Hydrofoiling MOBOs?

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kashurst

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Has anyone ever made a hydrofoil pleasure boat? At first amateurish glance could they be a solution to lowering fuel consumption at planning (hydrofoiling) speeds.
 
Fin keel foiling will happen, transferring the knowledge from sailing cats, to reduce the fuel burn at hi speed. There will be times when the complete hull will be proud of the water. This will need some very clever control of an active fin to ensure stability, as you will not have trained crew to help balance and stabilise the hull.
 
Have ridden on one from St Petersburg along the Gulf of Finland to visit the Summer Palace. very 1950's, all riveted aluminium and red plastic seats inside. Others still in use as inter island ferries in Greece up until recently as "Flying Dolphins" and owned by Kiriacoulis, the big Greek charter operator.
 
I remember in the early 70s taking a ferry from HK to Macau that ran on hydrofoils, quite a novelty at the time, or at least it was to me after taking the Star Ferry across HK harbour most days for a year or so.
 
longjohnsilver said:
I remember in the early 70s taking a ferry from HK to Macau that ran on hydrofoils, quite a novelty at the time, or at least it was to me after taking the Star Ferry across HK harbour most days for a year or so.
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Evidence is that cats a are a better bet. High speed ferries are now cats rather than hydrofoils - Soton to Cowes Redjet being the obvious example. Weight is a real killer for foiling. If you don 't mind an empty, noisy carbon hull then yes, foiling works. If you actually want somewhere to sleep, a cat beats foils.
 
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I remember, as I am sure many do, the Sheerwater hydrofoil ferries of the Solent, and I do recall going from I think it would have been Poole to Jersey in a Hydrofoil back on the 70's, it broke down in rough conditions and everyone threw up as it wallowed about for 2 hours and the sick bags leaked..... ah the 70's, wonderful times.

6.jpg
 
kashurst said:
Just found this, I have asked for prices and fuel burn etc. looks like the Stingray submarine

http://www.paritetboat.com/hydrofoil_yacht_looker_440_en.htm

have a look at the interior helm pictures - very Gerry Anderson, mind you there's no place for a paper chart, tut.
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Fabulous, but two steering wheels?
In case the skipper and navigator fall out and want to go their separate ways?
Or is the steering that heavy it takes two to control it?
I love the style and the concept, not so sure about the finish.
It must be loud, there are speakers everywhere to try and drown it out!
 
Firefly625 said:
I remember, as I am sure many do, the Sheerwater hydrofoil ferries of the Solent, and I do recall going from I think it would have been Poole to Jersey in a Hydrofoil back on the 70's, it broke down in rough conditions and everyone threw up as it wallowed about for 2 hours and the sick bags leaked..... ah the 70's, wonderful times.

6.jpg
Click to expand...

Love that pic.

Some detail on the Shearwaters here http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/corporate-information/company-history/vessel-archive-1951-1980/

(As an aside, I remember the hovercraft running up and down Southampton Water)
 
burgundyben said:
Love that pic.

Some detail on the Shearwaters here http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/corporate-information/company-history/vessel-archive-1951-1980/

(As an aside, I remember the hovercraft running up and down Southampton Water)
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Yes indeed, also the occasional flying boat taking off from their base at calshot... I'm feeling nostalgic... I remember sheerwater 3 & 5 were considered mine, my brother had 2 & 4, it was always a competition as to who's sheerwater we would spot when out on the Solent.... When I consider how I keep my daughter entertained we were bloody cheap!
 
Bit of an update. I've swapped a few emails with Paritetboat Hydrofoil manufacturer
Boat weighs 9.9 tons
top speed is 48 knots
with volvo D6 400, base price is 330K euros, with mercruisers its 300K all plus vat and any extras
he has a demo boat for sale at 250K euros
a new hydrofoil is @ 3K5 euros and they can be changed quickly with 6 bolts. There are no moving parts on the hydrofoil. The boat uses rear trim tabs for attitude control.
The boat can be lifted by any regular boat lift
fuel consumption - very surprising: at 25 knots is 60L/hour (136 l/100 km) – consumption including both engines - @ 2mpg
the fuel consumption at 48 knots is 169L/hour (200 l/100 km) – consumption including both engines - @ 1.3mpg

a very very different take on motor boating, fast, 40% more fuel efficient and completely wacky design compared to the usual parade of euro planning boats. Any one fancy a walk on the wild side ????
 
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longjohnsilver said:
I remember in the early 70s taking a ferry from HK to Macau that ran on hydrofoils, quite a novelty at the time, or at least it was to me after taking the Star Ferry across HK harbour most days for a year or so.
Click to expand...

Maybe they were Boeing Jetfoils?
http://www.boeing.com/history/products/jetfoil-hydrofoil.page
I think the Royal Navy had one called HMS Speedy.

Re the Red Funnel Shearwaters, I went on them a few times in the 80's and 90's - they were built by Rodriquez in Italy, who appear to now be part of Intermarine : http://www.intermarine.it/en/products/commercial/hydrofoils

Re the Paritet Russian hydrofoils, there is one of their 32' Looker glass bottom boats here in Barbados - except it has been laid up ashore for the past few years, and is now looking rather sad. It was fitted with an inboard diesel and stern drive (which has now disappeared).
http://www.paritetboat.com/glass_bottom_boat_looker_320.htm
There used to be another Looker here (but with a 200 hp Yamaha 4 stroke outboard), but her owner bailed out some years ago and drove her across to St Lucia (100 miles across open ocean by himself, I think it was a bit scary at times) to start up doing glass bottom boat tours there.

The new Paritet motor yacht does look very impressive indeed, with excellent fuel economy when up on the foils.
Maybe Kashurst might start a new building thread soon? :)

Sidewall hovercraft were also very popular for a while - a sort of combination of a hovercraft and a catamaran.
Vosper Hovermarine in Woolston were one of the primary builders :
http://www.bartiesworld.co.uk/hovercraft/hovermarine.htm
 
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