Hobie better not blink

http://www.paddling.net/articles/Hydrofoil-Kayak.html

Holly crap

One thought crossed my mind when I watched this video.

Tuna!!!

Pretty awesome, but I don't think you could do more than a short distance sprint with a paddle.  You'd need to engage your legs or use a sail.

Those are pretty cool, but I imagine it wouldn't work well in rough/choppy seas getting tossed around. Still would be fun to cruise around so fast!

How fast do you have to be going to get up onto the hydrofoils, and how much energy does it take to stay there?

I think the typical kayak fisherman would see negligable benefits from this.  Even an atypical kayak fisherman that will paddle substantial distances to get to a fishing area (looking at you, yaktrap) would probably not benefit from that.  If you could get up on the plane at speeds down around 5-6mph (<10kph), and the be able to maintain the plane at just a little higher speed, it might be worthwhile.

That guy was trolling way too fast! (JK)
Cool vid. I wonder how your balance would affect everything.

the lift provided by the hydrofoil is a function of water velocity, as has been pointed out, what came into my mind was weight, since that is what the lift is counteracting.

IFC rules for a K-1 racing kayak are minimum 12kg for sprints, those hydrofoils are lifting a 26# yak with say 140# guy...going 17.5mph...

Introducing the ProAngler Hydrofoil:  weighs 25# and goes 15mph! (note: carrying capacity: 140#).

on the other hand, the idea of adding a hydrofoil at the front and rear that would provide some lift at 3 to 4 mph and reduce hull drag slightly (like getting it "on-plane"), might just reduce the effort required to maintain that speed...interesting...

   

Could come in handy when you need to get back to the boat ramp outhouse in an emergency.