# Foil assist for Starboard AirFoil inflatable
**URL:** https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997
**Category:** Build, Repair & Mod
**Created:** [August 12, 2026, 9:57am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997 "2026-08-12T09:57:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@canmanski](https://foil.zone/u/canmanski)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 9:57am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/1 "2026-08-12T09:57:15Z")
Hey,
Been looking at how to extend my inland wind range for wing foiling and foil assist seems like the way to go. Additionally some pumping might happen too
I have a starboard inflatable, 122L , with peculiar feature - a foam plug.
It’s a Starboard thing - mast attaches to a carbon plate on the top of the board. This makes the whole thing supposedly more rigid and creates interesting opportunity to build foil assist system that mostly hides where the foam plug goes. Above pics are from their instructional video.
This is just an idea right now, researching the specs, but it seems that I should be able to:
- build a custom container of the same shape as foam plug
- fit 12S2P worth of accu, 12S3P would require some 3D chess
- use aluminum mast as giant heat sink
The reason I am writing now is that I am turning to spot any weaknesses and potential problems.
Any comments or thoughts would be welcome.
Bart
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### Author:  [@canmanski](https://foil.zone/u/canmanski)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 10:13am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/2 "2026-08-12T10:13:29Z")
Just in case you want to see how the assembly looks like:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5fC5lM58bg&t=110)
Inflated board with the plug in place
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### Author:  [@Jan12](https://foil.zone/u/Jan12)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 11:19am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/3 "2026-08-12T11:19:51Z")
Neat once you have it going.
But building that enclosure seems like really complicated.
If the plate is solid carbon you could also have real issues with reception.
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/4 "2026-08-12T12:02:57Z")
> [@Jan12](#):
>
> If the plate is solid carbon you could also have real issues with reception.
nah, the signal will run through the inflatable board in all directions.
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### Author:  [@Jan12](https://foil.zone/u/Jan12)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/5 "2026-08-12T12:09:54Z")
If you mount the receiver directly below a solid carbon plate? I thought that would be even worse than a thin carbon laminate.
But have not tried, so there is no merit to that assumption.
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/6 "2026-08-12T12:12:44Z")
You’ve raised an interesting point. For inflatable boards and efoils, would they be a lot more responsive if they all secured the mast to the top plate for all of them…
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### Author:  [@sat\_be](https://foil.zone/u/sat_be)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/7 "2026-08-12T12:31:08Z")
I think so, but it also depends on how big and stiff the plate is. For my inflatable efoil I built a sandwich with a plate on top and bottom, fixed with spacers squeezing the board in between. The battery box is also in the opening between the two plates. The mast is fixed to the lower plate with screws going through the upper deck. This way I get a direct connection to the deck plate. With a setup tuned in a way that I can keep both feet on the top plate it is much more responsive. With a big wing with lots of lift I have to stand on the inflatable deck in front of the rigid plate, the woble of the board dampenes movements, it is rather “laggy”.
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### Author:  [@S\_Roger](https://foil.zone/u/S_Roger)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/8 "2026-08-12T13:32:17Z")
This is neat idea and it would be new form factor for an assist. Limited to this type of inflatable but still a cool idea.
Mast could be a heat sync, but if you just did a small heat sync built into the bottom of the enclosure (like many other assist boxes) you would have the flexibility to using a carbon mast.
I would think having the top of the enclosure being removable for access makes the most sense, then the inflated board that “hugs” the outside can act as an initial seal against the water. You could leave the inner hole a bit larger than the mast itself and then a separate spacer to fill that gap with a tight fit. Maybe printed from TPU.
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### Author:  [@canmanski](https://foil.zone/u/canmanski)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/9 "2026-08-12T13:54:52Z")
So my biggest concern is placing something rigid, where there is something flexible right now. The foam plug probably allows for some mast play - since the carbon top plate does ‘move’ related to the inflatable part of the board.
Additionally, once something rigid replaces foam box, there will be considerable pressure from the walls of the inflatable - holding the box (good) and potentially crushing the box (bad)
Two routes I am considering:
1. form XPS, slightly smaller than exisitng plug, laminate over, keeping walls concave (as they seem to be on my slightly worn plug). That will make conatiner very stable, once board is inflated. I’ll probably glue some neoprene around the box - just to allow a bit of play. Then I’ll remove most of XPS and place all the stuff inside.
2. printing the box (I have Bamboo Lab printer at home). This might take some more time - modelling existing plug etc, including structural elements. not sure if I can laminate over this, to make it more robust. This would allow for any improvements, including any battery compartments etc.
I’ll probably do 1 as it seems quicker for now, but ultimately do 2. My son (13y) has recently been fascinated by modelling stuff in Blender, so I’ll put his skills to a test.
Bart
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/10 "2026-08-12T14:03:16Z")
> [@sat\_be](#):
>
> I think so, but it also depends on how big and stiff the plate is.
In my case, the top section is essentially the same dimensions as a pump board. The idea was to always stand on it even when going fast. The inflatable is purely there for buoyancy.
> [@sat\_be](#):
>
> The mast is fixed to the lower plate with screws going through the upper deck. This way I get a direct connection to the deck plate. With a setup tuned in a way that I can keep both feet on the top plate it is much more responsive.
This is the same as riding with a spacer. If you removed that spacer your mind will be blown at how much more direct it will feel. I’ve ridden the same battery and efoil setup on a 10cm thich board and then on a 3cm thick board. The difference was huge in how much better it felt on the 3cm board.
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/11 "2026-08-12T14:04:40Z")
> [@canmanski](#):
>
> printing the box (I have Bamboo Lab printer at home). This might take some more time - modelling existing plug etc, including structural elements. not sure if I can laminate over this, to make it more robust. This would allow for any improvements, including any battery compartments etc.
Print it, fibreglass over the outside. you could also look at potting it. Alternatively you could also look at CNC with acetal which would give you a nice strong enclosure.
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### Author:  [@ludwig\_bre](https://foil.zone/u/ludwig_bre)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/12 "2026-08-12T16:15:35Z")
This is such a cool concept for an inflatable!
The box I would probably print rather thin, like 1mm walls, to have maximum space inside
Then pot with some hard to compress material like 2k PU, that will give the actual strength
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### Author:  [@efoilfun](https://foil.zone/u/efoilfun)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/13 "2026-08-13T20:42:35Z")
I just saw a similar inflatable from Indiana Foilboards with a waydoo foilboost foilassist…
> **[FOILBOOST das brandneue Foil Assist System von WAYDOO](https://waydoo.company.site/FOILBOOST-das-brandneue-Foil-Assist-System-von-WAYDOO-p528130078)**
>
> Das neue Foil Assist System von Waydoo - einfach in der Anwendung - unschlagbar im Preis! Es kommt in gewohnter waydoo / DJI höchster Fertigungsqualität und ist einfach in der Anwendung - Plug&Play. Die Laufzeit beträgt bis zu 30min...
Very cool concept…Lets see if i can find that photo…
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### Author:  [@efoilfun](https://foil.zone/u/efoilfun)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/14 "2026-08-13T21:00:53Z")
Found it on instagram. I think this indiana has stiff plate, probably aluminium or carbon, the rest is inflatable and below there is a whole that fits the batteries of the Foilboost system. I think as well that price is hot to get a super lightweight foilassist or efoil…
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> Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an
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> ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db0JgRRsbAy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
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> [Ein Beitrag geteilt von foilboost (@foilboost)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db0JgRRsbAy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)
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### Author:  [@canmanski](https://foil.zone/u/canmanski)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2026, 9:32am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/15 "2026-08-17T09:32:11Z")
Those Waydoo people have a Kickstarter campaign now that almost looks like solution to my foam plug
[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waydootech/waydoo-uniride-esup-one-modular-core-endless-ways-to-ride](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waydootech/waydoo-uniride-esup-one-modular-core-endless-ways-to-ride)
I will still do mine anyway, this just confirms feasibility
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/foil-assist-for-starboard-airfoil-inflatable/26997/16 "2026-08-17T12:10:06Z")
The claim that they are the first 🤣
Propel did this a year ago already and there have been others before that…