Amphfoil technology takes on the age-old marine vessel drawbacks with a totally new and
more efficient foil boat.
Walt Schulz explains surface effect (or ground effect) and how Amphfoil technology utilizes the surface effect lift for high speed and long range.
Electric air propulsion: 35% more energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly.
Air Propellers
Air propellers are 35% more energy-efficient than water propellers. They have been used by the military and others to propel shoal draft boats and other marine craft for decades. Amphfoils use tilting air propeller propulsion to maintain speed and lift when sea/wave conditions limit foil lift and water propellers propulsion.
There is no water propeller wake turbulence affecting sensitive shoreline ecosystems with air propulsion. Air propulsion eliminates catastrophic water propeller strikes on protected marine mammals and whales.
Energy-free lift: surface effect physics
Amphfoils are the first boats in the world to effectively use the natural phenomenon called surface or ground effect lift. Surface effect was first experienced by the Wright brothers in 1903 when they launched the first aircraft and every aircraft in the world uses surface effect today when taking off and landing. In the 1940s, long range bomber aircraft took advantage of surface effect flying close to the water because significantly less fuel was needed to maintain high speeds while operating at a 75% increase in efficiency.
Amphfoil technology incorporates the use of special Hydrowings designed to maximize the unique characteristics of surface effect. Unlike airplane wings, Hydrowings limit unconstrained lift, keeping an Amphfoil constantly in surface effect very close to the water (5ft./1.5m). The Hydrowings can retract, reducing the vessel’s beam by 30%. This feature greatly simplifies docking and makes maneuvering in confined spaces much easier.
Amphfoils skim over waves using surface effect lift physics riding on a “cushion of smooth molecular air” eliminating the crashing into waves without the forced slowdown experienced by conventional boats in order to avoid the violent pounding motion. The Amphfoil’s surface effect lift capability allows the foil boat to travel over wave troughs in rough sea state conditions.
Quadfoil Design and Retractable Foils
Amphfoil technology addresses the inherent instability of conventional hydrofoils by incorporating four lifting water foils or “Quadfoils”. Since the water foils on Amphfoils only represent 30% of the total lifting force there is no need for complex, highly prone- to-malfunction electronics to constantly adjust the angle of attack of each foil with changes in speed. The Quadfoils also act as “mini keels” providing tracking ability in heavy cross wind and sea conditions. To create the necessary maneuverability for operations in crowded harbors and congested waterways, the rear water foils turn in conjunction with the turning aft air propellers. The Quadfoils fully retract reducing the draft of Amphfoils.
The combination of the Amphfoil's shoal draft ability and elimination of water propellers that are hazardous to marine mammals make Amphfoils the most versatile and environmentally friendly foil boats on the water.
Retractable Hydrowings
The Amphfoil is engineered to operate efficiently across diverse environments. Its design centers around adaptability: wide for stability and performance on open water, and compact for accessibility in tight harbors or docking scenarios. The Hydrowings play a central role in this duality. This Hydrowing retraction mechanism reduces the overall beam of the craft by a full 30%—a significant narrowing that allows docking and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Sea skimming is the future and Amphfoil
is the forerunner.
Amphfoils challenge the polluting fossil
fuel-powered boats paradigm.
Current fossil fuel-powered boats produce 40 times more unregulated carbon and NOX2 emissions compared to today’s automobiles and trucks. Yet polluting archaic and failed technologies are still being used today.
Conventional catamaran boats: with the advent of aluminum for boat and ship building in the 1950s, twin hulled vessels came into popularity. The big advantage was increased speed over steel monohulls for inshore “fast” ferries and recreational boats. Speed came at a high price due to the use of excessively big engines and related pollution. The other disadvantages are terrible motion in an offshore seaway and excessive wake turbulence.
Sidewall hovercraft boats (SOV): In the 1990’s sidewall design vessels were an attempt to address the inefficiencies and motion problems found on conventional catamaran power boats. The object was to create a bubble of trapped air between the hulls to stabilize motion. The U.S. Navy spent over a decade working on SOV before totally abandoning the concept.
Conventional hydrofoil boats: Originally conceived in the 1890s hydrofoils lift a hull up out of the water on narrow foils to reduce water drag. Billions of dollars have been spent by navies and others worldwide over recent decades unsuccessfully trying to address inherent stability problems with hydrofoils. The fact that hydrofoils must always be submerged to obtain lift has relegated the boats to always operate on flat, calm water.
In this 4-minute video Rhett Nanson, Shannon’s catamaran and hydrofoil chief engineer, points out how the Amphfoil technology addresses and overcomes hydrofoil limitations.
Unlimited Applications. Unlimited Possibilities
Customizing Power Platforms
The Amphfoil power platform is a highly adaptable foundation for specialized needs. For instance, as demonstrated below by the 12-meter model, removing the cabin transforms the craft into a blank canvas upon which virtually any 12-meter design body can be realized. This flexibility empowers a designer to tailor the Amphfoil to an impressive diversity of applications—be it for custom charters, recreational pursuits, or specialized transport roles—without compromising on the core attributes of speed, comfort, and environmental sensitivity that define the Amphfoil experience.
Shown above are 5 design variations on the same 12m platform: the recreation, tender, military, patrol and commuter
Amphfoil technology transforms the boating experience by combining wave skimming surface effect lift with air propulsion, offering fast speeds, long distance range, and a smooth comfortable ride while ensuring the safety of marine life.
