Currently, the GoFoil platform has eight different options for you to select when putting together your perfect foil rig. The GoFoil mast you choose can dramatically affect how you ride and your ability to progress. GoFoil has two different mast categories; plate and tuttle. We are going to introduce them in order of height.

The plate mast comes in 60cm (23.6"), 70cm (27.6") 80cm (31.5"), 90cm (35.4"), 100cm (39.4"), and 105cm 41.3".

The tuttle mast options are 29.5" (75cm), 36.5 (92.7cm), and 40" (101.6cm).

General things to remember when looking at different masts

Length: Shorter masts are more comfortable to learn on. Longer masts have more drag due to increased surface area under the water. As the mast options get longer, you will need more power to get up foiling. More extended options aid experienced riders with increased time to make corrections, more aggressive turning angles, help in pumping (over chop), and improve the overall ride in choppy, rough conditions.

Board Mount Options: There are two systems for mounting foil boards, a tuttle box or a track mount system. The tuttle box is a box that installs through the foil board. The tuttle head mast is designed to slide inside and then be secured by two bolts through the top side of the board.

The track mount system is made up of two long boxes mounted 90mm apart, 45mm to the left and right of the center of the board. The boxes vary in length from 10" to as long as 15". Track mount systems are designed to be used with plate foils, and the plate system installs on the tracks with four specialized track nuts. The track nuts allow the plate system to slide forward and backward, to adjust the foil mount position on the board.

Important: You want to make sure you know which system your board has so that you can get the correct mast for it.

Tuttle To Plate adapters: We outline different plate adapters in another post but wanted to add one quick note regarding mast selection. The best way to ensure you can use your foil on any board is to purchase a tuttle head mast with the optional tuttle to plate adapter. With this combo, your setup will work on almost any traditional foil board made today, whether a tuttle box or a track mount.

When using a plate adapter, remember that the mast length will be longer with the adapter installed. The GoFoil Plate adapter, for instance, increases your mast height by an additional 7cm (2.75"). You can use this to make your 29.5", 36.5 & 40" tuttle mast taller if added length is your goal.

Strength: The GoFoil Mast/Fuselage is all one piece and is one of the most robust systems out there. GoFoil is adamant about eliminating the possibility of a mast fuselage connection failure. The advantages of one-piece construction are increased stiffness, superior strength, no weak points of connections, and extreme reduction of reliance on metal parts, and built with 100% pre-preg carbon fiber. Pre-preg is when carbon fiber is directly impregnated with epoxy resin, resulting in a perfect ratio for the highest quality process. GoFoil designs with simplicity in mind, Plug and Play. The front and back foils attach to the fuselage with one screw, simple.

Available GoFoil Mast Options

60cm Plate Mast: This mast length is pretty short at 23.6" and is designed for schools to teach beginners on their first rides. You will outgrow this size very quickly, so it's typically reserved for schools.

60cm Uses- Schools/Teaching, Extreme Shallow Riding

70cm Plate Mast: This option is 70cm or 27.6" from the board's base to the fuselage and is the shortest option GoFoil has. The 70cm mast is the length that many beginner foilers will choose as they start their foiling journey. The 70cm plate is a good option for PRONE Foiling in shallow breaks. It's also a great option if you're riding in shallower areas or where low tides can be an issue.

70cm Uses- Beginner: (Wake, Wing, Prone, Kite, SUP), Shallow Riding, Light Wind Winging, Pumping

80cm Plate Mast: The length from the top of the mast plate to the fuselage is, as you would imagine, 80cm or 31.5". This mast is slightly longer than the 70cm mast, and the height difference will cause it to perform a little differently on the water in a few ways. For beginners, starting with a more extended option will make your board ride higher off the water and ultimately less stable the higher you go. As your board gets higher above the surface of the water and farther from the base of the fuselage, your side-to-side stability becomes more challenged. Like the side-to-side stability, the front-to-back foot pressure balance that you use to control the height of your rig is more difficult to manage as well. Falls will be more dynamic; the higher you ride as well. For experienced riders who have developed their stabilizer muscles, the extra length of the mast can come with added advantages. When your board is riding higher off the water, you've got more time and distance to correct any mistakes you may make before you touch down. Having that extra height between the 70cm mast and the 80cm mast also aids in flatwater pumping when it's choppy. It gives you more room to work the foil up and down and stay above the chop. Lastly, being higher in the air lets you lean into your turns and ride a bit more aggressively when carving. These effects increase as you move up through the rest of the size options.

The 80cm mast is our favorite size for wake foiling. When riding the boat wake, the mast is long enough to give you good height for pumping and carving, but not too long, so it still reacts quickly surfing the small boat waves (compared to the ocean). 80cm is also a good length for riders with prior foiling experience who want to learn to wingfoil or kitefoil.

80cm Uses- Wake, Winging, Kiting, SUP, Prone (Deeper Breaks), Tow Foiling

90cm Plate Mast: This size is the go-to option for experienced wingfoil and kitefoil riders. The extra length helps in choppy conditions, getting the rider up over the wind chop. It's not great for underpowered, light-wind riding because of the slower reaction time and added drag from the additional length.

90cm Uses- Experienced: (Wing, Kite), Tow (Very Large Deep Surf)

100cm & 105cm Masts: These are the longest masts in the GoFoil line. It's recommended only for experienced riders, and the added length slows down the reaction time even more than the 90cm mast. The longer mast length is a good option for racing/speed in rough conditions, where you want to limit the possibility of breaching. It's also suitable for riding in very choppy conditions because it gives you extra length to glide above extreme chop.

100cm & 105cm Uses: Advanced Riding, Racing, Rough Conditions

29.5", 36.5" and 40" Tuttle Masts: These masts will perform similarly to the respective lengths above, only with a tuttle head for boards with tuttle mounts. These tuttle-style boards are becoming increasingly less common in the marketplace.

You've got some great options for building your perfect foil system on the GoFoil platform. This guide aims to outline the common questions we get regarding the GoFoil mast system. Check out our other articles that address various topics about GoFoils hydrofoil products in our Gear Guides. (Updated 5/20/22)