Weight-shift controlled personal hydrofoil watercraft

摘要

A passively stable personal hydrofoil watercraft that has a flotation device, wherein a user can ride in a prone, kneeling, or standing position. The watercraft includes a strut having an upper end interconnected with the flotation device and lower end connected with a hydrofoil. The hydrofoil greatly reduces the power required to travel at higher speed. The watercraft also includes a propulsion system connected to the hydrofoil. Both longitudinal and directional control of the watercraft is via weight shift, eliminating the need of any movable surfaces. The flotation device, strut, and hydrofoil may be permanently interconnected or may be detachable.

主权项

1. A passively stable, weight-shift controlled personal hydrofoil watercraft, comprising:
a flotation device that has a fore-aft length greater than a lateral width, the flotation device having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a user can be disposed on the top surface of the flotation device in a prone, kneeling, or standing position, the floatation device having a forward section, a middle section, and a rear section, and the flotation device being controlled via weight shift of the user; a strut having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end fixedly interconnected with the flotation device between the middle section and the rear section of the flotation device; a hydrofoil fixedly interconnected with the lower end of the strut, the hydrofoil having no movable surface and designed to provide passive static stability controlled solely by weight shift of the user; a propulsion system for propelling the watercraft in a body of water, wherein the propulsion system is connected to the hydrofoil; and the watercraft having no movable steering system.