Takuma looks to be release a electronic towing drone product soon.
Some teasers from Takuma:
www.instagram.com/reel/CiLI0QaozT0/?igshid=ZDU1ZDhlY2E=
www.instagram.com/reel/Ch-SfbroMLn/?igshid=ZDU1ZDhlY2E=
Pics from boat show in Japan:
Yeah seen these things ages ago but I always wondered on legal side as it's really like towing someone with a boat in which you need a spotter plus a bunch of other rules and since something like this is unmanned I can see the cops having a good hard look at them if they start showing up in Australia.
Select to expand quotekobo said..
Looks like a Thule roof top pod on the loose 
And cost more than a JetSki.
So it's for people with a lot of money and no friends? Once you buy a jetski, friends are pretty easy to come by.
Give this a chance I reckon we will see some amazing feats pulled off using this .
I have read it will cost 15.000 , not a reliable source just insta comments.
I think jetskis start at 5000-6000.
Cool to see what tech makes possible but no contest IMHO.
Yeah not cheap 15k Euro about 22k Aus but it's electric not petrol (60 to 85min run time ) . The first production electric jet skies were released this year at the Sydney boat show starting at 26k , which is around same price Yammie tow in petrol jet skies that everyone uses . The new Wave Shark electric Jetboards start at 20k and weigh 50kg because of the massive battery , unlike like an efoil the jet is very less efficient and requires a much bigger battery to drive it .
This Takuma eTow weighs 50kg and requires 2 batteries to drive it which takes it up to a whopping 75kg , good luck dragging that up the beach on your own . Stock availability Dec 2022.
How good would this be for a Downwind , just cruises beside you and start you again when you crash .
I was interested if around 5k.
Maybe we will see the Alibaba version become available at a fraction of the cost.
At this price point I would want a major corporation standing behind the product like BRP or Yamaha.
I am hoping the boogie tow toys become available soon: www.waveescort.com
Purely based on my experience with the engineering of Takuma's mast/fuse/foil, I would NEVER trust a motor designed by these guys.
Message to Takuma's engineers: walk before you run.
Message to a potential consumer of this product: run (away).
I haven't read about them in awhile because I don't have the DIY skills. But you can make your own tow boogie for about $800 US last I checked. foil.zone/t/valhalla-s-tow-boogie-ebuild/11059/143
The runtime is similar to my takuma efoil, which I use as a tow drone anyway. I was excited for something that would last for a long downwinder, but no. And my experience with my efoil suggests I'd be afraid it'd breakdown anyway. Then what do you do? Attach the leash to it and drag it??!?!
They should focus on a "Foil Drive" system, assisted Efoil is the futur, not this...
I agree with Frenchfoiler a purpose built board with inbuilt sections for a foil drive system would be more appealing to me . However Takumas best selling/profitable product is their eFoil so can understand why they are going down this path. The eTow actually uses 2 of their efoil batteries and I suppose with time they will develop a bigger battery to get the 2 hour run time mark. I like to see the deck redesigned so you could at least lay on it if injured or your foil breaks or maybe even perform a rescue . Hanging on to the 2 back handles and getting your nutz blown off isn't that appealing. Lets not write it off yet I still think this has some real potential , not sure where but lets wait and see.
The one design factor I really don't like is the backwards opening front hatch. I've done a ton of towing and had that many latches fail and tear the hatch completely off , we now strap everything and that's with a hatch opening the opposite way. I know the eTow is not promoted for waves but one over the falls and that top hatch is gone. It only has one connection at the front and a single hinge at the rear and by the looks of it it doesn't float. I would 100% be putting straps over the top of it.
That's the ticket, a prone board with the battery recessed into the deck similar to efoil boards
The coolest thing about etowing with an efoil is that it doesn't throw a wake to speak of, so you can ride a small board right behind it. Since the rope is straight ahead, and your in a little light board you can carve like crazy. This thing looks like it throws a bigger wake, which causes another problem: short range. I'd say a catamaran, with props instead of jets. That should clean it up and make it last longer. And I love the idea of a rescue platform!
Mixed feelings. Got to admit that towing into outside non breaking waves on a really small board with this thing could be amazing. If I lived somewhere I could do that everyday I would want one regardless of cost.
On the other hand, the pod idea is really limiting. Like Piros said you should be able to ride on it. At the very least in case of emergency. A jetski with a self driving auto pilot would be so much more useful product to develop imo. I don't see this pod being much use DW. Who wants to tow back upwind after a long DW and how sea worthy is it going to be with wind, current and big chop. Could be dangerous being anywhere near it.
I expect the pod is going to appeal more to someone that just wants to hang onto the rope and doesn't care about dropping the money.
Select to expand quoteVelocicraptor said..
Purely based on my experience with the engineering of Takuma's mast/fuse/foil, I would NEVER trust a motor designed by these guys.
Message to Takuma's engineers: walk before you run.
Message to a potential consumer of this product: run (away).
I'm completely agree.
