WaveFlyer Rogue: Is This the Jet Ski of the Future?

Electric water toys typically hold the same thrill factor as watching a leaky boat sink. You know, the usual combo of being painfully slow, lasting about as long as a mayfly's lifespan, and costing as much as a small yacht. But hey, those Aussies over at Electro Nautic reckon they have the solution with their fancy-pants new WaveFlyer Rogue.

Thankfully, these folks aren't exactly new to the electric hydrofoil rodeo. A few years ago, they teased us with a similar contraption, and then abruptly swerved into building that two-seat bathtub thing, the Volaré. Just when you think they've gone off the deep end, they bring back the single-seat Rogue, promising it's the messiah of electric jet skis.

Eye-candy wise, this Rogue has the looks. All sleek lines and futuristic vibes, the kind of stuff that pops on concept art posters. But hold your horses, because right now, it's basically a collection of pixels and optimistic figures. Apparently, it maxes out at a measly 25 mph (40 km/h). Heck, my inflatable dinghy with a trolling motor could keep up!

Now, the competition isn't exactly setting any speed records either. That overpriced Valo hydrofoil jet ski, the one that costs as much as a pre-owned Porsche, dialed down its initial boasts of crushing 40 mph (64 km/h). But here's where things get interesting. Maybe Electro Nautic has a different card up their sleeve.

Apparently, the Rogue boasts a range of 67 miles (108 km) – practically unheard of for anything electric that floats. Better yet, they claim that it recharges in 40 minutes. That's about the time it takes me to demolish a seaside fish and chips lunch. Now, that's the kind of progress I can get behind.

Underneath all that slick styling is Electro Nautic's patented W-foil wing setup, which is supposed to make even a clumsy hack like me look like a seasoned hydrofoil pro. It packs more sensors than a self-driving Tesla, all working to keep you from ending up a soggy mess. Plus, you can retract its fancy wings with a button press, which saves you from both humiliation and wallet-emptying repair bills.

So, the Rogue might be onto something, or it might go down faster than an anchor without a rope. Time, as usual, will be the judge. For now, I'll keep my skepticism finely tuned. Those range figures are tantalizing, and the idea of juicing it up faster than I can order a second round of beers is a breakthrough. But we've been fooled by too many flashy renders and big promises before.

Let's hope Electro Nautic puts some serious development effort into this thing and doesn't leave us with another round of vaporware. Because if they do, you can be sure I'll be ready to test this bad boy out on the open water, with a whole arsenal of sarcastic commentary at the ready. After all, whether this electric oddity becomes a marvel or a monumental flop – that's what makes the world of automotive (or is it aquamotive?) journalism so damn entertaining!