It seems there are a few good options to change parts and improve things on Electric Foil assists but there know way to know about them without word of mouth.
So what have you tried and what do You like?
I'm looking for a option for my FoilDrive Plus pod.
I've heard of a aftermarket one that improve efficiency, but I don't know anybody who's tried it. Any feedback or information about that would be great. Thanks.
I'll start. I really like my 2 blade Magic hub. It adds prop diameter and It gives me some extra power to get going, and a little extra speed too. It's made well and seems like better screws than my original hub had. Down side is It seems to have a little more vibration when it comes out of the water.
Careful of what aftermarket accessories you try before your warranty expires. Foildrive have previously stated that they have no control of what accessories are fitted or what load they put on the system so you may void any remaining warranty.
Once your warranty is expired no issue. I'm a 3 blade prop convert, very smooth re- entry into the water and extra drive to get you up quick on smaller wings.
I'm currently testing double stainless rear bearings, getting triple the life of the ceramics.
I can't see the point of the prop, yes it might be more streamlined but if the prop is in the water there is too much drag for any practical foiling. If the pod is out of the water as it should be when on a wave or swell the shape of the prop is irrelevant. If you have a low pod to efoil, and you power off there is no glide anyway due to pod drag.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..
I can't see the point of the prop, yes it might be more streamlined but if the prop is in the water there is too much drag for any practical foiling. If the pod is out of the water as it should be when on a wave or swell the shape of the prop is irrelevant. If you have a low pod to efoil, and you power off there is no glide anyway due to pod drag.
Same as magic hub the props are further out so they have a bigger bite area in the water. Never tried one but it would be interesting.
Select to expand quote515 said..
I've only found the photos of this propeller on Facebook
I like it and might have to try and get one. I suppose it would have a good bit less drag when powering as well as folded. Little more mass but it would be very interesting to hear how it tested compared to the same diameter flat back hub.
It looks like the prop blades could be plastic and that might be the only downside.
I did find the Flow Drive pod. But still haven't found any third party feedback yet.
Fishdude- I have the Flow drive pod for 2 months. I'm 2yrs into owning foil drive and use it to prone and I only use the 3 blade prop. The flow drive pod is very good, very easy to swap between brands of mast if that's your thing. It's well made and pretty slick! Performance- I don't notice a great deal of difference on the getting up but this takes me a 2/3 seconds with a chip in. Noticeably less drab on touch downs but it's major advantage is efoil/hybrid - I feel it uses a lot less power and definitely glides easier. I have no hard facts, I'm pretty low tech! Only downside was the first time I used it I felt the motor vibrate through the mast a little more, now it just feels normal and I don't notice it. A big improvement for a relatively cheap upgrade. Uk rider who bought the carbon version.
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
Fishdude- I have the Flow drive pod for 2 months. I'm 2yrs into owning foil drive and use it to prone and I only use the 3 blade prop. The flow drive pod is very good, very easy to swap between brands of mast if that's your thing. It's well made and pretty slick! Performance- I don't notice a great deal of difference on the getting up but this takes me a 2/3 seconds with a chip in. Noticeably less drab on touch downs but it's major advantage is efoil/hybrid - I feel it uses a lot less power and definitely glides easier. I have no hard facts, I'm pretty low tech! Only downside was the first time I used it I felt the motor vibrate through the mast a little more, now it just feels normal and I don't notice it. A big improvement for a relatively cheap upgrade. Uk rider who bought the carbon version.
It's nice to find a independent review. Much thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know.
I caught a glimpse of another brand pod on facebook but it was taking down quickly. I suspect FD wouldn't want parts competition on there FB page. It looked similar to Flow drive but i wasn't able to catch the name before it disappeared.
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
Fishdude- I have the Flow drive pod for 2 months. I'm 2yrs into owning foil drive and use it to prone and I only use the 3 blade prop. The flow drive pod is very good, very easy to swap between brands of mast if that's your thing. It's well made and pretty slick! Performance- I don't notice a great deal of difference on the getting up but this takes me a 2/3 seconds with a chip in. Noticeably less drab on touch downs but it's major advantage is efoil/hybrid - I feel it uses a lot less power and definitely glides easier. I have no hard facts, I'm pretty low tech! Only downside was the first time I used it I felt the motor vibrate through the mast a little more, now it just feels normal and I don't notice it. A big improvement for a relatively cheap upgrade. Uk rider who bought the carbon version.
I bought the carbon Flow Drive pod version. Concept is good, just two bolts to swap etc. Feels a bit less drag then the FD pod when re-entering the water. Maybe a bit of extra run time, but thats so condition dependant so hard to quantify.
Downside ... definitely was getting a fair bit of prop cavitation which ... was very annoying. The prop would be engaged, motoring along, then start spinning up and just not grip and drive. It was weird. Had to ollie up to release it, then it would grip when I came back down. Thought it was the 3 blade prop, not unfolding evenly or out of balance. But swapped back to the FD pod, everything else the same, same height and prop .... cavitation gone.
Also I think maybe its just 3d printed and so pretty brittle / fragile. Even though I was careful and followed the instructions and did not over tighten, the front saddle snapped after about 6 sessions. Maybe if the material that goes around the front of the mast had some flex to it would better cope with impacts and vibration and be more resilient.
My summary, good concept .... needs a bit more R & D to make it more durable and solve the cav issue.
Select to expand quotebjhjames said..IanInca said..
Fishdude- I have the Flow drive pod for 2 months. I'm 2yrs into owning foil drive and use it to prone and I only use the 3 blade prop. The flow drive pod is very good, very easy to swap between brands of mast if that's your thing. It's well made and pretty slick! Performance- I don't notice a great deal of difference on the getting up but this takes me a 2/3 seconds with a chip in. Noticeably less drab on touch downs but it's major advantage is efoil/hybrid - I feel it uses a lot less power and definitely glides easier. I have no hard facts, I'm pretty low tech! Only downside was the first time I used it I felt the motor vibrate through the mast a little more, now it just feels normal and I don't notice it. A big improvement for a relatively cheap upgrade. Uk rider who bought the carbon version.
I bought the carbon Flow Drive pod version. Concept is good, just two bolts to swap etc. Feels a bit less drag then the FD pod when re-entering the water. Maybe a bit of extra run time, but thats so condition dependant so hard to quantify.
Downside ... definitely was getting a fair bit of prop cavitation which ... was very annoying. The prop would be engaged, motoring along, then start spinning up and just not grip and drive. It was weird. Had to ollie up to release it, then it would grip when I came back down. Thought it was the 3 blade prop, not unfolding evenly or out of balance. But swapped back to the FD pod, everything else the same, same height and prop .... cavitation gone.
Also I think maybe its just 3d printed and so pretty brittle / fragile. Even though I was careful and followed the instructions and did not over tighten, the front saddle snapped after about 6 sessions. Maybe if the material that goes around the front of the mast had some flex to it would better cope with impacts and vibration and be more resilient.
My summary, good concept .... needs a bit more R & D to make it more durable and solve the cav issue.
Sounds similar to when you get a bit of weed stuck on the pod, prop cavitates with the change of waterflow. If you ollie up and drop down often it will clear the weed but if the pod is causing the strange waterflow your kind of stuck with it.
FD used to do 3D printed pods, but they all cracked so are now injection moulded. I've just had my last 3D printed pod replaced under warranty, even though it's over 12 months old FD stood behind their product and sending me the new universal pod.
Bjhjames - That's weird I didn't have any of that. I've had well over 10 sessions and it's been fine. Maybe this is on certain masts or at a certain height.
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
Bjhjames - That's weird I didn't have any of that. I've had well over 10 sessions and it's been fine. Maybe this is on certain masts or at a certain height.
Yes I agree, and thats great to hear it has been no problems for you. I was hesitant to say anything as I appreciate the effort it takes for people to be innovative and bring something new to the market.
But someone in this thread said they wanted some honest feedback so felt obliged.
As I said i chased the prop being the problem, so tried swapping blades around, loosening the bolts to make sure they fold easily etc ... each time though, same problem. Like on a 100 m run back out, after about 50 it would start spinning up and loose drive until I lifted it and pumped for a while. Eventually tried a friends hub and it didnt fix it either.
Next I was going to try plugging the engine mount holes and the mast bolts with silicon to see if they were causing some turbulence that was hitting the prop and causing it to loose grip. But the yolk broke before I had the chance. Maybe a strap like the Hybrid Foil Pod would be more robust then the hard plastic of of the Flow Foil mast attachment.
I was using it on a FD Max, 15cm cable and NoLimtz V2 mast.
Select to expand quoteIanInca said..
Bjhjames - That's weird I didn't have any of that. I've had well over 10 sessions and it's been fine. Maybe this is on certain masts or at a certain height.
BTW Have you seen the long lead/motor combo thing he is working on for Gen 2 FD so you can get the battery and housing off the board and into a backpack. Its on his insta page.
That looks something worth getting to try!
Select to expand quotebjhjames said..IanInca said..
Bjhjames - That's weird I didn't have any of that. I've had well over 10 sessions and it's been fine. Maybe this is on certain masts or at a certain height.
BTW Have you seen the long lead/motor combo thing he is working on for Gen 2 FD so you can get the battery and housing off the board and into a backpack. Its on his insta page.
That looks something worth getting to try!
Yeah I saw that. I'd love to give that a go!!
Hey Fishdude, I've messaged Ryan who made the different prop but over a day later I haven't had a reply. He lives in Maui, probably out on the water 
