ADRENALINE RUSH
With the help of Andreas Lakeberg we look at the electric surfboard market and discover the best boards available whether you’re an experienced user or a novice
With the quantity of jet boards coming on to the market it is important to understand the difference in the terminology and also to understand the usage of the board. Andreas and his team have tested many of the available boards, testing reliability, robustness and how they fit the needs of the rider in various conditions. There are three mayor categories of electric surfboards called eFoil, Jetboard and Electric SUP.
ELECTRIC SUPS
An E-SUP is a stand-up paddle surfboard with an electric motor, which only allows low speeds of up to 10 km/h. You can get complete electric SUP surfboards with integrated battery and jet engine as well as conversion kits. Such a conversion kit replaces your fin on the existing SUP and transforms it into an E-SUP. Prices range between 1,000 and 3,000 EUR for such boards.
JETBOARDS
Electric jetboards reach speeds up to 60 km/h and are available in multiple sizes. Larger boards make it easier for beginners while smaller boards with less volume make the ride more agile and allow sharper turns. The run time of the jetboards is usually around 20-40 minutes with one battery charge and it takes about 2-3 hours to charge them. Prices range between 8,000 and 30,000 EUR mainly, depending on the power.
EFOILS
Over the past two years the eFoils basically took over the market of electric surfboards. The main reason is the much higher range (up to 90 minutes) which is possible because the electric hydrofoils need much less power once they start flying. The feeling of the ride can be described as snowboarding in powder. While eFoiling is not so much about the speed they can reach up to 45 km/h. The eFoils are certainly an eye-catcher in any marina. They are more silent than jetboards and don’t create waves. This is why some regions face less regulations for eFoils. The prices range between 12,000 and 16,000 EUR.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Compared to petrol powered jetboards, the electric surfboards are not only much more silent they are also basically maintenance free. Just rinse them with fresh water and use some contact spray – that’s it. You can charge the batteries on any 110-240 Volt power outlet.
Some yacht insurances may require fireproof transport and storage boxes for the powerful lithium-ion batteries. Andreas has worked with manufacturers of eSurfboards as well as freight forwarders for dangerous goods to deliver a solution. A combination of aluminum cases with fireproof cushions for each battery type of the different electric surfboard vendors.
