Delving Deep #6: Gram Counting – The Physics of Battery Choice

In the world of foiling, weight is often the enemy. However, with the arrival of the Foil Drive™ Gen2, we have entered an era where weight isn't just a burden—it is a variable you can tune to match your riding style. While the Gen2 system is a "Hybrid Assist" designed to give you that essential "nudge" onto a wave, the specific battery you slide into the box dictates the entire physical personality of your board.

FOIL DRIVE™DELVING DEEP

1/14/20262 min read

The Hybrid Assist: Precision in Every Gram

If an eFoil is a heavy-duty motorbike, the Foil Drive™ is a high-performance racing bicycle with a hidden advantage. It is designed to preserve the pure, weightless sensation of foiling while giving you just enough power to overcome inertia. By understanding the physics of battery weight and placement, you can fine-tune your "assist" so it feels less like a motor and more like a natural extension of your body.

⚙️ Swing Weight vs. Static Weight

When you choose a battery, you aren't just choosing how long you can stay in the water; you are choosing how the board handles in a turn.

The Slim Performance: This is the purist’s choice. By shedding nearly 1.5kg compared to the Max battery, you drastically reduce the "swing weight" at the center of your board. This allows for faster rail-to-rail transitions and a board that feels "organic" the moment you are on foil.
The Max Power: For heavier riders or those using low-volume "sinker" boards, the extra mass provides the raw torque needed to break the surface tension of the water. While heavier, the Gen2’s under-board mounting keeps this weight low, actually increasing stability in choppy conditions.

🌊 The Balancing Act

The secret to a perfect Foil Drive setup lies in your mast track. Because the Gen2 system sits under the board, it shifts the Center of Gravity (CoG) lower than previous generations. If you switch from a Slim to a Max battery mid-session, you may find your "sweet spot" has moved. A pro tip is to slide your mast slightly forward when using the heavier Max battery to maintain that effortless nose-up pitch during takeoff.

✨ Ready to boost your flight?

At Beyond the Shore, we love gear that lowers the barrier to entry while respecting the traditions of the sport. The Foil Drive™ is whisper-quiet, incredibly versatile, and fits in a backpack. It’s for the surfer who wants more waves, the winger who wants to fly in zero wind, and the family looking to add a bit of "electric magic" to their ocean adventures.

Ready to boost your flight?

Explore the science of weight and balance and discover how the right battery configuration can transform your heavy setup into a responsive, high-speed instrument.

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🛠️ Pro Tip: Tuning the "Sweet Spot"

A pro tip for Gen2 riders is to adjust your mast position based on your battery choice. If you switch from a Slim to a Max mid-session, your board's center of gravity shifts. To maintain an effortless nose-up pitch during your takeoff, try sliding your mast 1-2cm forward in the track when using the heavier Max battery. This small adjustment ensures your stance remains natural and your "Hand-off" from motor to glide is seamless.