LIFTX Mast on a LIFT5

Yes, the LiftX mast works on Lift5. I have been running it and enjoyed amazing battery life--over 2.5 hours. I'm 155 pounds.

The LiftX mast propulsion has a tiny little folding prop that I thought would require a high power setting, but no. Power level 6 (of 15) is plenty to get my 155 pounds up and going, and then I can back off the trigger a lot.

With the regular Lift5 propulsion and 3-blade prop, power level 4 is my normal setting to get up easily and cruise around at medium speed 12 to 14 mph.

LiftX mast/propulsion kit with folding prop:

https://xlkites.com/products/liftx-lcs-powered-mast-propulsion?variant=51158745219303

Lift5 mast propulsion with Jet, 3-blade prop or folding prop:

https://xlkites.com/products/lift5-lcs-powered-mast-propulsion?variant=50931896484071

 

Why do this? 

To have the power-off glide capability of the LIFTX and the battery life of the LIFT5. 

To have the power-off glide capability of the LIFTX until LIFTX batteries are available.

To have the power-off glide capability of the LIFTX without having to buy a LIFTX. 

I'm hearing the glide is insanely better with the smaller 55mm diameter LIFTX motor, to the point that the 'high mount' motor is not even necessary.  Like with Foil Drive, having the motor mounted high so it is completely out of the water when you are on foil sounds ideal. But as us Foil Drivers know, we still drag the motor along the surface as we transition in and out of the water and work our way through waves and chop. 

Lift's approach here is to make this small motor so streamlined that there is not much drag from just leaving it under water and not worrying about a noisy prop breaching the water surface.    

  The LIFT5 motor diameter is 68mm diameter, same as has it has been on all previous generations of Lift efoils.    Along with this smaller diameter motor, there is also a smaller folding prop than Lift's Foldy 2.0.  Interestingly, the prop diameters are the same, But the LIFTX one on the left has much less surface area.