# Make the impossible possible : e-foil a 17 L board with a simple 6S DIY foildrive assist
**URL:** https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952
**Category:** Builds
**Created:** [April 11, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952 "2023-04-11T16:53:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@nicolasLGM](https://foil.zone/u/nicolasLGM)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/1 "2023-04-11T16:53:17Z")
After a first project quite efoil with 65161 and pelican suitcase, I embarked on a foil drive assist project thanks to the great inspirations of the DIY forum.
First tests on a gong hipe 5.5 110L, and a 6S 20A lipo, it works but you need the help of waves or wind to fly (67kg, big gong fluid xxlt front wing). Looking a bit at the FB page of the commercial foil drive assist, I saw crazy people using 15L boards, and I said to myself why not, and I pulled out my old kite foil board (125CM long, 16.9L ), and I managed to take off en efoil it with only one 6S lipo 20A, one simple fly color 150 A ESC, a simple 3D printed propeller, and it was a lot of fun water to learn to pump. (impossible on gong hipe 5.5 110L, too big and heavy).
Next test in the waves with this mini board for surfing waves with 17l below, it will be a lot more comfortable than with 110L.
I am building a second foil drive assist box in 2x4S 8A and flipsky mini 6.7 ESC in a lighter and smaller box.
I think I have found a simple and low cost way to make your DIY foil drive assist, without having to struggle to make your lithium ion battery.
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### Author:  [@meow](https://foil.zone/u/meow)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 5:28am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/2 "2023-05-27T05:28:16Z")
u should try to make it as small as foil drive as ur on such a small board
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### Author:  [@Alex2A](https://foil.zone/u/Alex2A)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 8:01am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/3 "2023-05-27T08:01:12Z")
At the moment bBigblue diving case p102 or p103 are very compact and perfect for our use. Available in diving shops in france
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### Author:  [@Alex2A](https://foil.zone/u/Alex2A)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 8:03am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/4 "2023-05-27T08:03:00Z")
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/5 "2023-05-27T17:17:25Z")
How do you solve the problem of loss of remote control signal in water start conditions?
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/6 "2023-05-27T18:43:50Z")
Just stick the remote under water close to the Rx and it will work fine.
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/7 "2023-05-27T19:14:03Z")
Unfortunately this does not work for my Maytech RC
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### Author:  [@Alex2A](https://foil.zone/u/Alex2A)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/8 "2023-05-27T19:21:27Z")
Yes i am still not sure about best method for radio signal.
foilDrive states that the radio signal gets to the receiver through the fiberglass of the board,and the foam, rather than through the water.
I will try to put the antenna on the bottom of the box and test different postions…
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/9 "2023-05-27T20:16:56Z")
Strange, I do it with my maytech all the time…
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/10 "2023-05-27T20:38:27Z")
Maybe it’s my remote or receiver, I don’t know. I also find it quite uncomfortable to keep my hand with the remote control behind my back during the start. I thought about using wired control and even bought a gas pedal but haven’t installed it yet.
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### Author:  [@nicolasLGM](https://foil.zone/u/nicolasLGM)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2023, 7:32am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/11 "2023-05-29T07:32:07Z")
Strange, with my 17 liters board, and box in front, flipsky VX3 receiver and remote, almost no signal loss, only small signal loss when diving too much the board (weight too much in front).
I start lying down on the board , with the board angled up, and the box is always a little above water, and my remote is in my hand really close from the box.
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2023, 8:05am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/12 "2023-05-29T08:05:15Z")
I ordered Vx3 and in a week I will be able to compare it with Maytech
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### Author:  [@nicolasLGM](https://foil.zone/u/nicolasLGM)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2023, 9:04am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/13 "2023-06-02T09:04:51Z")
yes I had the same idea 😉 I’ve built a new small box, with 2 4S 8A in serie = 8S 8A, + an external heatsink. I hope to have enough energy for at least 10 waterstarts with the very small 17Liters board.
(I’m now very close to the commercial foil drive, for only 800 euros)
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### Author:  [@nicolasLGM](https://foil.zone/u/nicolasLGM)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 8:20am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/14 "2023-10-23T08:20:49Z")
A little video of my setup :17L board, 63100, lipo 6S 20A, ESC Flycolor 150A, foil Gong XXLT
(weight : 70kg)
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jQvRgc6eA)
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### Author:  [@lishine](https://foil.zone/u/lishine)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 9:20am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/15 "2023-10-23T09:20:29Z")
> [@rttn](#):
>
> I ordered Vx3 and in a week I will be able to compare it with Maytech
How it compares?
> [@rttn](#):
>
> I thought about using wired control and even bought a gas pedal but haven’t installed it yet.
That is a great idea!
To put a button on the front of the box behind you and push it with the leg when starting 😀
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### Author:  [@lishine](https://foil.zone/u/lishine)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 9:26am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/16 "2023-10-23T09:26:22Z")
> [@nicolasLGM](#):
>
> 63100, lipo 6S 20A
by 20A =\> you mean 20AH ?
Why did you do x2 4s instead of 8s, because of the charger available?
Is this big thing a fuse?
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### Author:  [@rttn](https://foil.zone/u/rttn)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/17 "2023-10-23T13:45:56Z")
I didn’t find any particular difference with the Maytech in terms of range, but the screen was very dim and hard to read in the sun, so I stopped using it.
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### Author:  [@nicolasLGM](https://foil.zone/u/nicolasLGM)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/18 "2023-10-23T18:33:30Z")
Yes I mean 20AH, (turnigy 6S 20AH 12C)
> [@lishine](#):
>
> 4s instead of 8s
Yes I already have a 2-6S double charger. and the place in the box was perfect for those lipos
Yes it’s a fuse, but taking a huge space, I have to replace it with a XT90S connector to prevent the spark
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### Author:  [@mkefoil](https://foil.zone/u/mkefoil)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://foil.zone/t/make-the-impossible-possible-e-foil-a-17-l-board-with-a-simple-6s-diy-foildrive-assist/17952/19 "2026-05-24T02:47:16Z")
This just broke my brain. I hadn’t considered that a sinker could actually be easier to get on foil due to the mechanics of the drag hump the large board has to overcome after a certain point. Goes against what I’ve been trying to optimize for. No free lunch of course, but I hadn’t considered this relationship. Assumed I was on the “safe/ less drag” side with a similar large board.