A hydrofoil is a wing-like structure that is mounted on a boat or ship and extends below the waterline. The purpose of a hydrofoil is to create lift, which in turn elevates the hull of the vessel out of the water and reduces drag. Hydrofoils can be used on both power and sailboats.
There are two types of hydrofoils: rigid and soft. Rigid hydrofoils are attached to the hull of the vessel with brackets or bolts, while soft hydrofoils are adhered with special adhesive. Both types must be carefully balanced so that they provide adequate lift without causing instability.
Hydrofoils work by using Bernoulli's principle, which states that as fluid (in this case, water) flows around an object, its speed increases while its pressure decreases. When fluid flow meets an object at different points along its leading edge, low pressure areas form above and high pressure areas form below the object. This difference in pressure creates lift force.