Got the reception fixed. External and internal antenna are about 2 - 3 mm apart. The controller keeps connection even under water and up to about 5 cm distance. Above the water surface the reception is perfect up to a few meters away while the foil assist is under water.
Here some images of the updated reception plate. It now also holds the nuts in place and stays on the board.
Today I tried the small 35L board again with the improved antenna. But I had no luck. I will need to use a bigger board, at least for the beginning. I got once into foiling while lying on the board but I could not repeat that with standing up. The board just sunk or I stalled it.
Next try will be with the downwind board which should be a success. I also ordered the blue Foil Drive 3 blade prop, which will take a while to arrive.
Also the motor can not reach more than 100 phase amps. Probably it is due to the battery or me limiting it to 45A. Maybe it can take 50A for short times. I think I will build a second 1P with those RS50s and see how that goes.
What is your foil? I would suggest starting with a big pump foil.
Today one of my friend with lots of efoil experiance tested the V2 assist I lended him, and reported he had trouble to start also, keep in mind motor is very close to the board and will ventilate easily, it puts a lot of movement/force to compensate.
so first, try to keep the board level with the water, push on front feet to avoid liftoff. WHen you have more speed than you think you need, then you can lift off, either directly transituion to pump, or transition to semi-submerged prop but then you need to reduce throttle significantly. you can see here I need to work the board a lot when prop gets in and out of water, and this prop is the high pitch volker based prop, handles semi submerged mode well.
I used the the Veloce H XXL with 1300 cm^2. You are right with the small board I should try a bigger foil at the beginning or bigger board. I have also the Trail XL with 1940 cm^2 and very thick profile to try.
I am sure it will work with that small board one day. Just need to build up the skill. While on the belly it worked out really well keeping the board level. When transitioning to my knees and standing up thatâs where I mess it up.
Donât stand until the board is on the plane. This is where everyone loses momentum and then starts fighting the board and motor. Ideally you want to be at around 13-15 kph and then stand up.
Yes it is but your Board must have a registration. IBS Number.
The french go to Germany an the german go to France in the Summer. But you have to be really aware of the currents and the big ships there.
I had a successful session last week with my downwind board and the trail foil. A friend of mine was with me and he has the FD Slim with 3 blade prop and the 15 or 20 cm cable. I tested also his setup a few times. I think when the pod mount height between both setups would be the same, I would not notice much of a difference regarding thrust even though I only have that 2 blade prop. I did not test his setup regarding surface piercing though. Just noticed that it is way easier to transition into pumping when the pod is mounted a bit lower on the mast. But I got used to the high pod mount pretty quick.
After this session I have noticed that the pod cracked, but only on one side/half (it is a two part design). I have already printed a new one with a radius along the edge where the crack started. Also it is printed with 100% infill this time. If it breaks again I will consider printing it in PA12.
I have a setup quite close to yours, standard FD prop and gong Trail L (with 77 alu mast). My board is much smaller (38l, 124cm long), therefore I strugeled to get on the board in my first sessions. I need to put a grip pad on may board to get better grip as well. How ist the trail with your dw board? It feels quite slow compared to my eFoil. I guess I have to try a bigger board as well. Or keep practicing, I can ride
it on my knees and I was close to get on my feet.
Definitely try a much bigger board for the beginning. Something in the range board volume >= body weight. I am 75kg (without gear) and the downwind board has 120 L.
My first few tries were also with a 35 L prone board and the Veloce H without much success. Basically came to my knees and once I stood up I tipped the board in a wrong direction and it slowed me down again. The battery drained so quick that I could not get many tries out of it. Then I tried the dw board with Veloce H which almost worked out. I just did not know how to transition from motoring to pumping. In the last session I chose the easiest setup with the Trail XL. After a few tries and tipps of my friend it worked out. Later when everything is dialed in I will try the small 35L prone board again.
The Trail XL is very easy to start and to recover, pretty slow and turns like a bus Its only purpose is to be an easy entry into flat water paddle ups and beach starts. I think the Trail L is the better pick due to less wingspan.
I usually ride the Veloce H XXL and Curve H L for dock starts and winging.
Yeah, it flies immediately even with fast foils like the Veloce H XXL and an almost depleted battery.
It also appeared easier to me to ride with an almost depleted battery on that board because it constraines the power and I do not have to manage the throttle so much.
Have you been playing with throttle curves in the Vesc Tool? Maybe an exponential curve is a good idea for more resolution at lower throttle?
Yes, I will report about the prop. Unfortunately I can compare to that Propellerking 2 fold only.
I had my first session with the FD LR6 Prop. I was on my dw board setup and just changed the prop, no other changes. Today I got 30+ starts out of this setup and I am not very efficient yet. I had about 3.55 V resting voltage on each cell at home (comparable to my previous session with the 2 Fold). Unfortunately I have no idea how many starts I got with the 2 Fold, but also many.
Compared to the Propellerking 2 Fold prop the FD 3 blade Prop has:
way less ventilation
more predictable thrust resulting in easier throttle control while surface piercing (probably due to less ventilation)
more thrust which becomes even more noticeable towards the end of the battery. It still lifted me easily onto foil with 50% to 75% throttle, while the 2 Fold lost a lot of thrust towards the end and I had to make little pumps to get planing even with 100% throttle.
longer battery life/usage because I can use less throttle and have more thrust towards the end
For clarification, I do not have experience with other 3 blade props yet. All in all I am very happy with my pick and I am curious how other 3 blade props would feel
Standard FD 3 Blade on Saite 6384 is also very good, lots of thrust. I spent 50min practicing starts and also foiling a bit on my knees with my short board and the Gong Trail L. There was some small chop on the Lake. Battery is 12S3P RS50, I had about 10% capacity left based on voltage. Used 460Wh from theoretical 648Wh.
I have also problem getting up on 40L narrow board. Tried a few times and gave up for the meantime.
My usual board is 90L wing board.
The foil is Ypra Slalom XL 1200, which may be the contributing factor.
As you said, when I try to stand up , the board goes one way, I go another way. I donât understand why on bigger board it is different, I guess tha the bigger board stabilizes laterally at this critical stage.
But ye it is funny, how seems that everyone rides small board, but when I try it, turns out it is not trivial.
Thinking to buy also the Trail XL in order to learn pumping. I am 90kg
For me there is no difference at all, with a bigger board.
If there is, you likely have the wrong speed.
My guess going too slow when trying to stand up and then trying to compensate with more throttle, once the boards starts to sink.
Biggest help for me was to limit power in VESC tool, to just a bit more than needed.
Yes, the foil is also contributing to it by a lot. I have realized it just today again. I was out with the dw board but this time with the Veloce XXL (1300cm2). I got only about 20 starts vs 30+ with the Trail XL. Towards the end of the battery I also had to put more of my own effort in to get on foil with the Veloce. While with the Trail XL I did not notice much of difference towards the end.
The Trail is a great foil to learn pumping/dockstarting. Very stable and low stall speed while still pumpable for a minute and maybe even longer with a good physique and technique. The XL should be fine for your weight, maybe even the L as you already have experience in foiling. But it kind of also depends on the dock. With a run start dock you can basically start anything. I am sometimes at a drop start dock (about 1m). There I do not like to use the Trail because as it hits the water it sometimes immediately stops, the board tilts to the front and I basically jump onto the mast and tail wing⌠This never happens to me with any other foil. So with the Trail I like to keep my hands always on the board while starting. This requires a dock with a height lower then or up to mast length (depends on how mobile/flexible you are).
But you have to be really aware of the currents and the big ships there.
Its only purpose is to be an easy entry into flat water paddle ups and beach starts. I think the Trail L is the better pick due to less wingspan.
