Engineering:Hydroflyer
Hydroflyer is an electric hydrofoil watercraft developed by Canadian inventor Jerry McArthur in collaboration with hydrofoil manufacturer Unifoil.[1][2][3] The vehicle combines characteristics of a hydrofoil board and a personal watercraft and includes handlebars with an integrated throttle, designed to provide additional stability and control compared with traditional eFoils.[1][2][3] It features a boat-style hull with additional volume in the bow, designed to keep the craft more stable when contacting the water and to prevent abrupt nose dives on touchdown.[4][1]
History
The Hydroflyer was developed by McArthur to create a more stable and accessible form of electric hydrofoiling.[2][3][4] Unifoil partnered on the project, and production models were introduced in 2021.[2][3][4]
In April 2023, Uni Electric Vehicles Inc., co-founded by McArthur, was granted United States design patent D984,352 S for the Hydroflyer’s design.[5]
Design and features
The Hydroflyer uses a carbon-fibre board and keel with a submerged electric propeller powered by a lithium-ion battery.[3][6] A wireless throttle on the handlebars controls acceleration and speed.[6][3] At roughly 4 kn (7.4 km/h), the foil begins to lift the craft above the water’s surface, reducing drag and noise.[3]
The Hydroflyer Cruiser can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h (34 mph) and operates for approximately two hours per charge.[2] The full system weight, including the battery, is 49.5 kg (108 lb).[1]
Models
The first consumer version, the Cruiser, was followed by the Sport, a shorter, snub-nosed model with a smaller foil designed for sharper handling and higher agility.[7][8] Pricing is listed as US$15,995, depending on configuration.[7][8] Additional model variations, including a beginner-oriented inflatable version, have also been reported.[9]
Reception
Wired described the Hydroflyer as “the Mountain Bike of the Sea” and highlighted its stability and control during testing in San Francisco Bay.[1] The Inertia wrote that the handlebars improve accessibility for new riders and described the product as confidence-inspiring and agile.[10] Robb Report included Hydroflyer in a feature on electric hydrofoils, noting its wide platform, handlebar control, and quoted top speed of 34 mph.[11] Reviews in Electrek and Autoevolution described the design as combining elements of hydrofoil boards and personal watercraft, with the aim of reducing the learning curve for beginners.[6][4]
See also
- Foilboard
- Personal watercraft
- Hydrofoil
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ashworth, Boone (23 August 2024). "Hydroflyer’s $15K Electric Hydrofoil Is the Mountain Bike of the Sea". Condé Nast. https://www.wired.com/story/hydroflyer-electric-hydrofoil-test-ride/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Hydroflyer eFoil Features Detachable Handlebars for a Safer Ride". 29 April 2021. https://www.designboom.com/technology/the-hydroflyer-efoil-detachable-handlebars-safer-ride-04-29-2021/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Irwin, Nick (29 April 2021). "HydroFlyer e-Foil Brings Motocross Madness to the Water With Handlebars". https://newatlas.com/outdoors/hydroflyer-e-foil-motocross-madness-handlebars/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Gorgan, Elena (1 May 2021). "The HydroFlyer eFoil Is World’s Most Advanced, Comes With Detachable Handlebar". https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-hydroflyer-efoil-is-worlds-most-advanced-comes-with-detachable-handlebar-160329.html.
- ↑ "Design for hydrofoil watercraft" US patent D984352S, published 25 April 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Toll, Micah (20 May 2021). "This new 34 mph electric surfboard has handlebars". https://electrek.co/2021/05/20/this-new-34-mph-electric-surfboard-has-handlebars/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Unifoil’s Hydroflyer Sport efoil Offers Handlebar Control". 2022. https://newatlas.com/marine/hydroflyer-handlebar-hydrofoil/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "This Futuristic Surfboard Lets You Fly Above Water at 25 mph". 29 May 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/tech/futuristic-surfboard-lets-you-fly-above-water-25-mph.
- ↑ Song, David (3 October 2024). "Pemberton Man Invents Electric Hydrofoil". Pique Newsmagazine. https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-sports/pemberton-man-invents-electric-hydrofoil-9538227.
- ↑ Sileo, Will (2025). "7 Best eFoils of 2025". https://www.theinertia.com/gear/best-efoils/.
- ↑ "The 7 Best ‘Flying’ eFoil Surfboards on the Market". 2023. https://robbreport.com/motors/marine/gallery/best-efoiling-surfboards-1234812979/.
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