Hydrofoils tend to be faster, more fuel-efficient, and smoother than conventional hulls. The problem is that most boat owners already have a boat, and replacing it to get that performance is expensive. Norwegian company Lift Ocean has built a kit, a lift ocean hydrofoil system, that aims to bring foiling to existing hulls.
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The kit is called ONE. It has three motorized foil assemblies. Each one is a vertical mast with a movable wing at the bottom. Two foils sit on either side of the single outboard engine at the stern, and the third sits at the bow.
ONE is not a product for individual buyers yet. New Atlas reported on November 8 that orders are limited to boat manufacturers and fleet operators, with shipping expected in 2027. The plan is for builders to offer foiling as an option to customers who want it.
How the lift ocean hydrofoil system lifts the hull
When the foils are deployed, the wings generate lift as speed builds and raise the hull out of the water. When they are retracted, the boat runs like a normal boat, including in shallow water. Retraction also slows the buildup of marine growth on the foils.
According to New Atlas, takeoff on a lighter craft happens at about 16 to 18 knots, and cruising speed is reached at 20 to 25 knots. Deployment is controlled from a panel at the helm. Owners can choose Low, Medium, or High flight heights depending on wave conditions.
A flight control system ties the lift ocean hydrofoil system together. Radar modules and dual GPS antennas feed data to the controller, which adjusts the wing angles to hold ride height and manage banked turns. The driver uses only steering and throttle. Different wings can also be swapped in, depending on whether the priority is performance, efficiency, or easy cruising.
An automatic engine lift bracket solves a problem the foils create. As the hull rises, the bracket moves the outboard up and down to keep its propeller in the water. ONE works with gasoline or electric outboards, so the system does not force a change in energy source.
Retrofitting in practice
Lift Ocean CEO Petter Mørland Pedersen told Marine Industry News that the system bolts onto the hull. At the stern, the foils are fixed through the transom, which typically has enough structural strength because of the outboard installation. At the bow, the boatbuilder decides how to integrate the foil. On one demo boat, the builder prepared a cassette in the bow to hold the unit.
Pedersen also said some modifications are normally required, and they vary from boat to boat. Marine Industry News describes a three-day retrofit that got a boat flying.
The company sells the complete lift ocean hydrofoil system to boatbuilders, not finished foiling boats. Builders can treat the kit like an outboard or a windshield, adding it as an option or designing the hull around it. Pedersen said the system is designed to work across a broad range of hull shapes, and he estimated the potential market at more than 100,000 boats per year.
Sources differ on the size limits for the first version. New Atlas cited boats 6 to 9 meters long, at least 2.4 meters wide, and up to 2.5 tonnes. Pedersen told Marine Industry News that the first system is designed for boats in the 1 to 3 ton range, which can be further optimised for a specific model.
The efficiency claims come with ranges. Lars Bay told New Atlas that measurements from Lift Ocean’s test boats and client samples showed roughly a 50 percent reduction in fuel consumption. He noted that results vary with boat weight and shape. Tests of the lift ocean hydrofoil system so far cover only a limited set of boats.
Bolting new performance onto an existing product is also happening on land, where electrification is revisiting classic designs. Citroën’s playful 2 CV electric concept revival offers a retro-inspired look at what an electric upgrade can feel like.
Lift Ocean has four employees and works from waterfront offices about 15 minutes from downtown Oslo. Its funding is private investment. The company pivoted from custom foiling projects to a generic kit for boat manufacturers.
The appeal of the lift ocean hydrofoil system is that it improves a boat the owner already has. Installed prices, maintenance needs, and fuel savings on a specific boat will decide whether the kit makes sense. If boatbuilders can make foiling simple to specify and service, the hull an owner keeps may end up being the most valuable part of the upgrade.
H/T yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
Can individual boat owners buy the ONE foiling kit today?
No, the ONE kit is not available to individual buyers yet. According to New Atlas, orders are limited to boat manufacturers and fleet operators, with shipping expected in 2027.
How many foils does the Lift Ocean kit use, and where?
The ONE kit has three motorized foil assemblies, each a vertical mast with a movable wing at the bottom. Two sit on either side of the single outboard engine at the stern, and the third sits at the bow.
What size boats does the first Lift Ocean foiling system fit?
Sources differ on this. New Atlas cited boats 6 to 9 meters long, at least 2.4 meters wide, and up to 2.5 tonnes, while Lift Ocean CEO Petter Mørland Pedersen said the first system is designed for boats in the 1 to 3 ton range.
How much fuel does the Lift Ocean hydrofoil system save?
Lars Bay told New Atlas that tests on Lift Ocean’s test boats and client samples showed roughly a 50 percent reduction in fuel consumption. He noted that results vary with boat weight and shape, and the tests so far cover only a limited set of boats.
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