Advantages of Hydrofoil technology
You may have heard of hydrofoil technology, but do you know the advantages this technology offers for boats? Bering Marine designs boats with this technology and would like to share with you some of the advantages you will see.
What is Foiling? First, it is important to understand what foiling is in the first place and why it is so widely used on boats. Foiling simply refers to the use of "hydrofoils" on the hull of boats (usually fast boats) to provide additional lift and clearance at planning speeds. The wings will often lift the hull of the boat out of the water.
What are the advantages of hydrofoil technology? It's scary when the hull of the boat is lifted completely out of the water, but it has one big advantage: efficiency. The biggest problem a fast boat faces is the effort required to move it through the water. Foiling helps eliminate this problem by lifting the boat out of the water, making it feel like it's gliding across the water.
Are there any other advantages? As you can imagine, lifting the boat out of the water also allows for a much smoother ride, as waves are less of a factor. While buoyancy is important, the wings can also improve the stability and handling of the boat.
How do the wings work? Think of the wings of airplanes. While airplane wings cut through the water, the wings have to do a lot more work because they have to withstand the force of cutting through the waves.
History of the wings? Although it may seem like a new modern technology, hydrofoil technology can be traced back to 1898. Foiling was invented by an Italian inventor named Enrico Forlanini. One of his first prototypes was used on Lake Maggiore. During World War II, foiling was often used as nations realized the benefits of traveling more efficiently by sea.
Why is there a comeback now? If foils have been around for so long, why are they just now reappearing? It goes back to 2013, when America's Cup contenders experimented with foil technology and won the competition handily. They were able to reach over 40 knots while the competition couldn't keep up. This performance brought the benefits of hydrofoil technology back into the spotlight. Today, many high-quality, fast boats are built with this technology.
