Electric hydrofoil

Electric hydrofoil boards which have a motor with a power output of more than 4.5 kW or 6hp (EHB) are considered to be vessels in Western Australia.

Operators of these EHB must:

Rules of use

When using an electric hydrofoil board with a power output of more than 4.5kW (6hp), you must:

only operate between sunrise and sunset;
display registration numbers on the left and right sides of the board above the waterline when it is at rest that are:
- in a plain block design (not slanting or script);
- at least 50 mm in height and 12 mm in width; and
- if the background is not white, each digit must have a white border at least 7 mm wide.

When using an electric hydrofoil board with a power output of more than 4.5kW (6hp), you must:

wear a lifejacket of Level 50 or higher; and
when operating more than 400m from shore in unprotected waters:
- carry an EPIRB or wear a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). From 1 September 2028 these items must be GPS-enabled; and
- carry at least 2 hand held red flares and 2 hand held orange flares. You may carry parachute flares instead of the red hand held flares, but only until 1 September 2026. You may carry an Electronic Visual Distress Signal which complies with AS 2092 Part 2 instead of all of the flares, but only if you also carry a GPS-enabled EPIRB or wear a GPS-enabled PLB; and
when operating more than 4 nautical miles from shore, carry a marine radio. 27 MHz radios will be phased out by 1 September 2028 and will no longer be sufficient.

These safety equipment requirements differ slightly from those for other vessels as an exemption from the law has been granted.

Before you leave home:

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