Your safety—and the safety of those around you—is our highest priority.

Foil Drive systems are designed to make hydrofoiling more accessible and enjoyable, but they remain powerful electrical propulsion systems that must be used responsibly.

To minimise the risk of equipment damage, serious injury or death, always read and follow the instructions, warnings and safety information provided by Foil Drive before assembling, charging or operating your system.

This includes:

• The User Manual supplied with your product.
• Safety information published in the Foil Drive Help Centre.
• Official Foil Drive instructional videos.
• Product-specific setup and operating guides.

Using your Foil Drive without understanding how it operates significantly increases the risk of injury or equipment damage.

By using a Foil Drive™ system, you acknowledge that hydrofoiling is an inherently high-risk activity and that you do so at your own risk.

Respect the Equipment

A Foil Drive system combines:

• Lithium-ion batteries.
• High-powered electric motors.
• Rotating propellers.
• Hydrofoils travelling at speed.

Each of these components has been engineered with multiple safety features, but no safety feature can replace responsible operation and good judgement.

Always operate your Foil Drive exactly as described in the User Manual.

Motor & Propeller Safety

The rotating motor and propeller are capable of causing serious injury.

Foil Drive incorporates multiple electronic safety features—including fail-safe shutdowns, signal monitoring and motor protection—but riders should never rely solely on these systems.

Always:

• Operate the system only when correctly installed on a compatible board.
• Keep hands, feet and clothing clear of the motor and propeller whenever a battery is connected.
• Turn the controller OFF before climbing onto or handling your board where practical, placing the system into Lock Mode to reduce the chance of accidental throttle activation.
• Stay well clear of other people, swimmers and animals while riding.
• Remain aware of the motor's position whenever handling your board.

Never:

• Operate the motor while it is obstructed.
• Hold the motor or propeller while a battery is connected, even for testing.
• Touch the propeller or motor when the system is energised.

Lithium Battery Safety

Lithium-ion batteries provide outstanding performance and energy density, but they must be handled correctly.

To reduce risk:

• Keep batteries clean and dry.
• Keep batteries away from wet towels, wetsuits and damp equipment during transport or storage.
• Allow batteries to cool to ambient temperature before charging.
• Charge only in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from flammable materials.
• Use the supplied lithium battery charging bag whenever charging.
• Never leave a battery charging unattended.
• Disconnect the charger once charging has completed.
• Never expose batteries to excessive heat and minimise direct sunlight for extended periods.

Heat and exposure to salt water is one of the biggest causes of reduced lithium battery performance and lifespan.

Store Batteries Correctly

Lithium batteries should not be stored fully charged for extended periods.

For the longest battery life:

• Charge shortly before riding.
• Store batteries at approximately 40–60% State of Charge if they won't be used for an extended period.
• Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Proper storage protects battery performance and extends service life.

Use the Correct Charger

Foil Drive chargers are not interchangeable.

Always use the charger designed for your specific battery.

Ensure the plug orientation is correct before connecting the charger to the battery. Failure to do so can short both your charger and battery.

Using the incorrect charger may damage your battery or charging equipment.

If you're unsure which charger is compatible with your battery, check the battery label or contact Foil Drive Support before charging.

Charging from Inverters & Generators

Battery chargers require a stable, high-quality power supply.

Foil Drive recommends charging only from:

• Standard mains power protected by an RCD.
• A quality Pure Sine Wave inverter of the recommended capacity.

Modified sine wave or low-quality inverters and generators may damage charging equipment and are not recommended.

Safety Starts Before You Enter the Water

Before every session:

• Inspect your equipment for signs of damage.
• Confirm your battery is securely installed.
• Check that all cables and connectors are correctly fitted.
• Ensure your controller is functioning correctly.
• Verify your foil and Foil Drive system are securely assembled.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment.
• Choose conditions suited to your experience level.

Most incidents can be prevented through careful preparation.

Understand Before You Ride

Many of the safety features built into Foil Drive—such as the Tilt Sensor and Lock Functions and —work automatically.

Understanding how these features behave before entering the water allows you to respond correctly if they activate during a session.

We strongly encourage every rider to become familiar with these systems before their first ride.

Safety Is a Shared Responsibility

Foil Drive has been engineered with numerous mechanical, electrical and software safety features.

However, the safest rider is one who:

• Understands their equipment.
• Rides within their ability.
• Respects other water users.
• Maintains their equipment.
• Follows the User Manual and official guidance.

Technology can reduce risk, but it cannot replace sound judgement.