Was looking up on the net today and see there is a new model with the battery mounted under the board
foildrive.com.au/collections/kits/products/foil-drive-assist-max
foildrive.com.au/pages/assist-max
Am thinking of getting an FD and keen to hear peoples report on the Max
Just came to terms with spending the cash, now need to stretch the budget further
Anyone out there tried them as part of the R&D who can now talk about it?

Select to expand quote

GWatto said..
Was looking up on the net today and see there is a new model with the battery mounted under the board
foildrive.com.au/collections/kits/products/foil-drive-assist-max
foildrive.com.au/pages/assist-max
Am thinking of getting an FD and keen to hear peoples report on the Max
Just came to terms with spending the cash, now need to stretch the budget further
Anyone out there tried them as part of the R&D who can now talk about it?

They were released today so only privileged few have had access. $9k hmmm I think I need one

Select to expand quote

hilly said..

GWatto said..
Was looking up on the net today and see there is a new model with the battery mounted under the board
foildrive.com.au/collections/kits/products/foil-drive-assist-max
foildrive.com.au/pages/assist-max
Am thinking of getting an FD and keen to hear peoples report on the Max
Just came to terms with spending the cash, now need to stretch the budget further
Anyone out there tried them as part of the R&D who can now talk about it?

They were released today so only privileged few have had access. $9k hmmm I think I need one

Yes it's a lot of coin, but still a lot cheaper and lighter than a full efoil even adding the cost of a board and foil. Those dedicated prone users will flock to the Max, while us regular earthlings will benefit from some good secondhand Assist Plus kits coming onto the market.

Select to expand quote

airsail said..

hilly said..

GWatto said..
Was looking up on the net today and see there is a new model with the battery mounted under the board
foildrive.com.au/collections/kits/products/foil-drive-assist-max
foildrive.com.au/pages/assist-max
Am thinking of getting an FD and keen to hear peoples report on the Max
Just came to terms with spending the cash, now need to stretch the budget further
Anyone out there tried them as part of the R&D who can now talk about it?

They were released today so only privileged few have had access. $9k hmmm I think I need one

Yes it's a lot of coin, but still a lot cheaper and lighter than a full efoil even adding the cost of a board and foil. Those dedicated prone users will flock to the Max, while us regular earthlings will benefit from some good secondhand Assist Plus kits coming onto the market.

Yep my 6 month old kit just got seriously devalued

Select to expand quote

hilly said..

airsail said..

hilly said..

GWatto said..
Was looking up on the net today and see there is a new model with the battery mounted under the board
foildrive.com.au/collections/kits/products/foil-drive-assist-max
foildrive.com.au/pages/assist-max
Am thinking of getting an FD and keen to hear peoples report on the Max
Just came to terms with spending the cash, now need to stretch the budget further
Anyone out there tried them as part of the R&D who can now talk about it?

They were released today so only privileged few have had access. $9k hmmm I think I need one

Yes it's a lot of coin, but still a lot cheaper and lighter than a full efoil even adding the cost of a board and foil. Those dedicated prone users will flock to the Max, while us regular earthlings will benefit from some good secondhand Assist Plus kits coming onto the market.

Yep my 6 month old kit just got seriously devalued

No reason why the older but still current kits will be devalued Hilly

Select to expand quote

Wingman WA said..

hilly said..

airsail said..

hilly said..

GWatto said..
Was looking up on the net today and see there is a new model with the battery mounted under the board
foildrive.com.au/collections/kits/products/foil-drive-assist-max
foildrive.com.au/pages/assist-max
Am thinking of getting an FD and keen to hear peoples report on the Max
Just came to terms with spending the cash, now need to stretch the budget further
Anyone out there tried them as part of the R&D who can now talk about it?

They were released today so only privileged few have had access. $9k hmmm I think I need one

Yes it's a lot of coin, but still a lot cheaper and lighter than a full efoil even adding the cost of a board and foil. Those dedicated prone users will flock to the Max, while us regular earthlings will benefit from some good secondhand Assist Plus kits coming onto the market.

Yep my 6 month old kit just got seriously devalued

No reason why the older but still current kits will be devalued Hilly

Have a look on for sale section already a few cheap

Hey GWatto

To get the bias disclosure out of the way, I'm a long time FD test pilot and new FD employee (in charge of FD Europe) so I've been part of the R&D of the gen 2 systems since close to the beginning. Here's a brief summary of what you can expect from the new systems:

The gen 2 assists have much more power, approximately 30% more. Run time depends on the battery and the unit. The assist max with its large battery has x2 - x2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The assist slim with its smallest battery has nearly the same power level as the assist max. It will provide loads of get-ups, but it has a VERY limited run time. It's designed to be used predominantly as an assist rather than for hybrid motoring.
There will be 2 batteries available for the assist max, the large (power battery) & small (sport battery) and 2 batteries for the assist slim, the large (endurance) & small (performance). Initially the assist max will only be available with its large (power) battery, and the assist sim will only be available with its small (performance) battery. The sport and endurance batteries will be available at some point in the new year. The power, sport and performance batteries are all 40V so produce a much higher level of power compared to the assist plus, HOWEVER, the endurance battery is 30V, which provides the same power level as the assist plus. The power battery gives 2 - 2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The sport battery gives a similar or slightly longer run time than the assist plus with its biggest battery. The performance battery gives a short run time if you use it for continual motoring, but gives plenty of get-ups, even for a heavy rider using a small board and foil. The endurance battery has the same run time as using the 2 small assist plus batteries connected together (i.e. the travel pack).
Approximate weights:
Assist Slim with performance battery: 2.3kg
Assist Slim with endurance battery: 2.8kg
Assist Max with sport battery: 3.4kg
Assist Max with power battery: 4.5kg
When using the assist slim with the small battery it can be thought of mostly as an assist - loads more power than the assist plus to get on foil, but does not have the run time for much motoring when on foil. When the endurance battery becomes available it will give a reasonable amount of run time for hybrid foiling (for example, a mix of motor use and muscle based pumping when linking waves), but will not last long at all if used for continual motor use The assist max is simply amazing because it's the complete package - loads of power, seriously good run time (rivalling some top efoils), but it does NOT come at a loss of performance. Because the mass is located on top of the mast (the pivot point) it seems to melt away - you barely notice it at all. I have been prone surfing, light wind winging, downwinding and even flat water pumping, all with small foils on the assist max. Yes you can feel some of the weight, especially when you pick up your board, but the instant power that's available to you makes that irrelevant. In terms of swing weight, there is none! You've got to ride it to believe how good it is. I'm pumping really good distances with the spitfire 900 on flat water and to link waves with the max and power battery. When the sport battery is released it will be even easier for pumping and linking with smaller foils.

I'm sure there will be questions and I'll try to monitor this and answer them when I've got time, but I have the whole of Europe to deal with so this is a little of my beat ??

Dom

I had bad timing and bought the FD assist cpl months ago mainly for supfoiling assist in waves and I'm wondering is anything of my ol FD assist adaptable to the new Gen2 or am I SOL back to sq 1 would hope FD would have in mind some adaptability ??

Select to expand quote

pitbulldoug said..
I had bad timing and bought the FD assist cpl months ago mainly for supfoiling assist in waves and I'm wondering is anything of my ol FD assist adaptable to the new Gen2 or am I SOL back to sq 1 would hope FD would have in mind some adaptability ??

No, you (like myself and many others) would need to buy the Gen2 version complete. Only things that would carry over are the hand controller and charger and mast motor pod.

The "waterproof" battery on the Gen2 is a big plus for me as I've cooked a few due to water ingress.

Select to expand quote

camerongraham said..

pitbulldoug said..
I had bad timing and bought the FD assist cpl months ago mainly for supfoiling assist in waves and I'm wondering is anything of my ol FD assist adaptable to the new Gen2 or am I SOL back to sq 1 would hope FD would have in mind some adaptability ??

No, you (like myself and many others) would need to buy the Gen2 version complete. Only things that would carry over are the hand controller and charger and mast motor pod.

The "waterproof" battery on the Gen2 is a big plus for me as I've cooked a few due to water ingress.

Well thats not good news 3k out the window that coulda gone towards the gen 2. Wonder what Gen2 are gonna cost that's going to be interesting guessing X2 what FD FD assist costs
thanks for info

Select to expand quote

Dommo49 said..
Hey GWatto

To get the bias disclosure out of the way, I'm a long time FD test pilot and new FD employee (in charge of FD Europe) so I've been part of the R&D of the gen 2 systems since close to the beginning. Here's a brief summary of what you can expect from the new systems:

The gen 2 assists have much more power, approximately 30% more. Run time depends on the battery and the unit. The assist max with its large battery has x2 - x2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The assist slim with its smallest battery has nearly the same power level as the assist max. It will provide loads of get-ups, but it has a VERY limited run time. It's designed to be used predominantly as an assist rather than for hybrid motoring.
There will be 2 batteries available for the assist max, the large (power battery) & small (sport battery) and 2 batteries for the assist slim, the large (endurance) & small (performance). Initially the assist max will only be available with its large (power) battery, and the assist sim will only be available with its small (performance) battery. The sport and endurance batteries will be available at some point in the new year. The power, sport and performance batteries are all 40V so produce a much higher level of power compared to the assist plus, HOWEVER, the endurance battery is 30V, which provides the same power level as the assist plus. The power battery gives 2 - 2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The sport battery gives a similar or slightly longer run time than the assist plus with its biggest battery. The performance battery gives a short run time if you use it for continual motoring, but gives plenty of get-ups, even for a heavy rider using a small board and foil. The endurance battery has the same run time as using the 2 small assist plus batteries connected together (i.e. the travel pack).
Approximate weights:
Assist Slim with performance battery: 2.3kg
Assist Slim with endurance battery: 2.8kg
Assist Max with sport battery: 3.4kg
Assist Max with power battery: 4.5kg
When using the assist slim with the small battery it can be thought of mostly as an assist - loads more power than the assist plus to get on foil, but does not have the run time for much motoring when on foil. When the endurance battery becomes available it will give a reasonable amount of run time for hybrid foiling (for example, a mix of motor use and muscle based pumping when linking waves), but will not last long at all if used for continual motor use The assist max is simply amazing because it's the complete package - loads of power, seriously good run time (rivalling some top efoils), but it does NOT come at a loss of performance. Because the mass is located on top of the mast (the pivot point) it seems to melt away - you barely notice it at all. I have been prone surfing, light wind winging, downwinding and even flat water pumping, all with small foils on the assist max. Yes you can feel some of the weight, especially when you pick up your board, but the instant power that's available to you makes that irrelevant. In terms of swing weight, there is none! You've got to ride it to believe how good it is. I'm pumping really good distances with the spitfire 900 on flat water and to link waves with the max and power battery. When the sport battery is released it will be even easier for pumping and linking with smaller foils.

I'm sure there will be questions and I'll try to monitor this and answer them when I've got time, but I have the whole of Europe to deal with so this is a little of my beat ??

Dom

Thanks Dom,
Yep that was the info I was looking for
How does it go when the unit hits the water is that like hitting the brakes or is the intent to be powered up as you start getting that low?
This new set up has certainly covered a few of what was holding me back from getting an FD. The fact that it can be easily used across different boards plus with no long cable is a great
Struggling to find a reason apart from the coin to not pull the trigger
For those out there that do have FD units what is the typical distance from the board do you have the motor for motoring out and to get into waves

Dom is a wealth of information on the FD for obvious reasons so it's good to have him on here but I'll chip in as an end user of the Foil Drive Assist model.I'll preface this by saying I won't be changing to the new model as it doesn't really offer any advantages to me and the price is scary high especially without the option of trading in/upgrading for existing users (I've also just recently dumped a bunch more money into mine not knowing there'd be no upgrade path)But what I can say is if used properly they are a great device. In my mind looking at it as a learning tool or a pure assist in getting up on foil, get on your wave and then switch it off and pretend it's not there. This is where the real gains are found when used as a pure "wave catching" device and then surfing and foiling and pumping with no use of the motor at all you can get some epic "on foil" timeI've tested a lot of different pod heights, first off I think unless you've absolutely never been on foil before don't even consider the efoil position i.e down near the wing, it's incredibly limiting for surfing/pumping. The "easiest" assist position is probably around 25cm from the board. It makes getting your board clear of the water in nearly all conditions easy so you can "efoil" between waves.But personally I like to run mine a bit under 15cm from the board. To me having as much mast "clear" to use while surfing and pumping is the priority for me. It does mean the times you want to quickly zip around on motor can be a bit less of a smooth ride especially if it's a bit choppy out there but on my 83cm mast it leaves me with nearly 70cm of naked space to "foil"Also sadly I have to agree with Hilly and only 1 day later prices for existing users are tumbling even if the device does 90% of the job or I'd argue if you're willing to waist mount it it may even be better (no box, no weight, no drag on board)

Also if you're super bored and want to see some low quality beginner foiling here's a clip I made the other day. It was a day where without FD you probably wouldn't have gone out (small straight shore breakers essentially) any time I'm on the wave or pumping my motor is off. The 2nd wave gives you an idea of paddling with the motor on and popping up on a 29L prone board.

Looks like a big step up for some like me but for others may not be.
I had Fliteboard for about 2 years and enjoyed the experience now the wind has been so consistent for 4 to 5 days a week foiling I have lost interest in Fliteboard for the time.
My thoughts on this new release;
If just starting out and all equipment required the FDA may not be the way to go cost wise or overall benefit wise.
However, if one has got a board, foils etc the new FDA could be the winner in terms of flexibility for weight, choice of foils etc.
I have all the gear so the new FDA is a serious consideration.

?si=yrJi1ktNU-_DlmlI
This thing looks next level amazing

One thing I see with the Gen2 going to separate the good board builds vs the sub quality builds as looks like box/track are going to have to be more solidly reinforced than usual as looks like it's going to be more weight/torque forces there than usual.A back up leash connection from foil to leash plug might be a good idea in case foil tracks break be hard to swallow loosing 10k like that,time will tell how it all shakes out,prelim observations

All is not lost for current Plus owners. One thing that would irk me with the Max is corrosion, the battery box is now alloy rather than plastic. It is also sandwiched between the board and the mast so disassembly will be required after each use to remove salt water from any crevices between the board and mast.

It's not a big issue but considering it's been months since I have removed my mast from the board it would be an extra chore to contend with. The current Plus is pretty well corrosion free, just the motor to give a quick rinse and lanolin spray, super simple. Running the Axis HM carbon mast the only alloy is the fuselage and that is cheap to replace if needed, I doubt the new Max battery box will be easy to replace or cheap.

Always good and not so good points with anything new, I'm very happy with my plus for prone and won't be upgrading. On the contrary I see more people getting the Foildrive bug with cheap kits becoming available and I might even pick up another battery myself from an upgrader.

Select to expand quote

airsail said..
All is not lost for current Plus owners. One thing that would irk me with the Max is corrosion, the battery box is now alloy rather than plastic. It is also sandwiched between the board and the mast so disassembly will be required after each use to remove salt water from any crevices between the board and mast.

It's not a big issue but considering it's been months since I have removed my mast from the board it would be an extra chore to contend with. The current Plus is pretty well corrosion free, just the motor to give a quick rinse and lanolin spray, super simple. Running the Axis HM carbon mast the only alloy is the fuselage and that is cheap to replace if needed, I doubt the new Max battery box will be easy to replace or cheap.

Always good and not so good points with anything new, I'm very happy with my plus for prone and won't be upgrading. On the contrary I see more people getting the Foildrive bug with cheap kits becoming available and I might even pick up another battery myself from an upgrader.

Good points, I also use wingscrews as I'm constantly fiddling with my mast position whilst in the water, I'm not sure how this would work with the v2I'm also on the hunt for fire sale batteries but someone just brought up an interesting point on the owners group. How about the new battery tech in assist form?? Might see some power/weight/endurance gains from that, would be a good PR move to the burnt existing owners

Select to expand quote

drc13 said..

airsail said..
All is not lost for current Plus owners. One thing that would irk me with the Max is corrosion, the battery box is now alloy rather than plastic. It is also sandwiched between the board and the mast so disassembly will be required after each use to remove salt water from any crevices between the board and mast.

It's not a big issue but considering it's been months since I have removed my mast from the board it would be an extra chore to contend with. The current Plus is pretty well corrosion free, just the motor to give a quick rinse and lanolin spray, super simple. Running the Axis HM carbon mast the only alloy is the fuselage and that is cheap to replace if needed, I doubt the new Max battery box will be easy to replace or cheap.

Always good and not so good points with anything new, I'm very happy with my plus for prone and won't be upgrading. On the contrary I see more people getting the Foildrive bug with cheap kits becoming available and I might even pick up another battery myself from an upgrader.

Good points, I also use wingscrews as I'm constantly fiddling with my mast position whilst in the water, I'm not sure how this would work with the v2I'm also on the hunt for fire sale batteries but someone just brought up an interesting point on the owners group. How about the new battery tech in assist form?? Might see some power/weight/endurance gains from that, would be a good PR move to the burnt existing owners

They run different voltages so that will not happen. 30 v 40
Corrosion issues concerns me. Not know for my diligence on cleaning gear. Current setup is on the board permanently and is a breeze to clean in situ. Hmmm

what an astounding piece of exquisite engineering. unbelievable!!!

This is what admin had to say about corrosion on FD FB page:

Not really I leave my gen 2 on my board a lot fully built. The main thing is just wash your rotor and add some spray to protect the motor just like gen 1. The main bolts that go into the tracks should be washed with a hose at a minimum just to remove salt but nothing special there. The Gen 2 is double hard coat anodised like a high end rifle is so it's super durable. Just wash and get ride of salt like you should with anything that goes in the ocean.

A foil friend and I want lots of guys to buy and provide comprehensive constructive reports please.

Select to expand quote

warwickl said..
A foil friend and I want lots of guys to buy and provide comprehensive constructive reports please.

I charge $8.5k per review but I'm the man for the job! ??

Select to expand quote

GWatto said..

Dommo49 said..
Hey GWatto

To get the bias disclosure out of the way, I'm a long time FD test pilot and new FD employee (in charge of FD Europe) so I've been part of the R&D of the gen 2 systems since close to the beginning. Here's a brief summary of what you can expect from the new systems:

The gen 2 assists have much more power, approximately 30% more. Run time depends on the battery and the unit. The assist max with its large battery has x2 - x2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The assist slim with its smallest battery has nearly the same power level as the assist max. It will provide loads of get-ups, but it has a VERY limited run time. It's designed to be used predominantly as an assist rather than for hybrid motoring.
There will be 2 batteries available for the assist max, the large (power battery) & small (sport battery) and 2 batteries for the assist slim, the large (endurance) & small (performance). Initially the assist max will only be available with its large (power) battery, and the assist sim will only be available with its small (performance) battery. The sport and endurance batteries will be available at some point in the new year. The power, sport and performance batteries are all 40V so produce a much higher level of power compared to the assist plus, HOWEVER, the endurance battery is 30V, which provides the same power level as the assist plus. The power battery gives 2 - 2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The sport battery gives a similar or slightly longer run time than the assist plus with its biggest battery. The performance battery gives a short run time if you use it for continual motoring, but gives plenty of get-ups, even for a heavy rider using a small board and foil. The endurance battery has the same run time as using the 2 small assist plus batteries connected together (i.e. the travel pack).
Approximate weights:
Assist Slim with performance battery: 2.3kg
Assist Slim with endurance battery: 2.8kg
Assist Max with sport battery: 3.4kg
Assist Max with power battery: 4.5kg
When using the assist slim with the small battery it can be thought of mostly as an assist - loads more power than the assist plus to get on foil, but does not have the run time for much motoring when on foil. When the endurance battery becomes available it will give a reasonable amount of run time for hybrid foiling (for example, a mix of motor use and muscle based pumping when linking waves), but will not last long at all if used for continual motor use The assist max is simply amazing because it's the complete package - loads of power, seriously good run time (rivalling some top efoils), but it does NOT come at a loss of performance. Because the mass is located on top of the mast (the pivot point) it seems to melt away - you barely notice it at all. I have been prone surfing, light wind winging, downwinding and even flat water pumping, all with small foils on the assist max. Yes you can feel some of the weight, especially when you pick up your board, but the instant power that's available to you makes that irrelevant. In terms of swing weight, there is none! You've got to ride it to believe how good it is. I'm pumping really good distances with the spitfire 900 on flat water and to link waves with the max and power battery. When the sport battery is released it will be even easier for pumping and linking with smaller foils.

I'm sure there will be questions and I'll try to monitor this and answer them when I've got time, but I have the whole of Europe to deal with so this is a little of my beat ??

Dom

Thanks Dom,
Yep that was the info I was looking for
How does it go when the unit hits the water is that like hitting the brakes or is the intent to be powered up as you start getting that low?
This new set up has certainly covered a few of what was holding me back from getting an FD. The fact that it can be easily used across different boards plus with no long cable is a great
Struggling to find a reason apart from the coin to not pull the trigger
For those out there that do have FD units what is the typical distance from the board do you have the motor for motoring out and to get into waves

Hi GWatto

Touchdowns - You don't even notice the Slim, it becomes part of the planing surface of the board. The Max is noticeable on touchdowns, but only as a little (and I really mean LITTLE) extra drag, but is definitely does not hitting the brakes.

15cm option - best for experts and/or those who want to no little or no motoring when on foil. The motor pod rarely dips into the water but it's harder to keep the props in the water when motoring.
20cm - best all round position (my favourite)
25cm - best for beginners and for those who will be using the motor in super choppy water. Much easier to keep the props in the water when motoring, but the pod does dip into the water more often.

Select to expand quote

pitbulldoug said..
One thing I see with the Gen2 going to separate the good board builds vs the sub quality builds as looks like box/track are going to have to be more solidly reinforced than usual as looks like it's going to be more weight/torque forces there than usual.A back up leash connection from foil to leash plug might be a good idea in case foil tracks break be hard to swallow loosing 10k like that,time will tell how it all shakes out,prelim observations

Not so at all - the aluminium box is the same width as the average mast plate, but a few inches longer. This spreads the load from the mast over a greater surface area on the board. This REDUCES the chance of pulling the mast tracks out of the board. We have NEVER damaged a board in this way during any use with the gen 2, in fact the gen 2 has never caused damage to any board in any way!

Select to expand quote

airsail said..
All is not lost for current Plus owners. One thing that would irk me with the Max is corrosion, the battery box is now alloy rather than plastic. It is also sandwiched between the board and the mast so disassembly will be required after each use to remove salt water from any crevices between the board and mast.

It's not a big issue but considering it's been months since I have removed my mast from the board it would be an extra chore to contend with. The current Plus is pretty well corrosion free, just the motor to give a quick rinse and lanolin spray, super simple. Running the Axis HM carbon mast the only alloy is the fuselage and that is cheap to replace if needed, I doubt the new Max battery box will be easy to replace or cheap.

Always good and not so good points with anything new, I'm very happy with my plus for prone and won't be upgrading. On the contrary I see more people getting the Foildrive bug with cheap kits becoming available and I might even pick up another battery myself from an upgrader.

The Assist Max & Slim aluminium cases are twin coat anodised and will not corrode as long as you give them a fresh water rinse after each use as you should with anything that goes in salt water.

Select to expand quote

Dommo49 said..

GWatto said..

Dommo49 said..
Hey GWatto

To get the bias disclosure out of the way, I'm a long time FD test pilot and new FD employee (in charge of FD Europe) so I've been part of the R&D of the gen 2 systems since close to the beginning. Here's a brief summary of what you can expect from the new systems:

The gen 2 assists have much more power, approximately 30% more. Run time depends on the battery and the unit. The assist max with its large battery has x2 - x2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The assist slim with its smallest battery has nearly the same power level as the assist max. It will provide loads of get-ups, but it has a VERY limited run time. It's designed to be used predominantly as an assist rather than for hybrid motoring.
There will be 2 batteries available for the assist max, the large (power battery) & small (sport battery) and 2 batteries for the assist slim, the large (endurance) & small (performance). Initially the assist max will only be available with its large (power) battery, and the assist sim will only be available with its small (performance) battery. The sport and endurance batteries will be available at some point in the new year. The power, sport and performance batteries are all 40V so produce a much higher level of power compared to the assist plus, HOWEVER, the endurance battery is 30V, which provides the same power level as the assist plus. The power battery gives 2 - 2.5 times the run time of the assist plus with its biggest battery. The sport battery gives a similar or slightly longer run time than the assist plus with its biggest battery. The performance battery gives a short run time if you use it for continual motoring, but gives plenty of get-ups, even for a heavy rider using a small board and foil. The endurance battery has the same run time as using the 2 small assist plus batteries connected together (i.e. the travel pack).
Approximate weights:
Assist Slim with performance battery: 2.3kg
Assist Slim with endurance battery: 2.8kg
Assist Max with sport battery: 3.4kg
Assist Max with power battery: 4.5kg
When using the assist slim with the small battery it can be thought of mostly as an assist - loads more power than the assist plus to get on foil, but does not have the run time for much motoring when on foil. When the endurance battery becomes available it will give a reasonable amount of run time for hybrid foiling (for example, a mix of motor use and muscle based pumping when linking waves), but will not last long at all if used for continual motor use The assist max is simply amazing because it's the complete package - loads of power, seriously good run time (rivalling some top efoils), but it does NOT come at a loss of performance. Because the mass is located on top of the mast (the pivot point) it seems to melt away - you barely notice it at all. I have been prone surfing, light wind winging, downwinding and even flat water pumping, all with small foils on the assist max. Yes you can feel some of the weight, especially when you pick up your board, but the instant power that's available to you makes that irrelevant. In terms of swing weight, there is none! You've got to ride it to believe how good it is. I'm pumping really good distances with the spitfire 900 on flat water and to link waves with the max and power battery. When the sport battery is released it will be even easier for pumping and linking with smaller foils.

I'm sure there will be questions and I'll try to monitor this and answer them when I've got time, but I have the whole of Europe to deal with so this is a little of my beat ??

Dom

Thanks Dom,
Yep that was the info I was looking for
How does it go when the unit hits the water is that like hitting the brakes or is the intent to be powered up as you start getting that low?
This new set up has certainly covered a few of what was holding me back from getting an FD. The fact that it can be easily used across different boards plus with no long cable is a great
Struggling to find a reason apart from the coin to not pull the trigger
For those out there that do have FD units what is the typical distance from the board do you have the motor for motoring out and to get into waves

Hi GWatto

Touchdowns - You don't even notice the Slim, it becomes part of the planing surface of the board. The Max is noticeable on touchdowns, but only as a little (and I really mean LITTLE) extra drag, but is definitely does not hitting the brakes.

15cm option - best for experts and/or those who want to no little or no motoring when on foil. The motor pod rarely dips into the water but it's harder to keep the props in the water when motoring.
20cm - best all round position (my favourite)
25cm - best for beginners and for those who will be using the motor in super choppy water. Much easier to keep the props in the water when motoring, but the pod does dip into the water more often.

Thanks Dom for all the info
You're making it hard for me to not pull the trigger

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I was about to buy the Assist Plus at the end of November but now seeing the Gen 2 Max it looks awesome, just have to sell a kidney

Question for Dom over cable lengths...will these be stocked?
From the website ...
"REMOVABLE MOTORS
With three simple screws, the motor plug can be removed, allowing the rider to change their cable length and therefore motor mounting position depending on the use case."

As I'm a beginner I would like to e foil to get time then adjust to a higher position for light wind winging, winging in offshore where my local beach is really hilly and need to get out 300m to the wind line. And in the surf where I first saw one in action catching swells so far out away from crowds.

Also fan of your videos

I've just seen the answers from FD on YouTube

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drc13 said..
Also if you're super bored and want to see some low quality beginner foiling here's a clip I made the other day. It was a day where without FD you probably wouldn't have gone out (small straight shore breakers essentially) any time I'm on the wave or pumping my motor is off. The 2nd wave gives you an idea of paddling with the motor on and popping up on a 29L prone board.

Thats a great video , what foil were you on .

I was fortunate to have a go on the max up the river and just had received my code foils so I had to see how small a foil I could use. So I am 94kg, board was an Amos sultan wing 5'5" x 17" at 50 litres and the code 720S, gen2 max with a Cedrus mast. Well yes took a couple of attempts but I got it going. That's just flat start no wave. Chewed some power but yes these units have some grunt!