The Valo Hyperfoil, unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is set to redefine personal watercraft with its groundbreaking technology and design. Developed by tech start-up Valo, this two-person electric foiling Personal Watercraft (PWC) integrates an exhilarating experience with visionary design.
The Hyperfoil promises a super smooth ride even in choppy waters, outstanding range and endurance, coupled with an exciting flying experience unique to foiling crafts. Equipped with proprietary active stabilization software, it ensures thrilling "hyperformance" while remaining safe and easy to handle.
Featuring retractable foils, the Valo Hyperfoil is easily launched and transportable on a standard trailer, adding to its convenience. The 2023 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show witnessed the reimagined and enhanced design of this groundbreaking watercraft.
Valo Founder and CEO, Ed Kearney, shared the inspiration behind the Hyperfoil, recalling childhood fascination with hydrofoils. He envisioned a technology capable of revolutionizing water transport, making it vastly more efficient and comfortable.
The Hyperfoil, a result of collaboration with pioneering foiling naval architect Paul Bieker, stands out with its twin-foil canard system. The design incorporates a 45kW drive motor and the proprietary Skyride flight stabilization system, ensuring a scintillating performance.
Valo has developed the Skyride software in-house, utilizing data from various sensors to make hundreds of micro-adjustments per second. This active stabilization system counteracts the inherent instability of hydrofoil vehicles, ensuring precise control and agility.
The craft's performance is at the core of the foil package and shaft-driven propulsion system. Capable of reaching a max speed of 35 knots with over two hours of endurance, the Hyperfoil covers more than 60 miles on a single charge. The Skyride software adds an extra layer of stability, making it a significant advancement in marine mobility.
Valo has embraced the challenge of combining thrilling experiences with reliability, robustness, and practicality. Constructed with high-quality materials like carbon fiber, titanium, and stainless steel, the Hyperfoil's components are sourced from reputable suppliers. The consideration for practicality extends to the craft's trailerability and ability to be beached like a conventional jet ski.
Valo Hyperfoil's leap toward production, with the Founder's Edition set for delivery in 2024, has garnered immense interest, with pre-launch orders exceeding $3.3 million. Positioned as a clean, fun, safe, and practical marine mobility solution, the Hyperfoil heralds a new age for the marine industry, presenting a thrilling and sustainable alternative for water enthusiasts. As the Valo team heads into the production phase, the Hyperfoil emerges as a promising harbinger of the future of marine transportation.
Valo is a marine technology start-up backed by the accelerator Y Combinator, Fifty Years, as well as Chris Sacca's Lower Carbon Capital and former Meta CTO Mike Schroepfer. Their mission is to build the future of clean water transportation by using hydrofoil technology.
Credits: Valo