Foil Drive Help: V2 Motor & Choosing Your Cable Length
The V2 Motor
The Foil Drive V2 Motor has a slim hydrodynamic profile, a redesigned stator and motor puck, and a detachable motor cable, so you can swap cable lengths as your riding changes instead of buying a whole new motor. A V2 Motor Plug gives a quick connection to the Foil Drive unit, and the motor works with the universal motor pod and adaptor.
- Standard V2 Motor: compatible with all Gen2 and Gen2.2 systems.
- High Power V2 Motor: more efficient, so it uses less power for more time on the water (Foil Drive quotes about 20% more runtime), plus a bit more low-end thrust for take-offs. The trade-off is slightly less top-end speed and about 130 g more weight.
Quick answers from Foil Drive:
- Upgrading from V1? You can reuse your V1 rotor with the Standard V2 Motor, but not with the High Power motor.
- V1 motor pucks aren't compatible with the V2 Motor.
- The V2 Motor can be used on an integrated mast if it's a V2 aluminium or carbon integrated mast.
- To remove the cable, pull it straight out. Don't bend or lever it sideways.
- When riding in the ocean, put a light coating of Foil Drive dielectric grease on the O-ring of the cable plug before attaching it to the stator.
Choosing your cable length
Cable length sets how far below the board the motor sits, which changes how your Foil Drive feels. Think of lengths as a quiver: different positions suit different riding.
| Cable | Approx. | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 12 cm | 4.7 in | Advanced assisted foiling, minimum drag |
| 15 cm | 6 in | Assisted foiling: surf, wing, downwind |
| 20 cm | 7.9 in | All-rounder: assisted foiling, wake, downwind |
| 25 cm | 9.8 in | Hybrid riding, learning, surf + powered |
| 30 cm | 11.8 in | Hybrid riding, flatwater + wake/swell |
| 60 cm | 23.6 in | Powered flatwater / e-foil style |
| 70 cm | 27.5 in | Powered flatwater / longer masts |
- 12, 15 & 20 cm (assisted foiling): use the motor to get up, then let it leave the water for low-drag, unpowered foiling. Shorter means the motor exits sooner and drag is lower, but it's harder to stay powered in chop. 20 cm is the most versatile and a good pick if you're not sure yet. A three-blade propeller can help hold thrust at 12 and 15 cm.
- 25 & 30 cm (hybrid/learning): the motor stays in the water through small amounts of lift, which is handy for learning, powered flatwater, small waves and boat wakes. Many riders move shorter as their skills improve.
- 60 & 70 cm (powered flatwater): the motor sits down near the fuselage and stays in the water the whole ride. Go 60 cm on a 70 cm mast, and 70 cm on an 80 cm+ mast.
Starting points by discipline: surf 12/15/20/25 cm; downwind 15/20 cm; wake 20/25 cm; flatwater pumping 20 cm; winging 15/20 cm; flatwater foil driving 60/70 cm; learning/hybrid 25/30 cm. Your board, foil, mast length, weight, conditions and preference all play a part.
Check propeller clearance. Whatever length you run, make sure the prop can't touch the board, fuselage or anything else. At the shortest and longest positions, allow about 10–15 cm of clearance. Near the fuselage the centre of the pod should sit about 10 cm above it, and near the board it should be no more than about 10 cm below it.
Questions? Call or email The Foil Shop. Call (909) 326-0732, email info@foilshop.com or contact us here and we'll help you sort it out.