Buying guide

Surfboard with Motor: eFoil or Jetboard?

By Andreas Lakeberg — E-SURFER founder, eFoil expert since 2017 and board member of the Global Foil Board Sports Association (GFA) · Updated: November 2026

A surfboard with a motor comes in two types: the eFoil, which flies above the water on an underwater wing, and the jetboard, which glides across the surface like a small jet ski. Both are electric, cost €12,000 to €20,000 from the established brands and need neither wind nor waves.

We have been writing about electric surfboards since 2017, have been selling eFoils since 2019 and have tested every board in the table below ourselves. Here you will find the key models with price, speed and ride time at a glance.

Surfboard with motor: electric surfboard on the water

Which motorized surfboards are there?

The table shows the eFoils and jetboards we currently carry. Prices include VAT, as of November 2026. Speed and ride time are manufacturer figures: how fast and how long you actually ride depends on your weight, riding style and the water.

ModelPricekm/hRide timeBattery
eFoil – flies above the water
Aerofoils Performancefrom €14,269up to 55up to 2 h1.13 or 2.12 kWh
Awake VINGA Carve€17,148up to 55up to 120 min2.55 kWh
Lift Foils LIFT5€16,149up to 55up to 90 min2.2 kWh
Lift Foils LIFTX€15,149up to 55up to 45 min0.9 kWh
Jetboard – glides on the water
Awake RÄVIK Explore€12,388up to 40up to 60 minFlex XR 4
Awake RÄVIK Adventure€17,990up to 50up to 45 minFlex XR 4
JETSURF Electric 2€14,869up to 5525–55 min3 kWh
mo-jet SURF€14,995up to 55up to 40 minmo-jet dual battery
mo-jet BODY€14,759up to 55up to 40 minmo-jet dual battery
Andreas Lakeberg flying above the water on an eFoil

What is an eFoil?

Under the board sits a mast with an underwater wing and an electric motor. From about 15 km/h the wing lifts the board out of the water and you fly around 70 cm above the surface: almost silent and without a wake.

Because there is hardly any drag left, the battery lasts long: up to 2 hours. You learn to take off in a lesson, and many riders fly for the first time after 30 minutes.

All eFoils in our shop

Andreas Lakeberg riding an electric jetboard across the water

What is a jetboard?

A jetboard rides on the surface of the water and is driven by a jet pump, with no exposed propeller. You stand up and go straight away; speed and carving feel like snowboarding on water.

The price for that is ride time: the battery is empty after 25 to 60 minutes. In the UK you need no national licence for it, but local byelaws often treat jetboards like jet skis.

All jetboards in our shop

For a detailed head-to-head, read our guide Jetboard or eFoil.

How much does a surfboard with a motor cost?

A surfboard with a motor costs between €12,000 and €20,000 from the established brands. The cheapest board in our table is the Awake RÄVIK Explore jetboard at €12,388; eFoils start at €14,269.

About a third of the price is the battery. That is exactly where very cheap offers cut corners, and exactly where the expensive problems start later. So compare a surfboard with a motor to a jet ski rather than a regular surfboard, and make sure there is service and spare parts in Europe. We explain why in Why are eFoils so expensive?

How it all began: motorized surfboards since 1930

Surfboards with motors have been around for almost 100 years. The first ones ran on petrol and look rather adventurous from today's point of view. The first eFoil was built in 2008 by a student team at KTH Stockholm; it only came onto the market in 2018.

Early surf scooter, one of the first surfboards with a motor
Surf scooter
Historic motorboard with a petrol engine
Motorboard
Powerski jetboard from the 1990s
Powerski jetboard

We tell the whole story with lots of old photos in Motorised surfboards: how it all began.

FAQ: surfboard with motor

What is a surfboard with a motor?

A surfboard with a motor is a board with its own drive, usually electric. There are two types: the eFoil lifts off on an underwater wing and flies around 70 cm above the water. The jetboard glides on the surface like a small jet ski. You need neither waves nor wind.

How much does a surfboard with a motor cost?

A surfboard with a motor costs between €12,000 and €20,000 from the established brands. Our cheapest jetboard, the Awake RÄVIK Explore, costs €12,388; eFoils start at €14,269 (Aerofoils Performance). About a third of the price is the battery. Very cheap boards usually save exactly there and on service.

eFoil or jetboard: which one suits me?

An eFoil suits you if you want to glide quietly and for a long time above the water: up to 2 hours of ride time, no wake. A jetboard suits you if you love speed, spray and carving on the surface and want to ride fast without learning to take off first. In return, the battery is empty after 40 to 60 minutes.

Do I need a licence for a surfboard with a motor?

Not in the UK. There is no national licence, registration or number plate for eFoils or jetboards, electric or petrol. What matters is who controls the water: harbour and council byelaws at the coast, and waterway operators such as the Canal & River Trust inland, which require a licence or registration for powered craft. Some councils ask jetboard riders for the RYA Personal Watercraft certificate. All details for the UK: eFoils in the UK: rules, licence and where to ride. Riding in the USA? Read Are eFoils legal in the USA? Registration, licensing and state rules.

How long does a surfboard with a motor run on one charge?

An eFoil runs 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the battery, an electric jetboard 25 to 60 minutes. The eFoil needs less energy because the wing lifts the board out of the water and hardly any drag remains. If you want to ride longer, take a second battery.

Can I test a surfboard with a motor before buying?

Yes. In Berlin you can test eFoils from Aerofoils, Lift Foils and Fliteboard on a test ride, and there are eFoil lessons at Wannsee and Müggelsee. Call us beforehand and we will tell you which boards are ready to test.

Personal advice

Not sure which board suits you? Give us a call or come to Berlin for a test ride.

+49 30 20 60 99 81

Or write to us using the form on any product page. We usually reply within a few hours.

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