Electric hydrofoil

Find out about safety requirements for using an electric hydrofoil surfboard.

Electric hydrofoils are considered vessels in Western Australia and are required to:

You must have a Recreational Skipper's Ticket to operate an electric hydrofoil if the output is greater than 6 horsepower.

Man riding an electric hydrofoil in the ocean.

  Rules of use

When using an electric hydrofoil you must:

  • only operate between the hours of sunrise and sunset;
  • display registration numbers that are:
    • on the left and right sides of the hydrofoil
    • in a plain block design (not slanting or script)
    • at least 50 mm in height and 12 mm in width.

If the background of each registration digit is not white, there must be a white border of a width of at least 7 mm must surround each digit.

  Safety equipment requirements

When using an electric hydrofoil you must comply with the following safety equipment requirements.

Between 400 metres and 2 nautical miles from shore

When operating outside protected waters and between 400 metres and 2 nautical miles from the mainland shore, you must wear a lifejacket (minimum level 50) and carry at least:

  •  2 red hand-held flares or 2 parachute distress rockets
  •  2 hand held orange smoke signals or 1 orange smoke canister

OR

More than 2 nautical miles from shore

When operating more than 2 nautical miles from the mainland, or more than 400 metres from an island situated more than 2 nautical miles from the mainland, you must:

These safety equipment requirement for electric hydrofoils differ from other vessels as an exemption has been granted.

Before you go

Before you leave home:

  • Check the latest weather update and tide information
  • Check all your safety equipment is in date and in working order
  • Tell someone where you are going and when you intend to return.

Download the Deckee app for safety, weather and location-based information to help you stay safe on the water.

Page last updated: Thu Jun 15 2023 2:31:05 PM