All-aluminum Front Runner hydrofoil watercraft plays in the kiddie pool

Sure, it's no USS Ronald Reagan, but Joey Ruiter's conceptual Front Runner is one sweet ride if you're looking to exercise 215-horsepower on a slick body of water. Shown at the recently concluded Grand Rapids Boat Show in Michigan, the designer unveiled his latest concept watercraft, a hydrofoil with "twin forward-mounted jet-drive motors." The futuristic design is fairly easy on the eyes, and would certainly garner quite a bit of positive attention skimming across the shallow end at your local YMCA. Aside from being crafted entirely of aluminum without a hint of glue holding anything together, the unique construction allows the boat to cruise in "extremely shallow water," which could definitely brighten up an extremely rainy day if you're in a low-lying area. Still, we've no idea if Joey has plans to commercialize this gem, but if he adds a hovering feature in the near future, count us onboard.

[Lectoid @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:43AM]

Looks more like a pod racer from Star Wars: EP1 to me.

[ElementalDragon @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:46AM]

Pod racer was my thought, too, but who says pod racers weren't inspired by chariots? :)

[gabriel Ortega @ Mar 2nd 2007 7:48AM]

This thing better make sounds like the podracers in Star Wars, otherwise.. no sale.

[tchiseen @ Mar 2nd 2007 8:02AM]

that is extremeeeeely creamy.

it's a great design in an area that doesn't really see much innovation, but this is great.

[Chris @ Mar 2nd 2007 8:41AM]

That's NOT a hydrofoil. A hydrofoil is lifted clear of the water at speed by submerged wings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrofoil

[jptech @ Mar 2nd 2007 9:43AM]

the new airboat for the everglades?

those rednecks are gonna have to sell one of their trucks to pay for one of these!

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 2nd 2007 10:37AM]

I thought pod racer as well when I first saw it. Chariots? Well a compartment pulled by power would be the only similarities. Pod racers and this contraption are pulled by flanking power, not a line of power directly in front, so the execution and arrangement is different tho function is similar but so is a horse drawn carriage, wagon, cart.

[macona @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:57AM]

Cool design, but they state :"Additionally, it is all aluminum with no glue, a nod to sustainable manufacturing."

What the hell is "Sustainable Manufacturing" And what does it not have glue make it sustainable? Its either TIG or MIG welder using aluminum filler rod or wire, argon gas, and electricity. Nothing special there that hasnt been done with boats for the last 40 years.

I am getting sick of sustainable THIS and sustainable THAT. Is this the new catch phrase?

[theCardinal @ Mar 2nd 2007 12:42PM]

Actually, the first thing I thought when I saw this was Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic. I would be very surprised if the designers weren't influenced by this car. http://www.supercars.net/cars/2705.html

[Cpt.Scarecrow @ May 18th 2007 11:13AM]

Futuristic design?
This is obviously based on a chariot/stagecoach. And we all know that the chariot/stagecoach isn't thát futuristic ;)