Foil Drive Assist Max+ Gen 2.5

The Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 is a bolt-on foil assist system: an electric motor, a 648Wh battery and a handheld throttle that mount to a hydrofoil setup you already own. You use the motor to get up on foil and to get back upwind, then ride the wave, the bump or the downwinder under your own power. It is not an eFoil — it is the unit that turns almost any foil board into one when you want it to be.

Gen 2.5 is the generation that moved MAX onto the 43V architecture Foil Drive introduced with the Fusion. That brings a one-piece FM+ battery, more thrust, longer runtime and tilt-safety cutoff, in a unit that still weighs 14.8 lb installed and still fits the small-board, small-foil setups the original MAX was built around.

One thing to get straight before you order: the batteries from the previous Assist MAX generation do not fit the MAX+. Gen 2.5 runs the new FM+ 650 (and the FM+ 430, due early 2027). If you are upgrading from an older MAX, budget for the battery.

Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 video Our walkthrough of the Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 — where the extra power and thrust come from, what changed from the previous MAX, and what the system looks like on the water.

▶ Watch the Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 walkthrough on YouTube

Which Assist MAX+ configuration do you need? The price on this page changes with the motor option you pick, because the motor is the expensive part. All three configurations include the MAX+ unit, the V3 controller and the 43V charger. None of them includes a battery — see below.

Configuration Price Who it is for None — I already have a motor $4,001 Upgrading from an earlier Foil Drive and keeping your current motor and mast Integrated Mast High Power Motor $5,026.20 Those who have an Integrated mast — the cleanest setup, and the usual choice for a first system Retro-Fit High Power Motor Kit $5,350 Adapting the motor to a mast you already ride The FM+ 650 battery ($1,349, carry case included) is a separate item — add it to your order unless you already own one. The same FM+ battery also runs in a Foil Drive Fusion with the FM+ Battery Adapter , so if you own both systems you can share one battery between them.

Not sure which motor option fits your mast and foil brand? Call the shop at (321) 252-5483 before you order — it is a five-minute conversation that saves a return.

What you can actually do with it Surf and waves. Over an hour of flying in a surf session, motoring back out instead of paddling between sets. Downwind. Motor upwind, ride the bumps home, repeat — no shuttle driver, no second car. Pump training. Get up on foil without burning a tow or a surf start every attempt, so the session is spent pumping rather than recovering. Light-wind wing and flatwater. Assist off the start on days the wind will not quite do it. Boat wakes. Enough thrust to chase and connect wakes. Smaller gear. The extra thrust is what lets riders drop down to smaller foils and lower-volume boards sooner than they otherwise could. Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 tech specs Spec Value System voltage 43.2V Battery capacity 648Wh (FM+ 650) Max thrust 35.5 kg / 78 lb Peak power (boost) 2,150W — 2.88 hp Sustained power 1,750W — 2.35 hp Minimum install weight* 6.71 kg / 14.8 lb Dimensions with battery 540 × 125 × 55 mm / 21.3 × 4.9 × 2.2 in Water rating IP68 water and dust resistance Charger 43V standard charger, 12 amp App Foil Drive app, Android and iOS Controller V3 controller with bump guard (V2 also compatible) Certifications UN38.3, CE, FCC, WEEE, RoHS, PSE, ICES, IP68 *Install weight includes unit, battery, integrated HP motor, three-blade hub and props, and nosecone where applicable. A retrofit install with the mini pod mounted at 20cm adds 360g.

What is included Foil Drive MAX+ (in case)

V3 controller with bump guard installed 43V standard charger, 12 amp 4x titanium T40 M7 split bolts, silver Controller accessories case

USB-C charge pad and cable Bump guard variation Wrist leash 1.5mm Allen key for bump guard removal Tools, hardware and spares

1x T40 driver, 1x T30 driver, 1x 2.5mm black titanium driver, 1x pick tool 2x 15g battery grease 2x nose cone rocker pads 3x M4 10mm titanium motor plug bolts 1x anode replacement kit Replacement O-rings: electronics box (blue), motor cable (blue), motor cable (red) 2x mast foam track guides 1x tool caddy (inside the MAX+), microfibre towel, sticker pack Compatibility Component Works with MAX+ Gen 2.5 Previous-generation Assist MAX batteries No — not compatible FM+ 650 battery Yes FM+ 430 battery Yes — releasing early 2027 43V Foil Drive charger Yes Retro-Fit High Power Motor Kit Yes Integrated Mast High Power Motor Yes Retro-Fit Standard Motor Kit Yes V2 controller Yes V3 controller Yes — included Foil Drive Fusion FM+ batteries cross over with the FM+ Battery Adapter Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 FAQ How long does the Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 run on one battery?

Foil Drive rates the 648Wh FM+ 650 battery at over an hour of flying through a surf session. Real runtime depends on rider weight, foil size and how much of the session is under motor versus riding waves or pumping — a rider using the motor only for takeoffs and the trip back upwind will see considerably longer than one motoring continuously.

Will my old Assist MAX battery work in the MAX+?

No. Previous-generation Assist MAX batteries are not compatible with the Gen 2.5 MAX+. The system runs the FM+ 650, and the FM+ 430 when it releases in early 2027. This is the most common upgrade mistake — factor a battery into the price if you are coming from an older MAX.

Does the Assist MAX+ come with a battery?

No. Every configuration on this page includes the MAX+ unit, V3 controller, 43V charger, hardware and spares, and the motor option you choose. The FM+ 650 battery is $1,349 and is ordered alongside it.

What is the difference between the Retro-Fit and Integrated Mast motor options?

The Integrated Mast High Power Motor is supplied with the motor built into the mast, which is the tidiest installation and the usual choice for a first system. The Retro-Fit High Power Motor Kit adapts the motor to a mast you already own. Which one is right depends on your current mast and foil brand, so call before ordering if you are unsure.

How much thrust does the Foil Drive Assist MAX+ make?

35.5 kg, or about 78 lb, with 2,150W peak boost power and 1,750W sustained — 2.88 hp peak, 2.35 hp sustained.

Can I use it in salt water?

The system is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance and ships with an anode replacement kit and spare O-rings for the electronics box and motor cable, which are the consumables salt water eats. Follow Foil Drive rinse and maintenance guidance.

Is the Assist MAX+ an eFoil?

Not quite. An eFoil is a complete board built around a motor and ridden under power the whole time. The Assist MAX+ is a foil assist — it mounts to a normal foil setup, gets you flying, then gets out of the way so you ride the wave, the bump or the swell yourself. Riders who want both often buy the assist, because it can also be ridden under power on flat days.

What foils and boards does it fit?

The MAX+ is designed to run on standard foil setups, with the extra Gen 2.5 thrust specifically aimed at making smaller foils and lower-volume boards workable. Minimum install weight is 14.8 lb with the integrated motor. Mast and fuselage fitment varies by brand — check yours with us first.

Do you have the Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 in stock?

Yes. We stock it at our Cocoa Beach, Florida shop at 110 Dixie Lane, and ship nationwide.

Buying a Foil Drive in Florida Kiteboarding Closeouts is in Cocoa Beach on Florida Space Coast, and Foil Drive is a range we stock in depth rather than order in — units, batteries, motors, adapters and spares. If you are choosing between the MAX+ and a Fusion, or working out whether your current mast takes a retrofit motor, call the shop at (321) 252-5483 . Questions on sizing or setup? Call the shop.

See the rest of the range in foil assist units and eFoils , or browse all eFoil and foil assist gear .