The Real Flex and Weight Differences
In wingfoil fuselages, the choice between carbon construction (e.g., pre-preg Toray) and glass (E-glass or S-glass) is more than just price. It delivers 20–30% less weight (often under 500g for a 75 cm unit) and superior torsional rigidity.
This translates to crisper response and less flex during high-speed carves or jumps—ideal for freestyle or race foils where every watt counts.
Physics of Stiffness
Torsional Rigidity: Carbon fiber has a much higher tensile strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio than glass. This means it resists twisting forces (torsion) better, ensuring your stabilizer angle remains precise even under heavy load.
Glass absorbs 15–20% more energy in impacts, creating a "dampened" feel but at the cost of subtle "mushiness" in chop.
Performance vs. Durability
GONG's 2025 Perf Series highlights this: carbon fuselages maintain near-zero flex under 25-knot loads, enhancing pump efficiency and top speeds by 2–3 knots versus glass.
However, durability favors glass for beach launches due to higher puncture resistance (per Starboard's tech notes). Carbon's fatigue life edges out in repeated freestyle landings, but failure modes are more brittle (snap) compared to glass's gradual delamination.
Material Comparison
Budget Considerations
For intermediates on a budget, glass (e.g., Gong's FG line) offers 80% of carbon's stiffness at half the price. This suits freeride in 10–20 knots without the repair hassle—carbon dings require epoxy pros, while glass patches easily.
Reddit's eFoil community echoes this: carbon shines for speed demons (tensile strength 3x glass), but glass's flexibility prevents catastrophic breaks in learner crashes.
Sources & Further Reading
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