Hi all,
I’m looking for suggestions to improve the riding performance of my Gen 2 Foil Drive set up and make it feel closer to non-FD. Obviously can’t make it exactly the same but I see Paul and Erik get pretty darn close even on bigger waves and higher speeds so wondering what set up changes and riding techniques make the ride feel higher performance.
With my Gen 2, I use a 77.5 cm Cedrus Evo Surf mast with a Code 980s foil and a 45 liter 5’2" x 20" wide board. For most of the year (8 month wind season in SF Bay area) I wing and ride with a 95cm Cedrus Evo Wind mast and a Code 720S so the shorter mast I prone and FD with feels restrictive. For me, the Code foils don’t handle breaches well when riding them to close the surface (tip or overall foil) so I ride them lower when making aggressive turns, carving pumps, or going fast (20mph+) – winging, prone, and FF. It works when winging but is challenging with the FD because there is limited space on the mast due to the pod.
The 980S is a fun but huge foil for me. I feel like I have to safety foil it when using it with FD on waves above knee high. I’ve ridden it from ankle to overhead. At higher speeds I feel like there’s a downward sucking force on the board toward the water and any pod dipping really jars me and results in some harsh wipeouts. This is the main feeling I want to mitigate.
Set up changes on my list to try are:
(1) Longer mast
(2) Smaller foil (haven’t tried the 720s but probably will need a wave to chip in to get started, I’m 85kg)
(3) Board with a recessed slot for the Gen 2 battery compartment (like a 270 board co)
(4) Flow custom motor to mast attachment instead of stock motor pod (like Surf Doc Steve’s set up)
Riding technique:
(a) Trying to ride in the sweet spot where the pod is out of the water but the mast isn’t super high because the Code S foils don’t breach well (for me; could be rider error).
What else?
Any foils that folks are finding works especially well with FD?
This is similar to other FD posts but focused on better performance so feels different enough to justify a separate topic.
2 Likes
What length is your cable? I ride a 20cm cable and find the FD no problem.
Sounds like you need a smaller foil. This should help the foiling feel free (not safe as you describe.)
I’m 86kgs dry. I’m in the UK so in a 3mm wetsuit now. I have a 800 mast and ride a Unifoil Progression. I use the 125 for anything over shoulder high and the 140 for knee to shoulder high surf.
Have a look at @andyfoils on instagram to give you an idea of my standard. Posts on there including my set up.
I need a bit of swell to get up, but that’s a tiny compromise to allow better surfing on a smaller foil.
The insert in the board helps I’m sure. I haven’t tried one. But if you keep the board on foil, this isn’t really an issue.
The mast high is important, but you don’t want your foil too deep in the water. Sounds like a smaller foil is the first place to start. Jay Button just posted a sweet clip of him ripping on a Code. Maybe ask him what size foil he’s riding.
Keep with the FD, it will steepen the learning curve significantly
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Thanks for the info! Will try out the smaller foil and check out the insta account and Jay.
I have a 20cm cable.
I still prone without FD when conditions are clean… frequency of no FD is rapidly decreasing though! Interesting going back and forth. Trying to get closer to the no-FD feel. Mostly using Foil Drive when it’s bigger and I don’t want to deal with gnarly drops (for me) or pump through a bunch of turbulence.
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I feel like I almost have my setup dialed… if only lift had a 140 at 37 inches…
82kg.
4’6" 31.7L FFB x WCFC prone board
Lift 150 HAX
20 carve tail
32" mast
15" motor pod
Sport and Max batteries
For me the 15" motor is key, especially for trying to prevent pod dips and breaches on hard turns.
The 32" mast was the next biggest improvement. Longer mast = less breaches and better angles when you do, reducing cavitation when tips do poke out. Also less pod dips and more pumpable mast to use.
The small board helped feel more performant and generally needs a wave to start, which is fine once you dial that and it saves a ton of battery starting with a wave.
The short fuse 20 or 26 carve tails really unlock the bigger 150 HAX front wing.
The sport battery really feels lighter with the smaller board and is good fun once getting used to it.
If conditions are big I use the same setup except for the front wing I swap out for the lift 120.
I bet if you only got a longer mast and a shorter 15" motor pod you would see a huge difference just with those two changes.
Next on my list would be a smaller board (length is more important than literage for FD starts)
Your points (4) and (a) above would be much less of a concern with a longer mast and shorter motor pod.
I’ve been enjoying the longer mast so much I am considering getting rid of my old 28" mast and replacing it with another 32" for prone and winging.
3 Likes
Length is more important than literage for FD starts.
I took the length over liters mantra coming from FD to mean that a mid-length board is preferred. The fact that you want to go smaller than your current 4’6" board tells me I’ve misunderstood their advice. Length and volume relative to the board you’re currently riding is a better way to understand this. Coming from a surf background, I was thinking about it in terms of board categories - i.e. short board, mid-length, and longboard. This has me questioning my decision to get a 5’+ board. It’s tough because I’m new to foiling I don’t have a “current board” from which to base the size of my next board on.