Designing a boat at age 12

[confused]

Oh, and starling 718, if you read this, I can design boats pretty good. I have designed about 10 boats in all, (and the one I want to build). I was born on an island. (Galveston Island, tx). I design stuff by hand. first I imagine it, then I draw a diagram of it on computer paper, then I draw a more complex diagram of the whole thing on graph paper. If I get something wrong, I erase, redraw, and when it meets my approval, I trace it over in ink so it is easier to see and can't be erased. I like the water too, that's why I want to build a boat, but not quite so big. The boat I want to build is 14ft by 4ft. Yes. go ahead and laugh. I can design your starling sailing ship, all I need to know is the dimensions. (height, width, & length).

[masalai]

Short posts will not accumulate credit for the number of posts, may I suggest you do an edit by C&P all your short comments and melding into one... then in your project learn as you go first try out the effectiveness of your "engine" which has very low efficiency levels but could be fun as an experiment using the horse trough as your inverse boat to see if it makes and useful thrust...

Be scientific about your efforts, work out some way to measure the thrust?

Then work out how to make a model boat to further test your ideas... The time and effort will be found to be valuably spent as you will learn a lot and not forget your errors....

[confused]

I have a good way of measuring thrust, I could have a wooden box of bricks floating in the horse trough, and the engine is on the box, I start the engine, and if it moves the crate of bricks, it would be like moving a boat (kind of). so I could keep adding more weight until it can't move it, then I could weigh the box of bricks. and what are you saying about the engine's effeciancy? it has absolutely NO moving parts, creating absolutely no friction, so no parts would have to be replaced. And on youtube, those engines move those boats pretty fast. I don't want my boat to go very fast. I'll bet it could run for at least 100 years straight, without stopping if there was someone to feed the fire. It might even be able to run longer than that! And like I said, I don't want to waste my money... How do I delete my messages?

[masalai]

C&P = Cut & Paste see how much weight the engine can lift (wont be much and you will need some string and free running pulleys suspended) and keep adding till the weight stops rising but remains steady and will go up or down with a little extra push on your engine.... Think it out.... and why that and not loading your boat ?

[confused]

I posted earlier, MY ENGINE WILL NOT HAVE MOVING PARTS. it consists of a length of 1 in. pipe running through a firebox (2 coffe cans). the pipe in the firebox will be curled. the engine works this way: "Pop-pop boats are powered by a simple boiler consisting of a thin coiled tube of copper. The tube's ends extend out the back of the boat into the water. The coils in the middle of the tube extend over a small flame, which heats the water in the coils. When the water boils, the steam jets out the back, propelling the boat forward. It's that simple." And I have NOT built my boat yet, I am waiting until I move to texas, which will be about a year from now, or a month from now. pretty simple engine huh? here is more stuff on this engine: "A small flame boils water in a very narrow tube so that it expands into steam. The expansion of the steam pushes the water out the tube at the back of the boat, and the boat moves forward in response to the jet of steam. After expansion, the steam cools enough to create a partial vacuum which refills the tube with water, and the cycle begins again."

[confused]

do you understand how the motor works now?

[confused]

yesss! I found a good way to hold planks in position after bending until they are dry!!!! hahaha! I can build me boat now!!!! HEre is how to hold planks in position after bending until dry: it consists of 2 planks nailed together at the end, while there is a board in the middle holding them apart, and at the other end of the planks are cleats to keep the rope from sliding off, and a rope going across the planks, and a board going between the rope, so when you twist it the board between the rope, it will pull the two planks together to the degree of bend you want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[confused]

I would post a pic if I knew how... and my only problem now is learning lofting.

[Knut Sand]

Originally Posted by confused

I would post a pic if I knew how... and my only problem now is learning lofting.

Doesnt need advanced lofting for a simple boat type, It doesnt need to be more difficult than this (enlarge):
http://www.galepp.com/boat/popboat.htm#anchor10


And this is the type of engine?:
http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/boat/index.htm

Simple engine, I like that its simple, Im a bit worried about the efficiency, if its to be useful, it got to make a lot of water into steam, which can make the boat into a hot environment. also to "reload" it need to drag the water in reverse back in the pipes.... Maybe suction pipes pointing forward in a combination with one-way valves.... But then you have moving parts... also to think of any moving parts will be screwed by remaining salt deposits in the water, so it'll be a fresh water boat. (Salt residues will also clog pipes).
Come to think of it, most types of water leaves some unwanted residue.... Only way to avoid that is to reuse the same water, and on an engine of this kind it seem a bit difficult to do.

Well its possible to try it (it'll take some time to clog the pipes anyway).

Whats wrong with getting your hands on a small (defective (for repair)?) outboard...?

When I was around 12, we collected some (most) of our savings, bought 2 used / scrapped engines, tried to make a helicopter..... Very nice story to think back on, nobody did think that we'd even get those engine started.... Nearly made us both a bit shorter in the upper area, difficult to get close to such a thing to turn it off, when you have a "large" unbalanced wooden propeller on top.....

A boat seem a much safer idea... (and especially a type with no boiler to blow up).

Careful with hot pipes and steam (steam burns are... well not too pleasant).
(In a small boat pipes will be very easy to stumble upon/ touch= cold water on the burned part of water for at least 15-20 minutes, if its larger than the palm of a hand: medical care immedeately, well; medical care can be considered in any case...).

Originally Posted by confused

I would post a pic if I knew how... and my only problem now is learning lofting.

Go to the bottom "quick reply"
"go advanced"
go to bottom
"manage attachments"
upload
"submit"

Regards
Richard

[confused]

cool! haha! nice anti aircraft gun! (40mm quad) the flag is the flag of that ship.

[confused]

I can build me boat anytime I want now then...

Originally Posted by confused

cool! haha! nice anti aircraft gun! (40mm quad)

Hey, thats your boat KID ?

[confused]

right! a battle ship!! haha! (no it's not my boat, its just a picture of anti aircraft guns) my boat is going to be built of wood, 14 feet long, 4 ft wide! but the flag with the skull with black eyes and red teeth is mine...

Originally Posted by confused

right! a battle ship!! haha! (no it's not my boat, its just a picture of anti aircraft guns) my boat is going to be built of wood, 14 feet long, 4 ft wide! but the flag with the skull with black eyes and red teeth is mine...

So now you know ho to spoil the thread......
And the pictures you would upload are.......???