HydroFlyer eFoil

The HydroFlyer brand

HydroFlyer is the work of Canadian founder Jerry McArthur, who developed the concept together with hydrofoil maker Unifoil: a production eFoil with handlebars. The idea behind it is simple. Hold on with your hands as well as your feet and you're braced at four points instead of two, so the hardest part of learning to eFoil, keeping your balance, comes together much faster. The first boards reached the market in 2021; since then the brand has built a rental network across the US and has a presence from Europe to Dubai.

The big generational shift arrived in March 2026: the Gen 2 program sorts the range into three tiers, from the fiberglass AL, the lowest tier and the only one under $10,000, through the full-carbon CF to the 10 kW flagship FF, which the manufacturer bills as the most powerful eFoil board ever built. Every tier comes in two board shapes: the long Cruiser with its V-nose is the stable, comfortable learning platform, while the Sport, about 33% shorter, is the quick-turning, playful option.

Why handlebars?

At first glance the patented, removable handlebar looks like an odd cross between a jet ski and a surfboard. On the water, it clicks fast. While you learn, the bar carries part of your upper-body weight, so your first attempts to stand don't ride entirely on your ankles; once you're flying, your arms work with you through the turns, which according to the manufacturer adds noticeable confidence on choppy water. You control the speed through a wireless throttle on the bar, and HydroFlyer says its speed settings range from mild to wild. To ride without the bar, you strap the throttle to your hand with a hand mount the store sells separately.

Safety is another argument for the bar. In a fall you can use it to push the board away from your body, and the motor cuts out the instant you release the throttle or the remote goes under. The brand also describes an optional safety wing with silicone edges, but none of the six Gen 2 product pages lists one in the box. The most important point, though: the handlebar is optional. Take the bar off and the HydroFlyer rides like a traditional eFoil, so the board grows with your skills.

Models and prices

The 2026 Gen 2 range consists of three tiers, each available with either the long Cruiser board or the shorter Sport board. The prices below are the US-dollar list prices from the manufacturer's online store, read on 12 September 2026. The tier you pick (AL, CF or FF) decides construction, keel and budget, plus the motor on the FF; the shape decides how the board rides, with the long Cruiser as the stable platform and the shorter Sport as the playful one, and the FF is built to order in whichever shape you choose. The store rewrites its prices without notice, so the figures hold for the day we read them. The six product pages give no weight for the complete set (the 42 to 49 kg on the maker's Technology page belongs to the older 5,500 W, 45 km/h spec), so we leave that number out.

Which HydroFlyer is right for you?

The three-tier logic is easy to follow. The AL delivers the handlebar experience at the lowest price, and for most beginners that is the right place to start. The CF targets more ambitious, sportier riding with its carbon construction and the longer 78 cm carbon keel. The FF marks the performance peak: 10 kW and 60 km/h put it in competition-eFoil territory. For the board shape, the rule of thumb is Cruiser for beginners and heavier riders, Sport for experienced riders who like a playful board.

Who should buy a HydroFlyer?

First and foremost, anyone drawn to eFoiling who is put off by the balancing act: with the handlebar, the learning curve flattens out considerably. The manufacturer aims the Cruiser shape squarely at families and riders across generations; it publishes no rider weight limit at all and simply recommends the bigger board for heavier riders. The same logic makes the concept attractive to rental operations and waterfront businesses. At the other end sits the sport rider: for them the FF, with its 60 km/h top speed and customizable throttle curves, is a competition machine, handlebar or not.

If the purest possible surf feel is what you're after, you'll likely be happier with a classic board from our comparison lineup; on a board like that, the handlebar would only add weight.

HydroFlyer on your home waters

On a quiet inland lake or in a calm coastal bay, the HydroFlyer fits in the way any eFoil does: silent, exhaust-free, and on flat water the Cruiser shape is a genuinely pleasant board to learn on. The legal side is another story. Rules differ by country and often from one lake or bay to the next, so check your local regulations before you ride. A flight time of 2 to 2.5 hours sits near the top of the category and comfortably covers an afternoon session. Before you buy, work out the true total cost for your route. Ordered direct from the manufacturer, the dollar price grows by shipping, customs duty and import taxes; bought from Sea & Fly or Mako-H-Bike, the figure to ask for is the quote including VAT for your country, and since the seller has imported the board itself, its price may already carry those costs. Then the service question. The manufacturer names its two European partners for demos, sales and support, and its warranty policy has you contact the company by email, with the board possibly shipped in for examination. Whether either partner takes in a board bought from the manufacturer's store is something neither side states, so ask before you order.

Want to try eFoiling before committing to a board in this price range? Rental operators and foil schools on many lakes and coastlines run beginner sessions, and an hour on the water tells you more than any spec sheet. For the full picture of what ownership costs, our guide to eFoil prices breaks down the numbers.