The history of Hydrofoils Incorporated
The company originated in the Rumson / Seabright area of Monmouth county NJ near to where the American Power Boat Association was formed and heroes like Guy Lombardo and Bill Muncy competed in Unlimited race boats on the Navesink River in Red Bank New Jersey. We became fixed on the dynamics of the race boats when the sport was altered by two major events. The first was a personal confrontation between the founder and a seawall in a small outboard hydroplane that he built with a friend. Most of the unlimited drivers started with these boats and worked their way up similar to the Indy drivers who start their racing careers with go-carts. The second event was the removal of the Unlimited race boats from the Navesink River because they could no longer negotiate the turns. As power increased control lagged behind--a situation that still exists. Timeline:
- 1955 Designed, built, and tested a 13.5-foot hydrofoil racing craft in response to the many uncontrolled race boat accidents where turning and uncontrolled flight was the cause.
- 1965, Model prototype tests for the larger craft indicate a growing interest in the Radio Controlled (RC) model boat market.
- 1972 Hydrofoils, Incorporated was founded.
- 1973 The first US patent was issued disclosing the benefits of highly controlled, 100 kt, hydrofoils.
- 1973 Design, build, and tested a number of 16.5 foot, high-speed hydrofoils.
- 1976 "Request For Quote"(RFQ) from the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries initiates design of a 28 foot Patrol Hydrofoil.
- 1978 Demonstrated a 16.5-ft, 2-man hydrofoil by invitation of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) at the Advanced Ships Conference in San Diego CA, USA.
- 1978 Developed and build three hovercraft for USCG use in Alaska.
- I979 Designed 30-Ft. turbine powered (unlimited) hydrofoil.
- 1988 Design, build, and test 60N nitro hydrofoil.
- 1989 Tyco (toy company) contacts Hydrofoils Incorporated to produce an RC toy hydrofoil.
- 1992 Design build and test air propelled, nitro fuel, canard hydrofoil.
- 1993 Designed 75T, 100 kt, twin turbine, ferry for passenger, freight, defense, or oil service.
- 1995 Design build and sold worldwide the first operational, fast electric, R/C hydrofoil.
- 1995 Design, build, and test 24R rocket powered, remotely piloted hydrofoil.
- 1995 Design and build and test production 48G Canard hydrofoil. (Sold worldwide).
- 1995 Design, build, 81R rocket powered hydrofoil.
- 1996 Design, build, and test 60G (rigger) hydrofoil.
- 1997 Designed 30-Foot sport DIVE BOAT for dive service companies.
- 1998 Designed 40-Foot, turbine powered, hydrofoil ALGAE harvester and delivery system.
- 1998 Designed 150-Foot, twin turbine, 250 passenger, 100-kt hydrofoil ferry.