propulsion project

[Tiny Turnip]

Faseoane - if you are thinking about making the plate which the jet hits something other than flat and perpendicular to the direction of travel (keel?) then I would think carefully about the possibility of imparting force to the vessel which might send it off in another direction. Unless you are allowed (or not prohibited from) a steering mechanism.

[faseoane]

the thing is it cant be a catamaran, it has to have only one casque....i think its a great idea that the jet fills up the boat with water...the thing is, how does the water get there? because the jet has to hit the stern...it could maybe have a hole in there so that some water can get in....

[hoytedow]

Perhaps this will help.

[rwatson]

Thats what I was thinking of. The high head would be a good idea, but it appears the incoming jet of water wont be high enough above the boat to fill it.

You might need a big, but flat, "reservoir" in the boat hull.

The outlet might need to be much bigger than if you had high pressure to drive a smaller outlet.

[hoytedow]

The smaller the outlet the less force overall, but the greater the exit velocity, and the longer the force will be applied. The bigger the nozzle, the more energy is released but the velocity will be less and the shorter the time of thrust. Smaller is better. We are not going after speed, but endurance. This should provide enough forward momentum to carry the boat the required distance. Experiment with different sized exit nozzles. Also make the hulls as narrow as practical to reduce friction. Hopefully the test will be done indoors so as not to be influenced by wind or current.

[hoytedow]

Also, SMALL tail fins would help keep the boat on a straight course.

[hoytedow]

Maybe this will help.

[hoytedow]

Now it is one hull.

[hoytedow]

faseoane,

You never told if your propulsion classwork went well. Did you take pictures?