HYDROFOILS

&
HOVERCRAFTS
WHO KNOWS WHAT A
HYDROFOIL IS?
 WHAT IS A HYDROFOIL ?
• A Foil is another word
for a wing.
• A Hydrofoil is simply a
wing that “flies” in the
water.
• Hydrofoils let a boat
go faster by getting
the hull out of the
water.
 HISTORY OF A HYDORFOIL
• The first Hydrofoil
vessel was built in
1905 by the Italian
engineer Enrico
Forlanini.
• In 1918, Alexander
Graham Bell built the
HD-4, a hydrofoil
BELL – HD-4
vessel 60 ft long
which attained a
speed of 70.86 mph.
 HOW DOES IT WORK?
• When a boat moves forward, most of the
energy used goes to moving the water out
of the way.
• The Hydrofoils special design lifts the hull
of the boat out of the water to reduce the
drag, which increases speed and fuel
efficiency.
 HOW DOES IT WORK?
• Hydrofoils lift the watercraft the same way
that airplane wings keep the plane
supported.
• Foils create lift when the water traveling
over the top goes faster than the water
traveling over the bottom
• Where there is faster velocity, there is
lower pressure.
 HOW DOES IT WORK?
• The higher pressure on the bottom of the
foil causes the lifting force needed.
• The lift can be optimized by positioning the
hydrofoil at an angle (angle of attack).
 COMMERCIAL USES
• Cargo Vessels:

• Passenger Vessels:

• Military Vessels:
 RECREATIONAL USES
• Sailing:

• Wakeboarding:

• Air Chairs:
WHO KNOWS WHAT A
HOVERCRAFT IS?
 WHAT IS A HOVERCRAFT?
• A Hovercraft is a vehicle supported on a cushion
of air supplied by a powered fan mounted on the
back of the vehicle.
• AKA: Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV).
 HOW DOES A HOVERCRAFT
WORK?
• A Hovercraft is powered by a motor, which
drives a fan.
– The bigger the vessel the bigger the
motor and fan needed.
• The fan creates the thrust to drive the
Hovercraft forward
 HOW DOES A HOVERCRAFT
WORK?
• Part of the fan thrust is ducted through the
hull to lift the craft off the surface on a
cushion of air.
• The air is held under the craft by a flexible
skirt which keeps the air cushion pressure
up.
HISTORY OF THE HOVERCRAFT
• The first recorded design for an air cushion
vehicle was put forward by Swedish designer
and philosopher, Emmanual Swedenborg in
1716.
HISTORY OF THE HOVERCRAFT
• The first hovercraft was built by Christopher
Cockerell in 1956.

SRN1
HISTORY OF THE HOVERCRAFT
• The theory behind the
Hovercraft was
originally tested in
1955 using an empty
cat food tin inside a
coffee tin, an
industrial air blower
and a pair of kitchen
scales.
 WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT A
HOVERCRAFT?
• What makes a
Hovercraft so
unique is the fact
that it can travel
over any surface,
as long as it is
relatively smooth.
EX: Water, Grass,
Ice and Snow.
 WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT
HOVERCRAFTS?
• Hovercrafts can be used year round due to
their unique design.
• They are used for:
– Sports
– Recreation
– Utility/Commercial
– Rescue Purposes
SPORTS / RECREATIONAL USES
• Cruising

• Hunting

• Fishing

• Touring
 COMMERCIAL USES
• Hovercrafts are • Its primary use of
mainly used as commercial hovercrafts
icebreakers, ferrying is hauling. It is
crafts and hauling sometimes used
vehicles. instead of barges or
ocean line due to
maneuverability and
versatility
 RESCUE USES
• The versatility of the Hovercraft allows it to
be used in most rescue operations
– Flooded areas, mud, ice, sandbars, swamps
and other dangerous surfaces

Hoverguard 700 Hoverguard 1000

ANY QUESTIONS?