Billy Bosch rolled the new Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5 out of Good Breeze / Foil Outlet, bolted it to an Armstrong integrated mast on a North Boost trench board, and took it into barely-there Florida swell. First foil: the Armstrong UHA 870. Second foil: the MA 490 — the small, high-speed wing he normally saves for Pacific overhead days. Both got up. The second one surprised him.

The MAX+ is the replacement for the unit that built Foil Drive’s reputation. Same compact all-rounder shape. New 43V Fusion-generation platform. More thrust, more runtime, a one-piece FM+ battery, and enough extra punch to put smaller foils and thinner boards in play on days that used to feel too small.

Watch the full review…

Watch the full first ride and review with Billy Bosch from Good Breeze Boardsports / Foil Outlet — including install notes on the North Boost trench, the Armstrong integrated mast, three-blade low-range props, and on-water footage of the MAX+ lifting both a cruisy UHA 870 and a tiny MA 490 in nearly flat Space Coast swell.

What Makes the MAX+ Stand Out

It replaces the bread-and-butter unit. At Good Breeze, almost everything we sell in foil assist has been the Foil Drive Max. The MAX+ is built to take that slot: same mission, Fusion-generation hardware underneath.

43V Fusion technology in the Max-size package. The MAX+ moves off the old 40V Max platform and onto the 43.2V architecture Foil Drive introduced with the Fusion. It ships with the same 43V charger. The FM+ batteries are designed to cross over to a Fusion with the FM+ Battery Adaptor — so one pack can feed two systems.

Real numbers vs the Max High Power pack most people already ride.

FM+ 650 (the standard go-to battery now): about 20 more minutes of runtime, about 18 more pounds of thrust, about a pound and three-quarters heavier.FM+ 430 sport battery (early 2027): about 15 more minutes than the old Max High Power, the same extra ~18 lb of thrust, and about a pound and a quarter lighter. That is the pack Billy is waiting on.
It gets smaller foils flying. Extra thrust is not a spec-sheet flex on a tiny-wave day. Billy went from the UHA 870 at quarter throttle to the MA 490 — a foil that “needs a lot of energy to get moving” — and popped up off the teeniest wave behind him. Low-range three-blade props, not high-speed props. Power first, then speed.
It feels more balanced than the old Max. Same comment riders made about the Fusion: even when the unit is a little heavier on the beach, the center of gravity on foil and through a pump is cleaner. Billy felt that same shift on the MAX+.
One system, every foil discipline. Surf and small swell. Downwind. Light-wind wing. Flatwater practice. Wake thieving. Dock-to-dock lake runs. Pair it with an integrated mast (Armstrong, Slingshot One Lock, North/Sonar), the Universal Mini Pod, or a trench board like the 2026 North Boost.
Tilt-safety cutoff and Gen 2.5 electronics. The move to the Fusion platform also brings the tilt sensor motor cut-off and the current app / V3 controller stack. V2 controllers still work.

Billy’s First Ride: What Actually Happened

Setup: MAX+ on an Armstrong integrated mast, three-blade blue / low-range props, North Boost trench board, FM+ 650 battery. Conditions: Space Coast swell that Billy described as barely existing.

UHA 870 first. Cruisy. Up on about a quarter throttle. The extra thrust makes small-day assist feel casual instead of maxed-out.

Then the MA 490. That is the foil he rides in Pacific big-wave swell or way-overhead Florida days. He told the crew on the beach he did not think it would work. It did. A tiny wave behind him was enough to pop up, and he could keep it flying and push for speed even on the low-range prop.

Runtime on a real session, not a lab loop. About 30 minutes on the 870, another 15–20 minutes messing around on the 490. He had to open the shop. He still had 50% battery. Official Foil Drive guidance on the FM+ 650 is over an hour of flying through a surf-style session if you are not motoring the entire time — Billy’s hour-with-half-left lines up with that.

Install Notes You Will Actually Use

Trench boards and the one-piece battery. The FM+ pack is built into the nose cone the same way the Fusion battery is. On Billy’s North Boost, the battery would not slide in until he loosened the M7 split bolts and moved the unit a little farther back. He did not have to pull the whole system off the board. If your trench is tight, plan on that extra inch of slide room — or pull the unit for battery changes.

Mast connections are sold separately. The MAX+ kit does not include an integrated mast or a Mini Pod. Billy’s standing advice: buy the integrated mast. Cleaner water flow, better performance, less junk hanging off the plate. The Universal Mini Pod is the path if you want to keep the mast you already ride.

M7 split bolts are the small win. They are what let him slide the unit, drop the battery in, and keep riding without a full teardown.

Old Max batteries do not fit. This is the upgrade trap. Gen 2.5 runs FM+ only — FM+ 650 now, FM+ 430 when it lands in early 2027. If you are coming off an older Assist MAX, budget the new battery. The FM+ 650 is $1,349 and includes a carry case.

Battery release is the honest downside. Billy’s two nits: the FM+ 650 still feels a little heavy as the daily pack, and getting the battery to release takes more effort than it should. Riders are already 3D-printing pull tools. He wants the sport battery for weight, and a cleaner release on the next hardware pass.

MAX+ vs The Old Max vs Fusion

Use this as the shop-floor comparison. Starred FM+ 430 figures are Billy’s projected numbers from the video; that pack is not shipping yet.

Spec	Gen2 MAX HP	MAX+ + FM+650	MAX+ + FM+430*
Platform	Gen2 / 40V	Gen 2.5 / 43V	Gen 2.5 / 43V
Battery	MAX High Power	FM+ 650 (648Wh)	FM+ 430 (early 2027)
Thrust vs old MAX	Baseline	+ ~18 lb	+ ~18 lb
Runtime vs old MAX	Baseline	+ ~20 min	+ ~15 min
Weight vs old MAX HP	Baseline	+ ~1.75 lb	− ~1.25 lb
Max thrust	29.5 kg / 65 lb	35.5 kg / 78 lb	35.5 kg / 78 lb
Peak power	1,862W	2,150W / 2.88 hp	2,150W / 2.88 hp
Min install weight	5.91 kg / 13.0 lb	6.71 kg / 14.8 lb	Lighter sport pack
Old MAX batteries	Yes	No	No
Shares with Fusion	No	Yes (adapter)	Yes (adapter)

*FM+ 430 sport battery targeted for early 2027. Thrust and runtime deltas are Billy’s on-water briefing against the outgoing Max High Power pack.

The Fusion still wins if you want maximum eFoil-style runtime and the bigger 860Wh pack. The MAX+ wins if you want Fusion-generation power in the compact assist package most people actually ride — surf, wing, downwind, wake — without carrying Fusion size every session. Share FM+ batteries between the two with the $99 adaptor.

Common Questions About the Foil Drive MAX+ Gen 2.5

What is the MAX+ actually for?

Bolt-on foil assist for a board and foil you already own. Motor up, get on foil, ride the wave / bump / wake / downwinder, then use the motor again to get back upwind or recover after a fall. It is not a full-time eFoil unless you choose to ride it that way.

Does this replace the Foil Drive Max?

Yes. That is Foil Drive’s intent and how we are stocking it at Good Breeze / Foil Outlet. The old Max remains a great used and closeout unit. New builds go MAX+.

Will my old Assist MAX battery work?

No. Previous-generation 40V Max batteries are not compatible. You need the FM+ 650 now, or the FM+ 430 when it releases. This is the number-one ordering mistake. Factor the battery if you are upgrading.

Can I share batteries with a Fusion?

Yes. FM+ packs drop into a Fusion with the FM+ Battery Adaptor. That is the point of the new platform — one 43V family, two units.

How long does the FM+ 650 last?

Foil Drive’s indicative guide (80 kg rider, 800 cm² wing, 5’0″ / 40 L board): about 31 minutes intermediate e-foil use, about 52 minutes advanced e-foil use, about 40–50 minutes intermediate surf, about 55–70 minutes advanced surf. Billy’s real session — mixed 870 and 490, not full-throttle the whole time — was ~50 minutes with half the pack left. Assist-style riding lasts longer than continuous motoring.

Slim, Max, MAX+, or Fusion?

Assist Slim — lightest assist feel. Enough for many surf and wake packages. Not the MAX+ platform.
Outgoing Assist Max — the old 40V all-rounder. Still excellent if you already own it. Not what we recommend for a new purchase.
MAX+ Gen 2.5 — the new all-rounder. More thrust and runtime than the Max, compact enough for small boards and small foils. This is the default recommendation for most riders walking into the shop.
Fusion — hybrid assist + longer e-foil-style runtime. Bigger pack, more planted, better for all-day powered riding. FM+ batteries can slim it down.

What motor position and mast should I use?

Lower on the mast for learning and surface motoring. Higher so the prop comes clear once you are flying — surf, wake, and anything you want to feel like a normal foil. Billy always chooses an integrated mast over a bulky strap-on pod. Armstrong’s integrated performance mast sits around a 185 mm pod height, which is the everyday sweet spot. Slingshot One Lock and North/Sonar integrated options do the same job in those ecosystems. The Universal Mini Pod is the upgrade if you are still on a clamp-style mount.

What board and foil should I pair with it?

Whatever you already foil on works. Extra thrust is what lets you drop volume and shrink the front wing sooner. Billy’s test pair — North Boost trench + UHA 870 for the small-day cruise, then MA 490 when he wanted to see the ceiling — is a good illustration. Dedicated trench boards (2026 North Boost, Appletree Zapple, Jimmy Lewis Super Fly FD) make the one-piece FM+ battery happier. Watch trench length so the pack can slide.

Do I get a mast or Mini Pod in the box?

No. Configurations on our product page are: unit only if you already have a motor; Integrated Mast High Power Motor; or Retro-Fit High Power Motor Kit. All include the MAX+ unit, V3 controller, and 43V charger. None include the battery.

Who is the MAX+ best for?

The rider who wants one assist system for surf, downwind, wing, wake, and flatwater — and who has been on the fence about dropping to a smaller foil. Also the shop-standard recommendation when someone says “just give me the all-rounder.” Heavier riders and full-time e-foilers may still want Fusion capacity. Weight-obsessed rippers will want the FM+ 430 the week it lands.

Who should I talk to about a setup?

Good Breeze / Foil Outlet. Billy says it at the end of the video: we have them in stock, and if you need help picking a setup, reach out.

Rider Insights

Billy Bosch (Good Breeze / Foil Outlet):

“Overall, I’m really impressed. The power is definitely there.”

On the old Max: it has been the bread and butter of the lineup — almost everything the shop sells. The MAX+ is built to take that job and add thrust, runtime, and the 43V battery family.

On the small-foil test: “I grabbed the MA 490, which is like what I ride in a Pacific big-wave swell or when it’s way overhead here. I even said to the guys, I don’t think this is going to work. Let’s find out. I just need the teeniest little wave behind me to pop up — and I was flying.”

On balance: it feels more like the Fusion than the old Max. Heavier on paper with the 650, cleaner through a pump once you are riding.

On the sport battery: that is the pack he wants as a daily. More power and more runtime than today’s Max High Power, and lighter. “I think that sport battery, when it’s even lighter and with a similar amount of power, is going to be the ticket for me.”

On the nits: the big battery is still a little heavy, and the pack can be stubborn to release. Neither stopped him from recommending the system.

On next steps: “Come check them out. We have them in stock. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.”

MAX+ Tech Specs

Spec	Foil Drive Assist MAX+ Gen 2.5
System voltage	43.2V
Standard battery	FM+ 650 — 648Wh / 15Ah / 8.7 lb
Upcoming battery	FM+ 430 sport pack — early 2027
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 unit / IP69 battery
Charger	43V standard, 12 amp (~85 min on FM+ 650)
Controller	V3 with bump guard (V2 compatible)
App	Foil Drive app, iOS and Android
Safety	Tilt-sensor motor cutoff
Certifications	UN38.3, CE, FCC, WEEE, RoHS, PSE, ICES, IP68

Install weight includes unit, battery, integrated high-power motor, three-blade hub and props, and nose cone where applicable. A Mini Pod retrofit at 20 cm adds about 360 g.

Conclusion

The Foil Drive Max was the all-rounder that made assist practical for regular riders. The MAX+ Gen 2.5 keeps that brief and updates the parts that mattered: voltage platform, thrust, runtime, battery family, and the ability to get a small foil moving on a small day.

Billy’s session is the review in miniature. Tiny swell. Everyday 870. Then the foil nobody expected to work. An hour of riding, half a battery left, and a shop that now stocks MAX+ as the default instead of the old Max.

If you already own a Max and it does what you need, keep riding it. If you are buying new, or you have been waiting for enough thrust to shrink the wing, the MAX+ is the unit we will put in your hands at Good Breeze / Foil Outlet.

Ready to step into Gen 2.5? We build these packages every week — unit only, integrated-mast builds, retro-fit kits, trench boards, and the FM+ 650 in stock now.