WELLS — At the start of the current school year, a new class at Wells High School, Hydrofoils Engineering, began meeting with the goal of designing and constructing a 16-foot, human-powered hydrofoil boat capable of achieving lift over water.

Those involved, including students, two teachers and volunteer advisors from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the USS Scranton submarine, hope to have this “from-scratch” project completed and ready for a test run in Wells Harbor by the end of the school year

in June.

To say this undertaking is ambitious and a bit complex is perhaps an understatement. Technology students with little or no experience with this type of hands-on endeavor must employ a combination of mathematics, technology, engineering and science to design, create and integrate hull, propulsion, stabilization and foil systems in order to make this craft move.

As of December, the class, co-taught by technology teacher Jason Hludik and physics teacher Chrys Demos, has collected some materials and conducted tests, including a hydro test experimenting with smoke to simulate water flow. However, there is a list of more materials needed to help enhance the project and make it successful.

At the top of the list is a 3D printer for rapid prototyping and design testing, followed by epoxy resin and production materials for composite hull building, including fiber-glass cloth, a flow-visualization tunnel, a vacuum pump and related vacuum-infusion materials for composite structure forming and manufacturing. The cost of all of these items is estimated to be $8,200.

Since this project is not covered in the school budget, students and teachers must turn to fundraising for donations of materials or money to purchase the remaining items and components.

Individuals or area businesses interested in contributing to the project by making either a financial or material donation need to contact Jason Hludik or Chrys Demos at Wells High School, either by calling 646-7011 or emailing [email protected] or [email protected].