by hoppline
A review with a surprising outcome: thanks to Code Foils and Foil Drive Europe, I was able to test both the 11 cm and the 17 cm Code Foils × Foil Drive Integrated Carbon Mast extensively — even before the official release. If you had asked me before the test which mast I would choose, I would have said 11 cm without hesitation. Now I see it a little differently — and here’s why:
I don’t think anyone seriously doubted that Code Foils would be right at the top technically with their integrated carbon mast. But when you unbox it for the first time, it still hits you: the design and finish are truly impressive — and the same goes for how it performs on the water. One thing that has long been treated as a bit of a secret, and for me the key question with integrated masts, is this: how long is the mast really, and where exactly does the motor sit?
One of the most critical details on integrated Foil Drive masts is the position of the motor pod — in other words, the distance from the motor to the board. Unlike the Universal Mast Adapter, the pod position on an integrated mast cannot be changed afterwards, which makes it a fundamental decision not only for the customer, but also for the brand. Code decided to bring two masts to market: one with a motor position of 11 cm and one with 17 cm.
The key point with the Code masts is how the motor height is measured. With classic Foil Drive kits, people tend to think in cable length. Code, however, measures the distance from the base plate to the centre of the motor pod. That leads to an interesting takeaway: a standard Foil Drive kit with a 12 cm cable results in an average motor pod position of around 16 cm, and a 15 cm cable sits at roughly 19 cm. So at first glance, Code’s numbers of 11 cm and 17 cm can be a little misleading for Foil Drive kit users.
A similar thing happens with mast height. The stated 78 cm for the Code Foils × Foil Drive Integrated Carbon Mast refers to the full length including the Tuttle. Since Code uses a slightly deeper Tuttle by default, the result can be a bit shorter compared to other brands. For example, my 75 cm Sabfoil BlackBird mast is only 1 cm shorter than the Code 78 cm mast, because Sabfoil does not include the Tuttle in the stated length. Not a problem — just good to know.
As described in the introduction, based on the numbers alone I would have clearly chosen the 11 cm mast. After my own ride tests, plus some research and comparisons, I now strongly lean towards the 17 cm mast because it matches my preferences and riding characteristics much better. I captured and explained this — and a lot more — in detail in my YouTube video:
