34 Boating New Zealand
when the bike’s going fast enough its two foils provide ‘lift’ to
raise the bike and its rider out of the water.
As the concept evolved, so the team expanded to include
designers and engineers with specialist expertise in aeronautics,
hydrodynamics, mechanics and electronics. Yes, an ‘E-version’ –
or pedal-assisted model – is also available.
A major milestone in the development was perfecting the
design to enable a ‘submerge-launch’. This allows the rider to
‘re-mount’ and start again if he/she falls off or stops pedaling.
No-one wants a swim back to shore towing a bike!
On its own the bike is buoyant and floats. With a
rider mounted it sinks – but only up to about chest-level.
Enthusiastic pedaling sees the bike move forward and rise
to the surface – and all returns to normality. This ‘submerge-
launch’ feature is a world-first.
Early signs of success appeared when the Hydrofoiler was
nominated for – and won – Gold in the ‘Concept’ category at
the 2017 Best Design Awards, hosted by the Designers Institute
of New Zealand in October. The company debuted the bike at
the Big Boys Toys show in Auckland a month later, where it
attracted wide interest.
Designed for riders weighing between 70 and 100 kilograms,
the hydrofoiler’s carbon-fibre-reinforced-nylon-propeller
optimises performance – producing thrust at low speed and
reducing drag at top speed. The streamlined profile offers hydro-
and aerodynamic efficiency, and it easily reaches 15-20km/h.
Guy and Alonzo are confident more R&D will boost top speed.Thanks to the materials used, the bike’s light enough to be
carried by one person to and from the water. The frame is
TIG-welded 6061-T6 aluminium custom-profile tubing – an
aircraft-grade alloy used by the bicycle industry for its strength
and weight advantages. The manual version weighs about
14kg (20kg for the E-bike). Foils are easily removed and the bike
fits into the back of a standard station wagon or on to a roof-
rack. The rear wing is 2m long – the front 1.2m.Riding across water
requires complex
physics, thrust and
lift to keep the bike
skimming over the
surface. Legendary
British motorcyclist
Guy Martin tried
with a dirt bike
modified with a ski-
like blade beneath
the rear wheel. He
set a world record- hydroplaning for
63.56m. (see http://
http://www.channel4.
com/programmes/
speed-with-guy-
martin/4od)
HYDROPLANING
LEFT The bike is easily
disassembled and fits into a
standard station wagon. It can
also be stowed on a roof rack.
RIGHT Perfecting the design
saw the first ‘water launch’ –
a world-first. It takes a bit of
practice.
BELOW Initial development
saw plenty of testing – and
much hilarity – in the local
pool.