Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below are based on inquiries from people all over the world. It is very important for us to stress that our invention is not for everyone to master, and that it is not a general purpose hydrofoil kayak for all situations and/or weather conditions. We want to make sure that our customers are 100% sure of what they are buying.
From a humorous point of view, you could say that the Flyak is: "Fast like a Formula 1 - and just as practical...".
See how the Flyak works (by Flyak chief designer Einar Rasmussen).
Q: Can a hydrofoil kayak be used for longer distances, ie. endurance races over 50 kilometers or more?
A: No. The hydrofoil kayak is all about speed over relatively short distances, ranging from 100 - 2000 meters. The laws of physics will effectively stop any attempt of keeping the Flyak up on the foils for long distances.
Q: What are the optimal conditions for hydrofoil kayaking?
A: Strong tailwind, no wake, no weeds! Under optimal conditions we estimate that Flyak "runs" up to 10 kilometers could be possible.
Q: How much skill/power is needed to make it fly?
A: The answer to this is not straightforward and will depend on a number of factors. First of all it depends on the foil size you are using, your body weight, your level of fitness and your paddling technique. We will put up a table on this website that will outline the correlation between these factors.
Q: OK, is this just a new toy for big boys - what about women?
A: Since hydrofoil kayaking is a hard-won battle against the forces of physics, only the fittest women paddlers are expected to get the Flyak "airborne". Regardless of body weight, you should be able to paddle a 500m in two minutes or less, and not very many women paddlers are able to go that fast. This is only an estimate of the level needed, but we are of course happy if someone prove us wrong here.
Q: Will it work in the surf - big waves?
A: Our current foil configuration is not meant to work in the surf. Based on tests of earlier prototypes we think it might be possible to make a surf version of the Flyak. Changes from the current design will be to put the main foil directly under the paddler, using a longer strut, and replacing the front foil with a rudder and "ski" (like a surf-ski wave deflector). We may look into this some time in the future.
Q: Could hydrofoil kayaking ever become a sport in its own right?
A: Yes, and the most likely form of competition could be 200 and 500 meter races. It is also very easy to set up top-speed competitions using common speed gate technology - The paddler with the highest recorded top speed (after multiple tries) wins.
Q: Do you need a much longer paddle?
A: While it is possible to use a regular paddle (example; 2.18 meters) for hydrofoil kayaking, we strongly recommend a paddle length of about 2.25 meters (or maybe even longer - the faster you go, the longer paddle you will need).
Q: Can the Flyak be equipped with a rowing mechanism?
A: No, and we have no future plans for this. A successful foiling scull design could very well be possible, but then you would have to make use of the banned sliding riggers to reduce the constant shifting of the rowers weight. Also, similar to the Flyak surf version mentioned above, moving the main foil directly under the rower and exchanging the front foil with a "ski" or similar would possibly benefit such a design.
Best regards - The Foil Kayak Team.