Short answer: North Sonar is one system. Every Sonar mast, fuselage, stabilizer and front wing bolts to every other, so you buy an edition (mast, fuselage, stabilizer, tools, bag) once and change only the front wing as you progress. Two editions are in stock as of this post: the alloy-mast Sonar Foil Edition from $959 and the Carbon Foil Edition from $1,343. Front wings are separate: 1850–2400 cm² to learn, 1050 for an intermediate adult, 850 once you want speed.
Which edition
| Sonar Foil Edition (AF) | Sonar Carbon Foil Edition (CF) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mast | AF72 (72 cm) or AF85 (85 cm), 6000-series alloy | CF72 or CF85, pre-preg carbon |
| Mast weight, North | 2.23 kg / 2.48 kg | 1.75 kg / 1.90 kg |
| Mast section | 18 mm thick, 125 mm chord | 16 mm thick, 115 mm chord |
| Fuselage / stabilizer | A700 alloy / S270 carbon | C700 carbon / S270 carbon |
| Board mount | via AF board adaptor (included) | direct to the 90 mm track |
| Price, as of this post | $959 (AF72), $1,019 (AF85) | $1,343 (CF72), $1,439 (CF85), 20% off |
The carbon edition is roughly half a kilo lighter at the mast, thinner through the water and stiffer; riders and testers call the CF85 a stiffness benchmark for its price. The alloy edition rides the same wings on the same 70 cm fuselage and the same stabilizer for $380 less. Both come with the T40 tool, grease and a travel bag. Neither comes with a front wing, and neither comes with board screws — every North foilboard ships with those in its DropBox track. The 72 cm mast keeps your first falls shallow; the 85 is the day-to-day standard once you are up, and it is better over chop. North also sells UHM carbon masts (80 to 105 cm, 12.5–13.5 mm thick) separately for riders chasing glide.
What size front wing for wing foiling
Front-wing area is the number that decides how early you fly. Smaller wings gain top speed and lose bottom end, which is the wrong trade while you are learning. North's own guidance for a beginner kit is the biggest wing you can — the 1850 or 2100–2400 class by weight — with the longest fuselage and a big stabilizer. Here is the ladder, with North's description of each and what riders at each weight actually run:
| Front wing | Area | Who North says it is for | Price, as of this post |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA2400v2 Prime | 2400 cm² | learning, heavier riders | $589 |
| MA2100v2 / Prime | 2100 cm² | learning, most adults | $859 / $579 |
| MA1850v2 / Prime | 1850 cm² | learning, lighter adults | $829 / $569 |
| MA1500v2 | 1500 cm² | intermediates stepping down; a rider under 70 kg could learn on it | out of stock |
| MA1200v2 | 1200 cm² | intermediates progressing, or advanced riders in light wind | out of stock |
| MA1050v2 | 1050 cm² | average-weight intermediate or heavier advanced: wing at speed, surf, kite, wake | $779 |
| HA850 | 850 cm² | smallest core winging size; maximum speed and efficiency | $749 |
| SF530 | 530 cm² | surf series: lowest stall, carving, pumping | $480 (35% off) |
Riders' weight picks line up with that: wingers around 70–80 kg (154–176 lb) daily-drive an 850 or 950 once they are competent, 83–93 kg (183–205 lb) riders sit on a 1050 or 1080, and a 98 kg (216 lb) rider keeps an 1100–1230 for light wind. The MA1500 is the learn-anyone wing up to about 85 kg. The Prime wings are e-glass from the same moulds as the carbon MA wings, $260–$280 cheaper, and the sensible first wing; there are no independent long-term Prime-versus-carbon reports yet.
The series in one line each
- MA (mid aspect): the do-everything range — wing, kite, wake, prone — with the widest usable speed band. Start here.
- HA (high aspect): glide and speed; wants an intermediate-or-better rider who keeps speed through turns and can pump.
- SF (surf): lowest stall speed, best carving, least top end. Needs a Surf or Glide stabilizer — North says so on the spec sheet.
- DW (downwind): glide for swell and flat-water pumping.
Honest limit: the stabilizer matters as much as the front wing, and the editions ship one stabilizer (S270) tuned for the big learning wings. When you step down to a 1050 or an 850, downsize the stabilizer too — riders who kept a learner stab behind a fast wing report pitch problems until they swapped. North's pairing rule is on our foil compatibility page. Cross-brand combinations are not something we verify: the 90 mm track is standard, the wing-to-fuselage interface is not.
What it costs, complete
As of this post an alloy edition plus an MA2100v2 Prime wing is $1,538; the carbon edition plus the same wing is $1,922. The Prime Edition — alloy AF80 mast, fuselage, stabilizer and a Prime front wing in one box — is out of stock. Orders over $100 ship free in the US, and a complete foil inside a board-plus-wing bundle takes the same 10% as the rest of the cart.
FAQ
What size front wing for an 80 kg beginner winger?
The MA2100v2 Prime (2100 cm²). Go 2400 if you are over 95 kg or your wind is light; 1850 if you are under 70 kg. You will step down to a 1050 within a season.
Alloy or carbon mast?
Alloy to learn: it is $380 cheaper and rides the same wings. Carbon if you already foil — it is about half a kilo lighter, stiffer and thinner through the water, and mounts without an adaptor.
Will a Sonar foil fit my non-North board?
If the board has a 90 mm (165 × 90) track, yes; North says the system fits any 90 mm track. Board screws come with North boards, not with the editions.
The gear advisor will build a complete foil from your weight, level and board.