Which Shim to Use on a Fliteboard?

When you first embark on your eFoil journey, the hydrofoil wing is set to a configuration that works best for the average person. The R&D team at Flite put a lot of time and research into getting this right. Stock configuration is a great starting point, allowing you to learn easily and later delve into the dynamics of the eFoil. As you ride and learn, you’ll start to appreciate the intricacies of the wings you are using. As you master the art of efoiling, you gain the skill to shape and customize your eFoils performance.

A simple modification is adjusting your stabilizer wing to alter the dynamics of the wings. Fliteboard offers six different shims from which you can choose. Each size will change the pitch of your rear wing and significantly impact the performance and feel of the eFoil on the water. You might wonder, “How do I use Fliteboard shims, and what do they do?” We’ll share everything you need to know, as this customization is your key to a ride that’s uniquely yours. 

Table of contents 

1. What do hydrofoil shims do?
2. How do I use Fliteboard shims? 
3. What does a stabilizer do?
4. What does a big or small stabilizer wing do?
5. Why use a hydrofoil shim? 
6. Pros and cons of different foil shims. 

What do Hydrofoil shims do? 

This blog focuses on Fliteboard shims and tail wings, but the principles discussed can be applied to any hydrofoil. Once you grasp the basics, you can use this knowledge to experiment and tailor your ride to your preferences. Fliteboard offers a range of six different shims, each with unique characteristics. Understanding these shims allows you to take control of your eFoil experience, enhancing your enjoyment and performance. 

In this article, we’ll delve into the science behind what a shim and a stabilizer wing do for an eFoil, empowering you to better understand what is happening under your feet. While geeking out on these details can be fun, it’s crucial to remember that the ride’s feel is subjective, and even small changes will significantly impact the ride. We’ll provide the fundamentals so you can dive in and discover what works best for you because your ride is as unique as you are. 

eFoils can use shims just like regular hydrofoils.

How do I use Fliteboard shims? 

Before we get into the science, let’s keep it simple for quick reference on what you can expect from the Fliteboard shim options. There are six shim options from zero to five, and changing these will give you a different downforce from the stabilizer wing and a different point of balance and response from the hydrofoil. We recommend beginners start with a shim of one or two and adjust incrementally to find the perfect feel.

Shims 1 and 2 will allow faster speeds without too much front-foot pressure. A shim of 3 will begin to produce a steeper lift and heavier front foot pressure. As you go from 3,4 to 5, there will be more upward lift, stability, and response, but you will need more front-foot pressure and skill. 

Flite shims allow you to change the angle of the rear eFoil wing.

What does a hydrofoil stabilizer or tail wing do?

As the name implies, a stabilizer wing provides stability for the hydrofoil. eFoil and foil wings have a couple of forces at play between the center of gravity and the lift. The front wing creates an upward lift for flight but will pitch down without a rear wing to balance these forces. The angle or pitch of the rear wing to the fuselage will change the force on the front wing, known as the angle of incidence. Not to be mistaken for the angle of attack. 

We can change the angle of attack of the wings by shifting our weight forward or backward on the eFoil board to pitch the wings up or down. The angle of incidence is fixed before our ride and determined by the angle and size of the rear wing. Shims are small but powerful tools that allow us to adjust the rear wing’s angle, making minor but impactful adjustments to these forces.

The Fliteboard 800 1300 and 1800 with their respective rear wings.

What does a big or small stabilizer wing do?

Fliteboard has a few stabilizer wings, each with a recommended front wing. The 500 Stabilizer, 300 Stabilizer, 290 Stabilizer, and 245 Stabilizer tail wings are paired with their corresponding front wing for the correct balance. For instance, the 500 Stabilizer is recommended for heavier riders or those who prefer a more stable ride. In comparison, the 245 Stabilizer is ideal for lighter riders or those who want a more maneuverable experience. 

A large tail wing will have more lift and stability, but it will create drag as a tradeoff. Anything that makes a foil easier to use will do this, from a longer fuselage to the size and thickness of the foil. This is necessary if you are a heavy or new rider. As a new rider, you won’t notice or think about drag. Large wings will have the right balance of excitement and challenge to learn quickly and with few falls. After you have mastered the art of flight, consider upgrading additional foils to your quiver. 

As you advance in your eFoil journey, you might opt for more advanced wings, like the Flyer 800 front wing paired with a small 290 stabilizer. A setup like this will be fast, maneuverable, and exciting. Fliteboard wings are modular, so the large wings you use for learning to eFoil can be repurposed later for the family or when friends want to try. 

Hydrofoil shims let you control the feel and performance of the eFoil.

Why use a hydrofoil shim? 

A shim is like having many rear wings in one. You can change the angle of incidence instead of changing the stabilizer wing, which considerably impacts the characteristics of your eFoil. A positive shim raises the angle, and a negative shim lowers it. You can play with the forces on your foil and increase the lift without changing wings. 

Use different shims to improve the racing speed or keep up with waves in unpowered eFoil surfing situations, like when using the Flite Folding Propellor. We don’t need to pump with eFoils, but you can use the shim for more efficient pumping. For example, someone using a small board like the Fliteboard PRO might experiment with how long they can pump their foil without power and then use the motor to recover or build momentum.

You could use a shim to slow the foil down, improve its stability, and facilitate learning new maneuvers or riding. Flite has designed its foils to be a near-perfect fit for the average person, so you are not required to use them. But after you learn to eFoil, we encourage you to try different shims and see how they impact your ride. The desired feel of your eFoil is personal and subjective, and we are lucky to have options.  

Fliteboard has shims for all skill levels. 

Where can I learn about eFoiling? 

Emerald Wake is an official Fliteboard dealer and school on Florida’s Emerald Coast. We service Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton, and many other cities along the Gulf Coast.

 If you have any questions about eFoils or need help deciding which is best for you, call (850) 400-8500 or email us at info@emeraldwake.com for a custom recommendation. We offer eFoil lessons, guided eFoil tours, eFoil demos, storage and delivery options for your eFoils, and more. 

If you have any questions about eFoils or need help deciding which is best for you, call (850) 400-8500 or email us at info@emeraldwake.com for a custom recommendation. We offer eFoil lessons, guided eFoil tours, eFoil demos, storage and delivery options for your eFoils, and more.