We have seen a couple of these this year and they look like a blast.

Talked to one boater who was pulling someone with one and they said that the ride is really smooth even in choppy water because the hydrofoil is below the surface and the rider is above it.

Anyone used one of these? Easy or hard to get up on?

Other than being really large and difficult to find a place to store onboard, they look kind of fun.

I've heard they are difficult to master. Raising or lowering your arms controls how high or low the chair rides. It's been recommended that you be sure the water depth is at least 6' deep. And new, they are pricey at around $1,500.

Or so I've read on all of the above info.

...as soon as my BIL and I can find one used for less than $300 we are going to buy one. Don't need to go very fast either.

I know of 2 people that use(d) air chairs- one uses it every minute he can find time, the other threw it in the lake in frustration...

I saw a guy try to use one once. He kept slamming up and down. Funniest thing I ever saw. We were all rolling trying not to spill the beer.

Hey silverbullet I never thought to just quote myself as a way to increase my post count...great idea! LOL

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Sometimes I hit quote instead of edit when I want to change a post. Usually I catch it. Guess not in this case.

I've got a couple of friends with them. One of them is pretty experienced and actually had one of the first ones in Mn. They're fun to watch, especially in the hands of an expert.

I've tried several times on three seperate outings and got up for about 20 seconds. The plan is to go out and give it a try on Friday with some guys from work, we'll see how it works.

They claim that yes, once you get up you can stay up as long as you want because there's not much drag. Both my friends love them. One just sold his wakeboard boat because he's now got 3 kids under 6 and just never got out, but he couldn't part with his sky ski.

The good ones are expensive even used. I can't imagine I'd ever feel it would be worth it to drop that kind of cash for one.

Last time we were out, we saw this guy gett'n some good air and I remembered this thread. Finally got the role developed.
It's a blury shot. I'm no troop.

Oh, and other creative activities that go on on the river shores.

I bought an Air Chair a few years ago, but sold it last November.

My kids, who picked up wakeboarding very quickly, had a difficult time mastering it. Everything you do in wakeboarding in terms of balance is different with the AirChair, because the balance point is 30 inches or so below the board.

They did enjoy it when they got good rides, but never got continuous long rides.

You are right about the smoothness in chop; nothing rides as smooth as a hydrofoil. It is amazing in that respect.

The other reason we sold ours was that my wife was always nervous about the boys using it. That hydrofoil is sharp and very heavy, and she felt it was dangerous.

Just getting into one in the water is difficult for the unaccustomed, as is storing it on your boat when not in use.

You do need deep water, you do not want to hit a sandbar with the foil; incredible face plant will result.

Last thing is that they are a bit squirrely and any movement you make is exagerated by the ski, you tend to make big overcorrections when you are learning that swing you wildly from side to side.


Still, watching someone who knows what they are doing in a hydrofoil ski is a wonderful thing. My next door neighbor's kid got up on one the 2nd or 3rd try and figured it out quickly.

His exact words: "most fun I've ever had behind a boat".

I've seen them and they look like a blast. Two concerns: the price of a new one would make it price prohibitive and second, what do you do with it on the boat? They're HUGE!

My friends have it and love it, I am the frustrated one.

I will be happy to sell my early model airchair. It looks exactly like the pic below although I don't know who the girl is. Just PM me.

I've tried it; got up for maybe 20 seconds. Also experienced the sesitivity by making very large uncontrolled turns and finally took a large drink. Plan on the water level of the lake dropping while learning cause you end up drinking it! I am considering buying one from a friend for $350.00 (seems like a fair deal).
My friends are really good and never get tired (old mans sport)
they do back flips, and tricks alot; but when you hit a carp swimming shallow ...plan on a face plant!

Yes, both my friends have hit what they think were fish. One hit something and face planted. The other (the much more experienced one) hit something and felt an incredible drag, but was able to stay up, he got the foil out of the water and saw what he thought was a fish fall off an go skipping across the water.

Anyone make/invent a "fish deflector" on one yet?

I remember the precursor to these things, WAY back in an early '70's issue, Popular Mechanics had a short article on hydrofoils, but instead of sitting on the thing, these were attached to water ski's. They had a photo of a guy skiing about 2' above the water, which looked real cool...and an "ad" photo of 2 styles, a short set and a tall set.

I remember thinking, "what a good way to chop off your leg or your head when you crash & burn!" I don't think they were ever put on the market--probably for that reason...

As an fyi...I am selling my AirChair Here.