Shannon Amphfoil technology vs. Hydrofoil technology

Hydrofoils were first perfected in 1898. But hydrofoils can have significant limitations. The purpose of the foils is to lift the boat out of the water. As the boat's speed increases, the hydrofoils create lift equal to the sum of the boat and cargo weights. After almost 100 years of effort and money, no one has been able to overcome hydrofoil physics of sonic cavitation (read: massive vibration) at speeds in excess of 60 miles an hour. In addition, the depth of the hydrofoils determines the height of the hull above the water. This design geometry issue limits operational ability due to sea state conditions. Hydrofoils require expensive and high maintenance propulsion systems and make very inefficient boats when not operating at hydrofoil lift speeds.
In this 4-minute video, Rhett Nanson, Shannon’s catamaran and hydrofoil chief engineer, points out how Amphfoil technology addresses and overcomes these limitations.
Visit www.amphfoil.com for more information.