No difference whatsoever, just pick a board and foil that aligns with your level (beginner/intermediate etc.), weight and riding style. The only possible difference is that some mast tracks might be too far back or forward for specific foils.

AUS220 said..
No difference whatsoever, just pick a board and foil that aligns with your level (beginner/intermediate etc.), weight and riding style. The only possible difference is that some mast tracks might be too far back or forward for specific foils.

There is a little more to it that this, namely the rake built into the foilbox and angle between the deck and bottom. I ride F-One foils and always had F-One boards. Now I got an appletree which they advertise with "perfect parallel deck and bottom", and it requires me to put 1,5 degree of extra rake on the foil with mastplate shims to make it feel remotely the same, and that at the expense of takeoff. If I were to buy a new board it would definately be another F-One board.

next time at your local spot, take notice of all the wing boards riding nose low. There is still a lot wrong in this sport.

WhiteofHeart said..

AUS220 said..
No difference whatsoever, just pick a board and foil that aligns with your level (beginner/intermediate etc.), weight and riding style. The only possible difference is that some mast tracks might be too far back or forward for specific foils.

There is a little more to it that this, namely the rake built into the foilbox and angle between the deck and bottom. I ride F-One foils and always had F-One boards. Now I got an appletree which they advertise with "perfect parallel deck and bottom", and it requires me to put 1,5 degree of extra rake on the foil with mastplate shims to make it feel remotely the same, and that at the expense of takeoff. If I were to buy a new board it would definately be another F-One board.

How many brands offer shims though?

Currently at my spot there's nobody who rides the same brand of board and foil. Honestly, the only time I've ever really seen it is Armstrong fanboys or people who are paid for brand loyalty

Last two posts by TooMuchEpoxy -
yes
yes

Faff said..

SlowlyButSurely said..
Please don't make same mistake I made.
Board + Foil of same brand is the way to go.

Foils became so technical nowadays and you should think as board+foil as a unique eco system.
Especially with certain brands of foil (for example Armstrong) compatibility is really tricky.

The tail rocker of a board has tremendous impact on the way the foil behaves.

Unless you are ready to experiment with board shims (board nose up/down while riding) as well as stabilizer shims (more or less front foot pressure) do yourself a favor and get board and foil of same brand.

One exception is custom boards where if the shaper is good she/he can craft the board to make it perfectly compatible with you foil brand (rail box placement, tail rocker and straps mounting hole).

Stab shimming is considered to be normal practice by many brands, and they supply the shims. I don't know any foil brand that considers baseplate shimming to be normal.

KT

I also have mates who ride Appletree with FOne and seem to get along with the combo very well.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but... most foils don't need shimming, and most modern boards and foils will work together. The majority of cases of people I see struggling and messing about with shims are just in the wrong position on their foil, either mast or foot position.

If you're using straps this is a bigger risk as if you are locked in with your feet potentially in the wrong place. You'll still be able to get up but it will be a suboptimal experience.

Are you falling backwards off the foil or back of a wave or struggle to get up even at speed? Are you ploughing into the bottom of a face when you drop a wave? Does your foil start to drop at high speed or does it pop up too aggressively? Is your board off the horizontal when you're comfortably cruising on foil?

If you are in the right place on your foil and your mast is in the right place this won't happen.