AMPJet vs Mast mounted prop

Let’s just get this out there, AMPJet is a revolutionary and unique product that’s set to blow the foiling world wide open. There’s literally nothing like it in-market at the time of writing.

AMPJet has distinct advantages over a mast mounted prop but which one is best suited to you, depends on a whole bunch of factors like skill level, rider weight and what you’re planning to do with it.

AMPJet pros

AMPJet is powered by a board-based battery system which is fully integrated and adds no extra drag to the set-up. It offers the ultimate in performance because once you’re up on foil it rides like an unassisted foil with zero extra drag, where only the initial boost is used to get up.

So it’s the best of both worlds between assisted and pure prone foiling.

The AMPJet system means you can foil with one system for 3 different disciplines - which also means you can simplify your life and your garage.

For Surf Foiling it allows you to catch a much bigger range of waves, both bigger and smaller, then pump back out unassisted, unencumbered and free.

For Winging it allows you to get up in lighter winds, with smaller gear. Plus you can sink-start in under 10 knots and with a lower volume board, if you know what you’re doing.

For Downwinding it offers similar advantages, providing big board takeoffs with small board agility. AMPJet creates a short board with more paddle power than a long board, so you can ditch the paddle and your expectations. Just grab and go.

AMPJet delivers 25kg of thrust from a powerful and efficient jet that is fully integrated into the board with a completely enclosed impeller making it much safer than a mast mounted prop.

AMPJet is controlled by the removable and handsfree AMPLAUNCHPad. This is fully integrated into the nose of the board and is the brains behind the boost. Push once for the perfect amount of assist, to get up on foil and track everything you ride.

Mast mounted prop pros.

A mast mounted prop can be easier for foilers to master because it gives riders more of an assist from the motor that is mounted on the mast (the clue’s in the name) rather than inside the board like AMPJet. This means it will continue to provide thrust until the foil is higher out of the water.

It allows Surf Foilers to catch more waves by boosting to get on them, foiling them in unassisted, then hybrid eFoiling back out if they haven’t learnt to pump yet, or just want to give their quads a rest. A good way to practise pumping is on a lake. It’s a more stable environment than the ocean and you can use the boost to get up on foil, then just pump around…pump around, pump up, pump up and get down (little House of Pain fans joke).

Because the motor sits down the mast and below the water surface, a mast mounted prop is the best choice for flatwater.

 

Mast mounted prop cons

There’s a lot more drag with a mast mounted prop than AMPJet because everytime the foil sinks low in the water the prop and motor are in danger of being dragged through it, ruining the flow. Being entirely integrated within the board, AMPJet has nothing on the mast and even touchdowns don’t increase drag any more than on an unpowered prone set-up.

At the time of writing, every mast mounted prop is an after market add-on, rather than being a fully integrated part the mast like FLITELab*s upcoming AMPMast (scheduled for 2025). As well as adding a lot of extra drag it also means the entire motor is more susceptible to corrosion from the harsh wet environment, so they generally require a full clean after every session which is a pain.

Whether you choose AMPJet or a mast mounted prop, assisted foiling is growing fast and FLITELab* are committed to providing the best foiling products and experiences out there. We’re on a mission to defy the impossible in Surf Foiling, Winging and Downwinding and to define a new frontier of Foiling culture.

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