It’s a Boat. It’s a Plane. It’s Both — and It’s Real.
Every once in a while, a new vehicle comes along that makes even the most jaded tech geek say, “Wait… what am I looking at?”
Enter the Regent Viceroy, a machine that refuses to be labeled. It’s not quite a boat, not quite a plane — and somehow, it’s both.
Hailing from Rhode Island, the Viceroy is the flagship creation of Regent Craft, a startup trying to reinvent coastal travel with an all-electric, zero-emission vehicle that literally flies above the water.
They call it a seaglider — a name that sounds poetic, but behind it lies some seriously clever engineering.
How the Regent Seaglider Works
At first glance, the Viceroy Seaglider looks like a sleek powerboat with wings. It’s 55 feet long, weighs around 15,000 pounds, and carries 12 passengers — one pilot and 11 thrill-seekers who probably signed a very long waiver.
Its magic lies in its three operating modes:
| Mode | Description | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Float Mode | Standard hull-in-water operation, like any boat | Low speed |
| Foil Mode | Hydrofoils lift the hull above water for smoother, faster travel | ~60 mph |
| Fly Mode | Wings generate lift, letting it “fly” a few feet above the waves using ground effect | ~180-mile range |
When it lifts off into “fly mode,” the craft doesn’t soar like an airplane. Instead, it rides a cushion of high-pressure air trapped between its wings and the water — a phenomenon known as ground effect. This trick reduces drag and boosts efficiency dramatically, giving the all-electric Viceroy its impressive range.
Speed, Range, and Efficiency
The Regent Viceroy cruises at nearly 180 miles (290 km) on a single charge, with plans for 400–500 miles as battery technology evolves.
That’s enough to connect cities like Boston to New York, San Francisco to Los Angeles, or dozens of island routes without touching a drop of fuel.
It can reach speeds of 160 km/h (about 100 mph) while staying just a few meters above the waves. Compared to ferries that crawl at 25–30 knots, that’s astonishing.
Solving the Soviet Mistake
If this idea sounds vaguely familiar, you might remember the Cold War-era Ekranoplans, such as the infamous “Caspian Sea Monster.” They were massive, fast, and—frankly—a logistical nightmare.
Regent’s breakthrough is combining that old ground-effect magic with modern hydrofoil control systems. The foils allow stable takeoff and landing even in choppy water, fixing the very problem that doomed the Soviet prototypes.
In short, it works like a boat where it counts and flies when it matters.
Who Regulates a Seaglider?
Even the government doesn’t quite know what to make of this thing. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) took a look and said, “Not our problem.” Since the Viceroy never flies higher than its wingspan, it officially falls under the U.S. Coast Guard.
That means seaglider pilots will likely need maritime licenses, not pilots’ licenses — a fascinating twist that could speed up adoption.
Commercial Launch and Preorders
Regent has already tested its foil-borne operations and expects full flight testing by 2025.
Interest is sky-high: the company claims over $10 billion in preorders from ferry operators, airlines, and coastal transport companies around the world.
To meet that demand, a 255,000 sq ft factory is being built in Rhode Island to produce the Viceroy at scale.
This isn’t a backyard startup dream. It’s a commercially serious clean-tech project with real customers waiting.
Why the Regent Viceroy Matters
If the Viceroy delivers on its promise, it could revolutionize regional transport:
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Zero emissions: 100% electric propulsion
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No runways: Takes off and lands from any marina
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Low noise: Quieter than any plane or ferry
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Fast travel: Twice as quick as traditional boats
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Lower costs: Electric charging is far cheaper than marine diesel
Imagine skipping airport security, traffic, and noise — gliding over the waves from city to city in silence.
The Verdict
The Regent Viceroy Seaglider is one of the boldest, most imaginative vehicles in development today.
It’s fast, green, and gloriously weird — a rare combination of aviation, marine design, and sci-fi dream made real.
Will it work? We’ll find out soon. But if it does, it could redefine short-distance travel forever.
And yes, I want one.