Jamie Schlinkmann kept an old Kawasaki Jet Ski from the 1970s. It didn’t run anymore, but he held on to it. He remembered standing up on it as a kid, the way it carved across the lake and kicked out spray. Years later, long after he’d built a career designing machines for factories, he looked at it again and wondered if there was a way to bring that feeling back—without the noise, the fumes, or the bulk of a gas engine.
He started sketching ideas with his team at AMS, a Florida-based company he had been running since the 1990s. AMS built high-precision manufacturing systems for hard drives, medical parts, and industrial automation. The shop was used to prototyping parts that had to be accurate down to a fraction of a millimeter. Jamie figured they could use that same precision to build something for the water. He called up Mike Terry, who had worked with him before, and they started piecing together a plan.
They called the new company Pelagion. The name came from a root word for “open sea.” The first product would be something no one else had quite done: a stand-up electric hydrofoil with handlebars, battery power, and twin motors.
The HydroBlade looks like a Jet Ski that floats above the water. When it’s still, it rests on the hull like any small watercraft. But once the rider hits the throttle, the board rises on a carbon-fiber mast and foil, and the entire craft lifts up and glides over the surface. The front handlebars steer a submerged rudder, which helps keep the ride stable. Two motors sit under the back of the board and drive twin propellers. The batteries are mounted inside the front of the board, ahead of the rider.
Pelagion designed the layout so the controls would feel familiar to anyone who’s ridden a bike or Jet Ski. The throttle and speed controls are on the handlebar. A screen shows battery level, ride time, and distance. The board doesn’t have to be leaned side to side like most foilboards. Steering is handled through the rudder and motor input, which makes it easier for new riders to control.
Each HydroBlade runs on two electric motors with a combined peak output of 16 kW. That’s about 21 horsepower. The twin 5.5 kWh battery packs weigh 29 kg each and are swappable. On a full charge, the board can run up to 4 hours depending on conditions. The estimated top speed is around 40 mph. The frame is built from a combination of aluminum, marine-grade composite, and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. The foil mast retracts into the hull for storage. The whole board weighs just over 200 pounds.
Pelagion says it designed the board to break down for easier transport, though it still requires a trailer or rack for most vehicles. The control system connects over Bluetooth to a smartphone app that can be mounted on the handlebars. The app tracks ride stats and allows firmware updates.
Pelagion operates out of AMS’s 75,000-square-foot facility in Odessa, Florida. The company has its own water test tank on site and builds many of the parts in-house using CNC machines, injection molding, and electronic assembly equipment already in use at AMS. Other components—like battery cells and motor assemblies—come from suppliers the company has worked with in other industries.
They plan to ship the first HydroBlades in fall 2025. The price for early preorders is listed at \$25,000. A limited “Founders Edition” is also available. Customers can reserve a board with a deposit through Pelagion’s website. The company has stated that initial production will be small, focused on early adopters and experienced riders, with broader availability depending on demand and manufacturing timelines.
Jamie and Mike designed the HydroBlade for people who like the idea of foiling but don’t want to learn how to surf. It has a standing position like a Jet Ski, electric drive like an e-foil, and steering like a bike. It’s meant to be quiet, fast, and easier to control than most foilboards.
Pelagion has shown demos on lakes and calm coastal bays, and they’ve talked about uses beyond recreation—such as silent eco-tour rentals or low-wake zones where gas motors aren’t allowed. But right now, it’s a personal watercraft for people who want to stand, ride, and fly above the water without fuel or noise.
The company is still small. Jamie still works on the prototypes himself, and the board still changes between versions. But the plan is simple: build something new, test it hard, and see if riders want a cleaner way to skim above the water.
