±5 years ago I came up with an idea in my head and wanted to take it commercial. But with many of my projects, I printed prototypes and kept making different iterations and ultimately with my perfectionist mindset never settled firmly on a design and ultimately only got 90% of the way to a working prototype. I also didn’t patent anything or even pre-patent anything which in hindsight was very silly. Then eventually FD dropped their gen2 and boom there was my idea.
As soon as they released their idea, I knew I had to pivot to another idea and improve on what they had. Enter idea 2, a glass in assist where the tracks and assist unit were all in one with a battery that clipped in and out. Again, I hadn’t learnt from my mistakes and started away on designs and prototypes and fought my own mind trying to get it 100% perfect instead of just settling. This time I got halfway through filing a provisional patent, but got distracted and then never completed the patent. Enter 2 weeks ago and a new player pops up with idea 2 on Instagram.
Now I need to work on idea 3 if I actually ever want to do anything commercial or stop chasing that desire and potentially just enjoy foiling again.
For those that haven’t seen yet, here are some links to a very slick system from Riift:
In Riift’s case, anyone that hasn’t entered the market yet they would most likely get the win as it does look more efficient and simple to use.
If I had a FD and a trench board I can’t imagine moving across as thats a massive investment to switch.
I’m working on Idea 3 which I believe fills a void that none fulfill. Hopefully this time I won’t try perfect it and will get somewhere
Rift solution looks good but will be so expensive I believe.
To make it work you will need to buy all the electronics + find a local shaper who is willing to remove the tracks from your brand new board to put this box in.
Lots of labor and risk to do so. What about connectivity??
It looks like the ESC is in the battery box, which means that when you are buying a spare battery, you are also buying a spare ESC — again, a very expensive solution.
The motor is 100 AUD on AliExpress, and lots of people here use it.
It does look like another copy of something on the forum, again…
I’m not quite sure why it would be. If the track system is well designed, it should be like $200 or so bare. Then the electronics aren’t particularly complex. Even if they stack a remote and receiver in every battery the realistic cost is only $150 more. But I imagine the ESC and RX is somewhere else like in the slot under the mast where you can guarantee a signal path. This system would make DIY in a board so simple for all DIY guys that want an in-board solution.
I wonder how much of an impact on ride feel does the system have considering the weight of the batteries are in front of the mast, VS FD where it is centered on the mast. I rememeber on FD gen 1 style setups, the weight of the battery up front of the board made it almost impossible to really pump.
Isn’t over centre of lift better. I’m running 3p over the lift on my apple tree and your barely notice it when your on a wave. 2p is easier to pump but that’s just the weight I assume
From speaking to some manufacturers, most modern foils place their COG around 130mm in front of mast. This means that FD’s COG is actually too far back.
The RIIFT system actually looks like it improves that distribution.
With the Gen1 right on the nose, then pumping was a tricky business, but move it between the feet on the rail and its a walk in the park.
great work and thinking but remeber better a good plan today then a perfect tomorrow. i guess to compeet in this nichemarket not easy to start from 0. maybe work together with existing branch that not have efoils yet like gong
I have been Foil Driving on the Gen 2 since it was released. I am totally addicted. I like the Riift concept. Im curious to hear the battery and motor specs. Voltage, Wh and Amps.
They have different size batteries. Right now judging from the size of the cutouts they may be able to run up to 14s4p. Whether they’ll bother with a pack that big I don’t know as it crosses over into full efoil territory.
The beauty of their system is that it makes it super easy to custom build a unit to your own exact specs which then makes electronic replacement simple and cheap. It’s where foil drive failed. They made it impossible to replace an ESC or upgrade and instead your stuck with an entire new base unit cost. They are releasing a new version of the max (supposedly a v2.5) at AWSI so let’s see what they’ve changed…
If they do it like that, it would be a great system.
But from the current competition, I would expect they would only sell their parts as a kit or at insane prices.
I would be positively surprised if I am wrong and they actually just sell the tracks and box for a reasonable price.
It’s where FD failed for you, but also where they are making all their profit.
I have invested 1.5years developing prototypes for back pack foil assist, all while barely foiling. I did accomplish, not a final product, but many things along the way. But I doubt it was worth it…
The Riift looks really good but they will need to keep pricing down, lots of assists on the market now.
Waydoo, and soon Foil Dash will have sub $3k systems. Just goes to show that Foil Drive have been over priced for a while and their customers are subsidizing their inflated marketing budget.
I may be a bit off subject here. I came across this - Stoke Foil Boost Ultra. Thought may be OK to share. All integrated propulsion unit with flexible mast position. Super $$$$$$$$$
Getting back to your original post: this space is extremely crowded, so any patent you obtain will likely be very narrow. To be patentable, an idea must be novel, non‑obvious, and useful. Even if you draft the application entirely on your own, it will still be expensive because of the required fees.
As a side note, I think competition in this field won’t be determined by originality of design but by manufacturing price and quality. And manufacturing is a difficult discipline: incoming component inspection, verification of vendor facilities, quality control at every stage — there are many moving parts that are hard to manage.
On the other hand, you have a business opportunity staring you right in the face: we can’t fly with the batteries. Companies may be willing to work with you if you’ll try to address it.
