A Flyboard is a popular brand of the hydrofoil-style boat that offers hydro-jet propulsion to propel the Flyboard in the water to do a sport called hydroboarding. Hydrotherapy is a method of using flowing water against resistance to generate the lift needed to propel the boat forward. Hydro boards can be used in recreational boating as well as commercial hydrofoil boats for sailing and other water sports. There are many manufacturers of hydro boards, some of which have entered the market with modern designs and technology to provide greater efficiency, greater ease of operation and lower costs.
Flyboards have been around for many years and have evolved from simple, one-piece wooden boards used in fishing to multi-part floatable and folding boards that can be stored in small pouches attached to the fuselage. In the early 20th century, a German doctor developed the first model of a keyboard out of a combination of plywood, glue and light metal, known as "copper tubing". The keyboard's original design called for a slim flat board without any noticeable seams. The problem with this design was that it caused the seams to become waterlogged causing the seams to lift off the surface of the deck making it difficult or even impossible to roll the board on the water.
Flyboards of today have different fabrics that are fused together using high pressure and heat. Most modern keyboards use a combination of carbon fiber, Kevlar, wood fibers and polyester with varying levels of elasticity to provide strength and durability. Early keyboards often had small gaps between the strips of material to help prevent the seams from lifting, however, this problem has also been resolved by the introduction of a double seam tape on the boards. In addition, some early keyboards included small hooks at the tail of the board to help alleviate the "pick up" that occurs when the foils are pulled tight during high winds.
One of the most unique features of the early keyboards was the "saddle" attached to the end of the board. The saddle served two functions; first, the foils would be held in place on the top of the saddle and second, the foam would protect the feet of the rider from being exposed to the water. The foam would act as a cushion and shock absorber when the rider went through the water. As most people do when they go into the water, this is the point where many accidents occur, the board will pick you up and throw you off balance and ultimately cause injury.
Since the early keyboards had limited motion, riders could not go very fast with them. However, they could ride at a much more rapid rate than the regular surfboards. As time went on, the demand for improved designs led to the development of the lip, which is a raised portion on the surface of the board attached to the foils. The lip would keep the rider from being thrown off balance when they went through the water and also provide additional traction when the rider made a turn.
The earliest versions of the board did not have the lip, but they were attached to the same type of floats that the rider carried. The foam was not very thick, but it was adequate to cushion the rider's ankles and feet and absorb shock. Since there was little or no change in the board, these early boards were still very popular for nearly a century. The evolution of the foam to include a lip and to become stiffer helped to create a more stable board that could be used for longer periods of time.
The air-filled cavities where the foam-filled in, later on, were first called "cavities" and then "loops". While this was a simple change, it marked the beginning of real airtime in the early board. Loops and cavities could not be done with the air-filled foams of the early times because of their weight. So, the foam had to be changed from a gas to a liquid, which could now be compressed and used as an alternative to air.
There are many resources that provide information about the early keyboards. Many are available online. One of the most popular ones is "flyboard gallery". These provide pictures and information about the many types of early keyboards including those that were made by Snugpak.
