Wet weather is getting the best of me so looking a bit ahead.
Next session will be number 6 for me on SS 24 in school gear.
I like the sound of the Spitfire with back foot pressure and coming from strapless surfboard kiting how would this be in the next level of learning.
Is the Spitfire difficult for learning?
Select to expand quotewarwickl said..
Wet weather is getting the best of me so looking a bit ahead.
Next session will be number 6 for me on SS 24 in school gear.
I like the sound of the Spitfire with back foot pressure and coming from strapless surfboard kiting how would this be in the next level of learning.
Is the Spitfire difficult for learning?
The Spitfire has a smaller range of movement to control pitch than the Zeeko Green&White. So more sensitive and lively.
this takes some relearning for those somewhat into their foils learning adventure.
for beginners as a first foil, the debate is about would they notice the difference and just learn at same rate? Or not.
And for those trying to message me re Zeeko gear. I will reply when I can access my messages.
have emails telling me of messages but can't access.
And Alloy series Zeeko Hydrofoil are now available with KF box and Tuttle/deep Tuttle
Videos not working.
Plus a larger Spitfire version seems to be coming?
Is the current front wing a little on the small side?
Don't know why no video.
Spitfire lift is same as Green&White. Any new wings will be to emulate the Carver wing.
I am assuming front wing will remain unchanged and only the rear wing will get larger.
But having said that, I rode the spitfire and zeeko/carver yesterday in similar conditions with a 9m kite and they both have excellent lift at low speeds. The carver combination still works at a lower speed than the spitfire.
Still haven't figured which carves/turns better.
May not be safe to assume that only front wing will change. As both wings lift, changing one will effect balance.
Select to expand quoteRAL INN said..
May not be safe to assume that only front wing will change. As both wings lift, changing one will effect balance.
I am intrigued by the canard capabilities: 1) easier turning, 2) less wipeouts when front wing breaches. I haven't yet ridden a spitfire, I am hoping to demo one this summer. In the meantime, I've seen one and my plan is to turn my fuselage around and carve a couple wings with similar profile out of g10 ... I'd call them a copy, but they will no doubt be such a botched franken-job that it would be disrespect to say so! 
I am going to carve the wings 20% larger, to see if that helps with the low wind take off and slow speed stall potential. However, I won't have anything to compare to, until I also carve a normal size wing or try an actual spitfire.
In layout out my templates last night, I scaled up both main wing and front wing 20%, but the front one looked way too big. So now I've scaled the back one 20% and front one 10% ... so I will be able to report if this caused a balance issue soon.
I figure the nice thing about going bigger....I can always carve them down, but once too small, that's it.
Any idea when the larger spitfire wing(s) will come out? I wouldn't mind if it was a single larger rear wing and the centre of lift shifted back a tiny bit.
Select to expand quoteBletti said..
Any idea when the larger spitfire wing(s) will come out? I wouldn't mind if it was a single larger rear wing and the centre of lift shifted back a tiny bit.
No but knowing Nico anything can happen anytime
Select to expand quotewarwickl said..
Wet weather is getting the best of me so looking a bit ahead.
Next session will be number 6 for me on SS 24 in school gear.
I like the sound of the Spitfire with back foot pressure and coming from strapless surfboard kiting how would this be in the next level of learning.
Is the Spitfire difficult for learning?
Warwick, when you go from the 24 inch mast to the 30inch solo mast it gets easier and is a lot more forgiving to ride. The 34.5 inch mast feels a lot different to ride again with just a dive of the kite and lift your front knee for a second then your away and have a lot more height to use for keeping board height correct for the conditions. No where near as sensitive as the 24inch touch and go. The shorter the mast the more sensitive it is to control the height.
Hope this helps!
Maybe a silly question, but struggling to find the answer, what is the difference between the Zeeko white and blue and the Zeeko white and green?
Select to expand quoteJono77 said..
Maybe a silly question, but struggling to find the answer, what is the difference between the Zeeko white and blue and the Zeeko white and green?
Fuselage hydrodynamic has been improved.
New plate with open hooks is much more convenient/quicker for mounting onto board.
I believe you can now get a 96cm mast option as well.
I'm treading on thin ice to stupid questions.....
is the green and white the newer version of the blue and white?
Select to expand quoteJono77 said..
I'm treading on thin ice to stupid questions.....
is the green and white the newer version of the blue and white?
Yes
Can the same mast for white and green be used with the spitfire or do I need two complete setups?
Select to expand quoteC000pers said..
Can the same mast for white and green be used with the spitfire or do I need two complete setups?
Although the masts are exactly the same, the Spitfire's plate has a built-in angle. I guess you could easily wedge something to mimic that angle...
I looked into it as well but when you buy parts individually (i.e fuselage and wings), there isn't a big price difference with the complete foil so you may as well get the whole thing.
Select to expand quoteLivit said..C000pers said..
Can the same mast for white and green be used with the spitfire or do I need two complete setups?
Although the masts are exactly the same, the Spitfire's plate has a built-in angle. I guess you could easily wedge something to mimic that angle...
I looked into it as well but when you buy parts individually (i.e fuselage and wings), there isn't a big price difference with the complete foil so you may as well get the whole thing.
You can use the same mast with green/white, blue/white or spitfire fuselages.
The main reason for the angled mast on the spitfire was to preserve the same mounting points on a board.
I grabbed the shorter 70cm mast and have been swapping between the spitfire fuselage and blue/white fuselage without any dramas.
And how has the Spitfire been going for you?Select to expand quotebigtone667 said..Livit said..C000pers said..
Can the same mast for white and green be used with the spitfire or do I need two complete setups?
Although the masts are exactly the same, the Spitfire's plate has a built-in angle. I guess you could easily wedge something to mimic that angle...
I looked into it as well but when you buy parts individually (i.e fuselage and wings), there isn't a big price difference with the complete foil so you may as well get the whole thing.
You can use the same mast with green/white, blue/white or spitfire fuselages.
The main reason for the angled mast on the spitfire was to preserve the same mounting points on a board.
I grabbed the shorter 70cm mast and have been swapping between the spitfire fuselage and blue/white fuselage without any dramas.
Is it easy to swap between the two designs? Have you been riding plenty of waves now to get the hang of it?
Select to expand quotedafish said..
And how has the Spitfire been going for you?bigtone667 said..Livit said..C000pers said..
Can the same mast for white and green be used with the spitfire or do I need two complete setups?
Although the masts are exactly the same, the Spitfire's plate has a built-in angle. I guess you could easily wedge something to mimic that angle...
I looked into it as well but when you buy parts individually (i.e fuselage and wings), there isn't a big price difference with the complete foil so you may as well get the whole thing.
You can use the same mast with green/white, blue/white or spitfire fuselages.
The main reason for the angled mast on the spitfire was to preserve the same mounting points on a board.
I grabbed the shorter 70cm mast and have been swapping between the spitfire fuselage and blue/white fuselage without any dramas.
Is it easy to swap between the two designs? Have you been riding plenty of waves now to get the hang of it?
That's an interesting question..... I have been enjoying the blue/white with the carver wing so much that I just have not spent enough time on the spitfire.
I am really enjoying the carver wing in the waves. My biggest hurdle is slowing down enough once you start heading down a face to turn. I think this is mostly to do with kite selection.
It's a great learning experience.
I plan to get the larger wings on the spitfire to lower the stall speed a little.
Takes about 2 minutes to adjust between the two designs.
Select to expand quoteBletti said..
They are working on larger "XLW" wings that should ride slower.
Not far away.
but personally I like building some speed before lift off. Let's me get some flow happening over wings and building some stability.
Select to expand quoteRAL INN said..Bletti said..
They are working on larger "XLW" wings that should ride slower.
Not far away.
but personally I like building some speed before lift off. Let's me get some flow happening over wings and building some stability.
I like having the speed to get up to and on the wave, but I want to be able bleed it off once I am there, so I can actually turn on the wave and not just be pushed ahead of it at speed in an uncontrolled fashion.
The top speed numbers he has for both the standard spitfire wing and the XLW wings are still up around 25 knots. Pretty quick.
Nico was 13th overall and 2nd master in the just finished Defi event.
On Alloy foil with top speed reached of 35 knots.
top speeds maybe more skill than design so focus on start speed is probably more useful to us hacks.
for me coming from predominately Tt wave riding, that extra speed is more in tune with how I attack waves. But on foils I'm very crap at it so far.
For those that have "XLW" wings. What are their dimensions?
I am curious how much different they are compared to standard wings. I need to order from my local store to redeem my credit, but not sure if I want to until I know new dimensions.
Anyone, who has new wings please let me know.
Many thanks.
Select to expand quotegelonik said..
For those that have "XLW" wings. What are their dimensions?
I am curious how much different they are compared to standard wings. I need to order from my local store to redeem my credit, but not sure if I want to until I know new dimensions.
Anyone, who has new wings please let me know.
Many thanks.
