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Boundary Layer Technologies heralds the future of marine transport at FLIBS 2023

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#watercraft #jetski #boat #sail
Published
11/12/2023 by

How do you take the incredibly popular jet ski segment and transform it into something unique, exhilarating and sustainable? Simple – you gather together a group of tech entrepreneurs and engineers, draw on wing and foil solutions developed across land, sea and air for motorsport, the America’s Cup and the aerospace industry, and combine them in a personal watercraft (PWC) for two that defies convention and defines sensation. Enter the Valo Hyperfoil, whose reimagined and enhanced design will be unveiled at the 2023 FLIBS (October 25th to 29th).

At first glance the Valo may look similar to more conventional jet skis, but there the similarity ends. The team at San Francisco-based Boundary Layer Technologies – the tech start-up behind the Valo – have zeroed in on the personal watercraft version of zero gravity: flying effortlessly above the waves with zero noise, zero emissions and zero wake. It’s an experience unlike anything else, delivering just the thrill of the ride with zero distractions.

 

Flight club

The Valo’s Hyperfoil design comprises a front and rear carbon fiber hydrofoil assembly, with the rear incorporating a high performance 45kW electric drive system. It is all      controlled by Boundary Layer Technologies’ proprietary Skyride flight control software which micro-adjusts the foils and surfaces hundreds of times a second to maintain safe, level flight above the waves no matter the sea conditions. What’s more, the Valo offers ‘hyperformance’ – speeds approaching 35      knots with exciting acceleration and dynamic cornering, but easily controlled, comfortable and safe.

“The idea behind the Valo was to take the next step forward for marine mobility and to do it with a craft that both draws on a clean, all-electric powertrain while offering riders the thrill of high-speed foil flight.

The incredible design we have developed for the foils, actuators and control surfaces is matched by the magic contained within the Skyride software, which gives the Valo active ride control and which makes it a breeze for riders of all levels to enjoy hyperformance cruising and handling even when the sea gets choppy.”
Ed Kearney, Boundary Layer Technologies CEO. 

 

Clean sweep

The all-electric Valo draws on Boundary Layer Technologies’ commitment to sustainability while bringing to life the company’s blueprint for the future of marine transport. Constructed in high modulus carbon, titanium and ultra-high strength stainless steel – and with a vegan leather seat – the Valo can operate silently and with zero polluting emissions for more than two hours on a single charge, giving a range of more than 60 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 27 knots. Furthermore, the foil and drive legs all lift, making the Valo easily transportable on a standard trailer.

“Everyone on the team knew a foiling personal watercraft like this would be exciting to ride, but we really had no idea it would be this fun,” adds Reo Baird, CTO at Boundary Layer Technologies who was formerly CTO of foil boat company Navier. “The experience is really hard to describe – perhaps the closest analogy would be skiing in deep power snow. More than that, though, is the pure sensation of speed combined with almost no noise – it really does feel like the future has arrived.”

The Valo has already drawn more than US$ 3.3 million in advanced orders, 4 times the original planned first production run. The first units are expected to be delivered early 2024.

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