There's a ton of innovation going on right now with the PWC market. From purpose-built, from-the-factory angling platforms, to hot-shot, go-fast super PWCs ala road-going superbikes, and even some all-electric joints, there's something for everyone. And advancements are going at breakneck speeds, both to keep up with competitors and customer demands.
But this patent that RideApart discovered from Sea-Doo has us scratching our heads, as we wonder, "Who's asking for a PWC hydrofoil? And what are they going to use it for?"
Yet, that's exactly the patent we found while scrolling the US Patent Office's pages, and the concept, as shown in the drawings delivered by the company, are even wilder than your imagination will likely allow. Honestly, it looks like something out of Star Wars or some other sci-fi world conjured up by a nerd in their mother's basement. And that's sorta cool in my eyes.
Now, for those who aren't aware of what a hydrofoil is, it basically acts like an aircraft's wing, generating lift through the water, and raises the craft out off the surface of the water, reducing drag. You may have seen them used on a few boats, one of the UK's Channel ferries, as well as on surfboards and wakeboards. But the technology has never been used on PWCs like those from Kawasaki, Sea-Doo, or Yamaha.
Sea-Doo's patent is titled "Watercraft Having A Lift Assembly," and describes the invention as "Watercrafts are sometimes equipped with a hydrofoil to provide lift thereto, notably raising a running surface of the watercraft from the water to reduce drag and to provide a smooth ride. In addition to a hydrofoil, such watercraft can also be equipped with a propulsion unit which provides thrust to the watercraft. In smaller watercrafts, such as an electric hydrofoil board (sometimes referred to as an eFoil), a rider controls the thrust via a handheld controller and the attitude by shifting their weight with respect to the board. In some cases, the eFoil includes movable surfaces, such as rudders, flaps, ailerons, and elevons, for enhancing attitude control. In these cases, the movable surfaces are automatically adjusted using a control unit to maintain stability of the eFoil. In larger watercrafts, the rider shifting their weight can be insufficient in controlling attitude. Instead, a rider can control the orientation of the hydrofoils, and thus the pitch of the watercraft, by twisting a handgrip of the watercraft, for example."
It adds, "However, this method is not intuitive for the rider. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a watercraft with a lift assembly that addresses at least some of these drawbacks." Thus you get Sea-Doo's hydrofoil assembly which can lift in and out of the PWC's confines at the twist of the throttle.
The drawings themselves look like a combination of a PWC and a motorcycle, as while the hull resembles a PWC, though far thinner, the seat is very much like that of a bike's, tall and lean. You get the sense that the rider would be more inclined to stand up on the deck and control the PWC like you would an off-road adventure motorcycle, versus sitting on it like a normal PWC. Furthermore, the hull can be thinner because it doesn't house the craft's motor, which is fully contained in the hydrofoil unit. It's a rather ingenious design, if we're honest.
Obviously, Sea-Doo hasn't announced any sort of hydrofoil PWC for you or I to buy just yet, and the fact that this patent exists doesn't mean the brand is bringing one to market. Rather, it just means the company thought up this design and didn't want anyone else to steal it. But I could see this possibly working for offshore PWC riders, as I'd imagine it'd be harder for inshore folks who have to deal with tree trunks and other obstacles within lakes and rivers.
But what do you all think? Should Sea-Doo give us this?
