts
Factors limiting max sail size I reckon are-
1. board width.
2. tail width.
3. Sailor's weight.
4. Fin style and size.
5. board volume.
Roughly in that order, imho.
If you're very light, you can use bigger sails than reccomended.
QLD
14968 posts
i think it only comes down to fin and mast track position...
QLD
1674 posts
Loads of factors, like my hypersonic, i hav run my 10m on it (105lit) and works well. but then, the hyper is a board on its own ;)
QLD
14968 posts
hi harrow.
what should have probably been more appropriate would have been mast position in the track. but the track plays a big part because some are shorter than others. the position of the track is based partly on the sail sizes recommended for the board.
i think the most important aspect is the fin. i have used big sails on short wide boards and big sails on long narrow boards. even boards with old school tail widths and massive 70cm fins. at the end of the day if the fin is too small and the track not long enough or far enough forward the big sails aren't much good. i think about 1250 from the back strap is normal?
the basic rules are
For bigger sails, move base forward.
For smaller sails, move base back.
For more control, move base forward.
For more speed, move base back.
To make board track better, move base forward.
To make board "looser", move track back.
QLD
3419 posts
Not sure about the mast track position.
I do agree with the size on the fin but also the width of the board.
The wider the board the bigger the fin it can carry therefore the a bigger sail.
ta Vando
