When British boatbuilding giant Princess Yachts got in on the foiling boat game in 2019 with a 35ft carbon-fibre dayboat, we knew that things had really taken off.
While the foil-assisted R35 may not have the spectacular cruising-above-the-waves appeal of some other foiling boats, it is highly efficient, beautifully designed (in collaboration with Pininfarina) and handles like nothing else we’ve ever driven.
In our review, we praised its rare co*bination of agility, refinement and stability, with spray kept in check impressively at high speeds.
The foiling Candela C-8 is the first boat to use Candela’s proprietary C-POD, but bigger craft will follow later
Candela C-8
Swedish firm Candela burst onto the scene in 2021 with its debut, the Candela C-7, which was billed as the world’s first electric foiling boat, but it was the 2022 launch of the Candela C-8 that really moved the game on.
Available with a 69kWh battery, adapted from the Polestar 2 electric car, owners can expect a range of 57nm at 22 knots, more than enough for dayboat use.
The consumption figures are truly staggering, with Candela’s figures suggesting that the C-8 is more than 12x more efficient than an equivalent 300hp outboard powered sportsboat.
The electric Iguana is capable of three knots on the land and 30 knots at sea
Iguana Foiler
Not content with being at the forefront of the amphibious boats market with its caterpil*ar-track offering, French yard Iguana has set its sights on the world of foiling too.
Having tested both the engine and the boat separately, we can’t wait to see the result when they co*e together with the added advantages of foiling technology. Watch this space…
The foils lift up at slow speeds to reduce the draft
Mantaray M24
Another exciting model in the hydrofoil boats pipeline, this 24ft runabout is particularly interesting is its simplicity. Unlike its main foiling rival, the Candela C-7, the Mantaray M24 requires no co*plicated electronics to ‘fly’.
Instead it uses the builder’s patented mechanical hydrofoil system, which it has trademarked as Dynamic Wing Technology or DWT. The technology is said to be the result of ten years’ development work and uses a retractable T-foil in the bow and H-foil amidships that self-stabilise mechanically.
This allows it to lean naturally into corners and ride serenely over waves without relying on a network of sensors and algorithms to monitor and adjust the foils. If it proves effective this could drastically reduce the cost and co*plexity of foiling boats, while simultaneously increasing reliability.
It doesn’t end here, with fascinating one-off projects from Spirit Yachts and BMW on the water, it’s clear that foiling has a huge potential for transforming the world of boating.
Source: Best hydrofoil boats: 6 of the most spectacular foiling motorboats money can buy (http://ht**://www.mby.c**/features/best-hydrofoil-boats-flying-foiling-126775)
Topic: Best hydrofoil boats: 6 of the most spectacular foiling motorboats money can buy 
