VIDEO: HullVane launches new product for fast-planing vessels

Vessel equipped with Foil Assist “virtually flies over the waves, even though her aft is still planing,” says HullVane.

Wageningen, Netherlands, based HullVane BV is adding a new solution to its line-up — the Foil Assist. It comes after several years in which HullVane has been researching and testing the effect on fast-planing vessels of a hydrofoil positioned amidships beneath the hull.

“We were aiming to support a major portion of the vessel’s weight on the foil rather than on its hull at the waterline,” says the company. “The underlying principle wasn’t to achieve full hydrofoiling, but partial hydrofoiling, in order to improve performance and seakeeping.”

Early in the development process, HullVane built and successfully tested a prototype yacht. To achieve its goals, it had to work out how to stabilize a vessel using only one main foil.

“We were successful, and the patent is now pending,” says HullVane.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Foil Assist is a small, passive, wing-shaped device made of solid stainless steel that is attached amidships beneath a vessel’s hull. It has been designed it to withstand cornering forces and to damp pitching motions in choppy conditions.

Partially supporting the vessel’s weight on the submerged wing, rather than at the waterline, helps reduce the effect waves have on performance. And because the Foil Assist only partially lifts its hull out of the water, the vessel handles much more like a normal planing vessel (predictability) than a fully hydrofoiling vessel (stringent weight requirements).

In partnership with Wajer Yachts, HullVane fitted a Foil Assist to a Wajer 32 S—a fast-planing hull. Combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and HullVane’s expertise in hydrodynamics, the design was successfully further optimized still further.

“The combination of Wajer 32 S and Foil Assist makes for a far more comfortable ride, as she virtually flies over the waves, even though her aft is still planing,” says HullVane. “This reduces slamming and spray considerably and increases stability and speed due to less resistance.”

Initial research has reportedly shown that the Foil Assist reduces fuel consumption by 10 to 20% while reaching top speeds of 45 to 48 knots with a 3 to 6% power reduction.

SHOCK ABSORBER

According to HullVane, which calls the solution “an invaluable, future-proof enhancement for all fast-planing hulls,” Foil Assist is the next step in increasing speed and efficiency while reducing power requirements for high-speed yachts, fast patrol boats, naval interceptors, sea rescue boats and pilot boats.

The new product will be built, sold and marketed by Hull Vane BV, which has extensive experience with other submerged foil appendages, including the custom Hull Vane, semi-custom Hull Vane and Dynamic Hull Vane.