My dad already has a 50lts board for winging. He is 73 kilograms, and is looking for a board which he can use in the ocean (catching waves) when it's lightwind.
Two options that came to his mind were:
65lts Midlength OR the 70lts FG Armstrong.
We are in doubt about which type of shape is the best for a bumpy and lightwinded ocean (if it's a thinner shape to get on foil easier, or a more "stocky" one).
He would like to get an armstrong board. But we would love to hear about other brands which have the shape that he is looking for. Even doing one with our local shaper.
I've ridden the 50 and 70L FGs, and the ML65 75 and 85.
For light winds in confused seas, the ML75 board takes off way easier than the FG70. The ML 65 and 75 make far less drag on the water surface, at speeds < 10 kts) than the FG70. The higher water speed allows take-off on smaller and/or reduced span foils.
Once up on foil, the FG70 feels more agile than the ML75. It's just the swing-weight.
ML65 vs FG70, once on foil: I thought the FG70 was a little more agile for yawing action. But for carve, the narrower ML65 is I think much more fun, because the rails touch the water a lot less. Also when it is windy, the wider boards get blown around a lot more than some might think.
Putting the footstraps in the full fwd position on the MLs is a must do. Then put the mast fwd as much as you are comfortable doing. To reduce the mass out front.
The size of the ML board also changes the swing weight a lot. More so than 10L vol change in stubbie design boards. 75 is notably more sluggish to turn than the 65. And the 85 feels a lot heavier than the 75.
I own a ML75. It's very well built. A great light air board for me, at 75Kg.
