Design and Construction of a Hydrofoil Watercraft

Abstract

A design project aiming to construct an operational hydrofoil watercraft powered by an outboard engine. The hull of the vessel was constructed of plywood and timber, measuring 14’ 6” long with a 54” beam. A 15-horsepower outboard engine was utilized as the vessel’s power plant. The hydrofoils were arranged into surface piercing dihedral foils and utilized NACA 4412 and NACA 4418 foil cross sections. Documentation of the design and build process was maintained to help destigmatize hydrofoil technology and bring awareness of the benefits hydrofoils possess. Testing of the hydrofoil watercraft occurred on the Charles River.

The vessel’s hull demonstrated remarkably accuracy between prediction of the numerically calculated maximum drag and speed values and the experimentally obtained results. The high degree of correlation between the vessel’s hull and its calculated performance indicates a high degree of likelihood of success of the foils once attached to the vessel. Calculations estimate a takeoff velocity of 8.4 knots, requiring just less than 2/3 of the motors rated capacity. More data needs to be collected to adequately study other parameters surrounding hydrofoil technology.