This disclosure extends to systems, apparatus, and methods for sports board hydrofoil masts and mast-to-fuselage connection assemblies for hydrofoil sports boards. In one exemplary system, a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member may include a securing structure disposed in a lower region and a fuselage may include a recess into which the mast is inserted. A securing assembly may be disposed in the fuselage for actuation to secure the mast to the fuselage by interacting with the securing structure on the mast. The securing assembly may include a cam member or locking member and an actuating member. Unique hydrofoil masts constructed from composite materials having reinforcing metal members are disclosed and may be useful in the connection assemblies

An electrically driven hydrofoil for fastening to a board in order to lift the board out of the water during travel operation, comprises at least one drive module, which as an autonomous unit is fastened to a portion of the hydrofoil that remains submerged in the water during travel operation, an electric battery, and an electrically operated propulsion device supplied with power by the battery. It is thus possible to equip a conventional hydrofoil and a corresponding hydrofoil board with an electric drive, without the need for modifications to the board or to the hydrofoil. The battery can be arranged in the drive module so that there will be no need to provide external electrical connection between the propulsion device and the battery. The drive module may thus form an autonomous unit that may be attached to the hydrofoil as required, but otherwise is separate from the hydrofoil.

A manufacturing method contemplates performing vacuum-assisted resin infusion to enclose an elongated core within a cured composite laminate without employing a mold. Not relying upon an external mold enables the process to be efficiently performed for core shapes that are manufactured in low volumes. Typical resin infusion processes utilize flow media that induces bag bridging during vacuum draw in order to provide gaps facilitating resin flow. However, popular flow media also tends to impart directional aggregate forces during vacuum draw, which forces can deform the core since no mold is being used. To avoid unequal and non-dispersed directional forces from deforming the elongated core, a flow media is employed that is configured to disperse and/or reduce such forces. Some such flow media may be knitted so as to allow overlapping strands to slide over one another. Other flow media may ensure that strands are interleaved so that no one strand or group of strands is disposed outwardly of other strands along a substantial length of the strands, thus dispersing bag bridging forces in several directions and avoiding directional aggregate forces. However, such flow media may have inhibited resin flow relative to popular high-flow flow media, and thus new strategies have been developed to ensure appropriate wetting of fibrous reinforcement. An adjustable brace can also be employed to restrain the elongated core from deflecting during application of vacuum and/or resin infusion.

A method of forming a fin configured for use with a water sports board. The method includes providing a mold having a mold cavity and a first insert pre-preg sheet each including structural strands bonded by a first resin material. The method further includes placing the first insert pre-preg sheet within the mold cavity. The method further includes injecting a third resin material under pressure into the mold cavity. The method further includes injecting a core substance only in the form of a gaseous material into the third resin material to form a unitary hollow volume within the third resin material.

A method of forming a fin configured for use with a water sports board. The method includes providing a mold having a mold cavity and a first insert pre-preg sheet each including structural strands bonded by a first resin material. The method further includes placing the first insert pre-preg sheet within the mold cavity. The method further includes injecting a third resin material under pressure into the mold cavity. The method further includes injecting a core substance only in the form of a gaseous material into the third resin material to form a unitary hollow volume within the third resin material.

The present disclosure provides generally for a hydrofoil system that may allow a surfboard to glide above the water surface. According to the present disclosure, a rider may be able to manipulate a hydrofoil device attached to a surfboard with limited training and athletic ability. The present disclosure provides for a hydrofoil system that may allow riders to use a light leaning motion to adjust the angle of a front wing to create forward thrust to produce a flow for creating lift. In some aspects, the front wing may tilt to reduce downward drag force in a lifting phase while locking into place during a glide to provide a sustained lift of the surfboard out of the water.

A flexible inflatable container that includes a flexible inflatable core having opposing first and second panel members, each with an interior side. A plurality of longitudinally oriented stringers is disposed on at least one interior side of one of the opposing first and second panel members. Each stringer has at least one edge. Zippers join stringers portions to one another or to the panel members or both. An inflation valve on one of the panel members is provided for introducing fluid into the flexible inflatable core. The core is covered by a flexible outer skin.

A passively controlled fluid foil has a span; and a rigid spar extending in the spanwise direction, a cellular material and a flexible outer surface defining a profile of the outer surface of the foil and encapsulating the cellular material and the spar.

Hydrofoil assemblies that can be attached to a board used for watersports are disclosed herein. A hydrofoil assembly may include, for example, a mast a coupleable to a fuselage at a lower portion of the mast and coupleable to a board at an upper portion of the mast, and front and rear wings coupleable to the fuselage. A hydrofoil mast may include, for example, first and second composite sections bonded together to form a hollow load-bearing mast structure. Leading and trailing elements made of a material that is softer than the composite mast structure may be adhered to the mast structure to complete a hydrodynamic profile of the mast.

The present disclosure provides generally for a hydrofoil system that may allow a surfboard to glide above the water surface. According to the present disclosure, a rider may be able to manipulate a hydrofoil device attached to a surfboard with limited training and athletic ability. The present disclosure provides for a hydrofoil system that may allow riders to use a light leaning motion to adjust the angle of a front wing to create forward thrust to produce a flow for creating lift. In some aspects, the front wing may tilt to reduce downward drag force in a lifting phase while locking into place during a glide to provide a sustained lift of the paddleboard out of the water.