Cobra International is collaborating with Flite, the Australian-based electric foiling surfboard manufacturer, on Fliteboard and Fliteboard PRO – two electric foiling composite surfboards that reach speeds upto 45 kmh. Cobra along with Flite are involved from design and engineering through to the prototyping of the boards plus supply of foils and accessories.

Cobra has now begun production and will produce approximately 600 units throughout 2019, said the company in a press release.

The foils are manufactured in a dedicated area of Cobra’s 10,000 sqm plant, with the deck pads and board bags also being manufactured in separate accessories manufacturing division of the company.

Fliteboard and Fliteboard PRO boards are refined, highly engineered efoil boards. Due to their composite construction and design, they are easy to customise, transport and set up, and offer the rider a noise-free and wake-free experience, with zero-emission propulsion. They have a superyacht- influenced shape, a unique deck pattern and are available in luxury finishes of black, white or ash wood veneer.

A carbon/Innegra prepreg EPS sandwich laminate was selected for the boards themselves for maximum strength and stiffness at low weight, with each board weighing between 22-28 kg depending on board, battery and wing choice. The electric and electronic components are contained in a watertight thermoformed carbon battery box with a full carbon sandwich lid, which also enables the key components to be incorporated more easily into the third Flite model, Flite AIR, an inflatable board.

In addition, an effective drainage system had to be put in place, and the creation of a strong connection between the battery box and the bluetooth receiver was critical. To resolve these issues, Cobra worked with Flite to produce several prototype boards in parallel, to evaluate the thickness of the boards to accommodate the battery box and to engineer the lid and the mast box for the foil.

“Flite and Cobra have worked together very closely to ensure that every detail of the Fliteboard has been refined for maximum performance, durability, beauty and enjoyment. These are epic hydrofoils that would suit both first-time learners or even the most experienced riders,” said Bruce Wylie, CCO watersports, Cobra. (PC)