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Question : Will RANDALLfoil's fit my oars?
Answer : Yes, RANDALLfoil's will fit all current oars on the market. Yes, even C2 'fats'.
Tip : Some users have found warming foils with hot water (not boiling), heat gun or oven (below 100 degrees C) helps with fitting. Warning - always use protective gloves when using heat
Question : Why is the same size RANDALLfoil used for Scull and Sweep oars?
Answer : A larger prototype for the sweep oar was originally made, however testing demonstrated that it was not necessary.
Question : The RANDALLfoil's don't look like they will fit my oars (see image)
Answer : When you apply some pressure the RANDALLfoil will conform to the shape of your oar. The shape is designed to ensure a secure fit that will withstand the pressures of the rowing stroke.
Tip : Don't be afraid to apply pressure. Both blades and foils are incredibly strong.
Question : What about the Vortex Strip?
Answer : RANDALLfoil's make the Vortex Strip obsolete and I recommend removal of the strip. Where the Vortex Strip cannot be removed, you will need to ensure it does not overlap. See image below.
Question : Which adhesive should I use?
Answer : For Testing (single day), I recommend using a double-sided tape. Don't expect this to be a lasting solution as the RANDALLfoil's may start to peel away from the tape. For Permanent Fitting, I would recommend a 2 part fibreglass resin. I have also had success with RVT Automotive silicon adhesive, it may serve as a good compromise between the tape and the fibreglass resin, but only recommended for short-term testing.
Tip : Foils sink! When testing, drill a 1mm hole and secure with a fishing line tied to the shaft as a backup. If they come off, you won't lose them.
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| THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN POSITIVELY TESTED BY IAN |
Sika Sikaflex 291 Multi Purpose Adhesive Sealant
Question : Can I use Tech 7 types of glue?
Answer: Yes. However, Tech 7 is advertised as not needing any bracing while the adhesive is curing - This will NOT be the case with attaching foils. You MUST use bracing until the adhesive is fully cured.
Question : How do I get the angle set correctly? See image
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| INCORRECT ANGLE |
Answer ; The clamping tape needs to be secured down the BACK of the blade to set the correct angle for your blade.
Question : Why do I need to pitch my oars at 0-degrees?
Answer : If you use the standard pitch of 4-degrees (with pins set at 0-degrees) you will find the feel is 'washy.' A change by one degree eliminates this entirely producing a solid 'lock-on' feeling and ensures your RANDALLfoil's will deliver optimal performance.
Question : How can I adjust pitch using an NK Empower Oarlock?
Answer: The Empower Oarlock is an expensive piece of kit and due to its engineering has some practical limitations. One factor is the inability to alter pitch and is set uniformly at 4-Degrees making it unworkable with foils. Here are a few solutions ... The GB 'Start' program purchased oars to use with foils from C2 with a -4 degree pitch (-4 +4 = 0 thus optimised for the foil). You could also re-sleeve and re-pitch with -4. You could also simply remove material from the TOP EDGE of the working face on the sleeve (set oar to square in the oarlock to determine TOP EDGE). See below.
Question : Why do we raise gate heights?
Answer : It is important to raise your gates to ensure that your hand heights are the same when moving over to RANDALLfoil's. By not making this change the athlete will still try to maintain their practiced heights but the design will prevent this.
Question : I am still noticing braking splash on my oar.
Answer : If your gates are set correctly you should not see any or very little braking splash. Raise you gates further until you see this minimised, it will be a case of fine-tuning. It may also be due to your athlete not working with the design and still driving down deep. To overcome this, practice soft catch exercises. It is also worth pointing out, especially for sweep oars, that it is impossible to eliminate all braking splash because when the blade is fully buried the jointing point of the shaft and blade is below the water line.
Question : Can you row with foils in poor conditions ?
Question : Why are RANDALLfoil's so expensive ?
Question : Can you row with foils in poor conditions ?
Answer : Yes, foils outperform standard oars in headwinds and choppy water simply because the shaft is not swamped by waves. Here is a review of rowing in extremely difficult weather with foils.
Answer : FISA considered the RANDALLfoil to be a 'low-cost product' and that pricing would not inhibit all participants in our sport from benefitting. Compared to oars and boats, the price of RANDALLfoil's are inexpensive.
The perception that RANDALLfoil's are expensive comes from our attitude to common plastic products which are cheaply made by an injection molding process. Such plastics are not appropriate for a durable, safe and high-performance product. RANDALLfoil's are milled from high-grade engineering plastic and then are hand finished. This is to ensure our product will last the life of your oar and will not break during a collision.
The last thing we need in this world is another disposable plastic product.
RANDALLfoil is protected under international intellectual property rights
