Hi All,
I interviewed Chris, the designer of the Duotone Foil Assist, recently on the FOILERS Podcast. It was quite an in-depth chat. I tried to cover all the questions people have been asking about it. If you do check it out, please subscribe - I am trying very hard to keep independent and not get brand sponsors on the FOILERS Podcast.
Full Chat on YouTube
Select to expand quoteWingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Darren has one in demo at action sports. Don't think I've seen anyone in the wild with it other than that.
Select to expand quoteWingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Rode it the other day, probably ok in the surf to assist prone but useless for upwind/downwind. The controller is absolute sh!t and not enough runtime.
i think people are wising up to buying gen 1 of anything, especially at this price point. i know i have after being burned several times. of course, without gen 1 there can be no gen 2. i think the Foil Drive folks have gone thru this pain already and now have the lead and respect of the community, but this makes it tough for the newcomers. agree with above comment though, that controller by Duotone has got to go.
I have the Dlab set up using a 925 and 1050 MB160 with Duotone 5'2" board, rider 98kgs. Had about 20 sessions surf foil performance is very good, board feels so light, turns are much more dynamic and pumping is very easy. I do get better run time with the 1050 and have been out in head high waves with confidence. You do get used to the remote and having a free hand when surfing adds more style. The battery on your waist is no issue even with the two blade plastic prop, I can get going in flat water when needed, chip in is much better to preserve battery. Run time is around 30-40 minutes which doesn't seem much however if you are continually catching waves it's perfectly fine. Compared to my FD you definitely get better run time on FD you can go upwind better on FD. If you want surf foil performance the Duotone is much better however FD still has great performance.
The use of the remote reminded me of parawing when going downwind. If you hit a dead spot can I get the para out in time or press the remote button 6 times to get enough drive. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, having instant power available like the FD controller is much preferred.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..Wingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Rode it the other day, probably ok in the surf to assist prone but useless for upwind/downwind. The controller is absolute sh!t and not enough runtime.
Yeah the remote was my main concern as well 
Wonder if you could pair a FD style controller ??
Select to expand quoteairsail said..
The use of the remote reminded me of parawing when going downwind. If you hit a dead spot can I get the para out in time or press the remote button 6 times to get enough drive. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, having instant power available like the FD controller is much preferred.
I agree about the FD remote definitely being more user friendly. The Duotone remote does require patience and is very different to get used to, I do like having a free hand when surfing.
Select to expand quoteWingman WA said..airsail said..Wingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Rode it the other day, probably ok in the surf to assist prone but useless for upwind/downwind. The controller is absolute sh!t and not enough runtime.
Yeah the remote was my main concern as well
Wonder if you could pair a FD style controller ??
Just tried pairing the FD controller no luck
Select to expand quoteFreebordnig123 said..Wingman WA said..airsail said..Wingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Rode it the other day, probably ok in the surf to assist prone but useless for upwind/downwind. The controller is absolute sh!t and not enough runtime.
Yeah the remote was my main concern as well
Wonder if you could pair a FD style controller ??
Just tried pairing the FD controller no luck
Thanks for trying !!
Select to expand quoteWingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Will Sproule from WSS Boards rode one in the Northern Beaches 20 Beaches Downwind race (he won the Foil Assist Division) and was absolutely ripping on one at Merimbula Classic in November where he won King of the Classic.
Will riding at 1:36
Select to expand quotecamerongraham said..Wingman WA said..
Anyone riding this system ? been out for a while and its pretty quiet !!
Will Sproule from WSS Boards rode one in the Northern Beaches 20 Beaches Downwind race (he won the Foil Assist Division) and was absolutely ripping on one at Merimbula Classic in November where he won King of the Classic.
Will riding at 1:36
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Will also won the contest Foilfest at Plumber earlier this year, I hope to make it next year and will probably ride the Duotone assist. This is a session I had on the Crest foil using my FD at my local spot the Crest foil is next level share.icloud.com/photos/02daQwIOn4H8ozEJYevUWDcDQ
This looked so good I decided to build my own (with a lot of help from the folks on foil.zone) for 1/10th the price (using mostly off the shelf components and a few 3D printed parts). Works a treat. I've tried FD #1 and #2 and prefer the weight off the board (to be fair I am new to this). On a 12S2P (44.4v/8400mAh) I get 30 minutes of *continuous* motor time in a session (with my uncoordinated riding skills).
I reckon waist style setup is the way to go. No you don't sink (my belt/harness is a webbing weight lifting belt with a little padding).
I was once interested in batteries on a waist harness back in the early FD days. FD management were dead against it due to the risk.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
I was once interested in batteries on a waist harness back in the early FD days. FD management were dead against it due to the risk.
Hopefully FD wakes up and engineers a solution that fits into their ecosystem.
The clips i have seen of guys riding the duotone foil assist, the riders seem to ride with allot more flow and style than guys with the FD battery bolted onto the board, even the really good riders on FD & Manta you notice a difference in their turns when riding a wave compared to when they have no battery weight on the board.
I think the duotone controller is good, as it seems more aimed to get you up and going on a wave, then disappear so you can be hands free rather than holding a remote the whole time, motoring back out on foil constantly doing circuits in the lineup. The duotone setup seems to be more aimed at an assist for purists to get onto a wave disengage, then pump back out, or cruise back out to the lineup prone and use it as a paddle assist. If you want to be motoring around the whole time with a remote in your hands, you might be better with a FD or Manta type setup with a big heavy battery bolted on your board, just my 2c 
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Select to expand quotefoilthegreats said..Hopefully FD wakes up and engineers a solution that fits into their ecosystem.
Very doubtful I would suggest on the conversations I have had with them on the concept.
Select to expand quotePJ87 said..
The clips i have seen of guys riding the duotone foil assist, the riders seem to ride with allot more flow and style than guys with the FD battery bolted onto the board, even the really good riders on FD & Manta you notice a difference in their turns when riding a wave compared to when they have no battery weight on the board.
I think the duotone controller is good, as it seems more aimed to get you up and going on a wave, then disappear so you can be hands free rather than holding a remote the whole time, motoring back out on foil constantly doing circuits in the lineup. The duotone setup seems to be more aimed at an assist for purists to get onto a wave disengage, then pump back out, or cruise back out to the lineup prone and use it as a paddle assist. If you want to be motoring around the whole time with a remote in your hands, you might be better with a FD or Manta type setup with a big heavy battery bolted on your board, just my 2c .
Your right about the clips your seeing though probably more to do with the skill of the rider rather than what assist they use. Having had a one set of batteries go on the Duotone I can see the benefits in true surf, chip in, ride, pull off and a slow prone motor back out. But definitely not suitable to staying on foil the full time, you will really chew through battery charge.
I've taught a few people to Foildrive, they get it really quickly. I doubt the quirky Duotone controller will be easily learned by foil beginners and I wouldn't strap the waist belt to my grandson's, just wouldn't fit.
It just falls down to what application you're chasing, for some it won't be ideal, for others it will be exactly what they want. I just wish they made it with a pod you could attach to any mast, so you didn't have to buy the duotone integrated mast and save a bit of dollars and make the most of what you already have.
