Science

Personal hydrofoil watercraft feels like flying (pictures)

Fly over water with the Qaudrofoil, an two-seater electric watercraft that should star in its own James Bond film.

Amanda Kooser

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.

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Amanda Kooser

Nov. 8, 2014 8:00 a.m. PT

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Skim over the water

If you have a lot of cash to burn and want to own a "sports car for the water," then you should check into preordering a Quadrofoil, a hydrofoiling personal electric watercraft. The luxury vehicle seats two people, operates quietly and zooms up to 25 mph. The Quadrofoil is expected to be delivered to customers in early 2015.

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Foils help this watercraft zip along

This alien-looking watercraft is designed for speed and comfort. The odd-looking legs are foils that help raise the Quadrofoil up out of the water when it reaches a speed of 6 knots. This significantly reduces drag and makes for a quiet and efficient ride when combined with the electric motor.

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Quadrofoil features a sleek design

Though early prototypes sported carbon fiber foils, the foils on the production model of the Quadrofoil are crafted from lightweight aluminum. The foils act a like an airplane's wings, lifting the hull out of the water when a high enough speed is reached. The watercraft can carry two people.

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Intuitive steering in the water

This early version of the Quadrofoil was on display at the Internautica 2012 boat show and gives you an idea of what the steering mechanism and display look like. The watercraft's designers say it only takes a minute to the learn the controls and another five minutes to get used to handling it in the water.

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Earlier Quadrofoil design

The Quadrofoil personal watercraft is now available for preorder, but it took years of development to get to this point. This image from 2012 shows an earlier prototype of the design done up in a sporty red and white color combination.

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Zoom up to 21 knots

The Quadrofoil electric personal watercraft has a hull that rises up above the water level when it reaches a speed of 6 knots. Up until that point, it sits on the water like a regular boat. Developed by a team of marine engineers in Slovenia, the Quadrofoil is now available for preorder. The lower-end model costs $18,650 (about £11,750, AU$21,635).