water caterpillar drive?

[jyoder111]

I've been trying to find information on modern examples of boats with a water caterpillar drive. Is there a better term/name to use?

I'm working on an HPB project with a focus on power instead of speed/rpms and am considering using a caterpillar/track drive instead of a paddlewheel. This will allow me to reduce the diameter of the wheel(s), I hope.

Anyone know of examples? I'm sure it's been done somewhere...

[cthippo]

Welcome aboard, jyoder!

I'm not sure about technical details, but many tracked infantry fighting vehicles use their tracks for propulsion through the water. The Italians also built some torpedo boats during WW2 which had tracked propulsion, but the intent there was to allow them to climb over torpedo nets. I'll see if I can come up with some references for the latter. I know I have info on them in a book, but it will take me a while to find it.

[Village_Idiot]

Swamp buggies have used them for years, for amphibious work, but maybe that is not what you are looking for? Apparently, they do not work well in sandy environments, and can be top-heavy.

[CDK]

In an old episode of the British TV program "Top Gear" they covered 800 yards over a lake at high speed with a snowmobile and a 4-wheel drive with special tires!

[kach22i]

I've posted things in these two threads.

T-Craft:
T-Craft

Fast-Track:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/ope...tml#post134877

I'm sure there is more, although they might not use the key word "caterpillar". Search using the key word "water track" or some other in this forum and on Google.

There are a few things scattered in the Random Picture thread as well as some of the user picture galleries here.

[Submarine Tom]

jyoder111,

Is this a Human Powered Submarine?

-Tom

[jehardiman]

Originally Posted by Submarine Tom

jyoder111,

Is this a Human Powered Submarine?

-Tom

Been done, 1991 ISR....

jyoder, look at this thread Conveyor belt propulsion brainstorm. The article by Dr Poole from the USNA is in the HPV submarine bibloigraphy at http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1296f9bx and here http://books.google.com/books?id=MFH...page&q&f=false

[Submarine Tom]

John, John, John... I wasn't asking you.

Don't go shooting off your mouth before we even know if this is what he/she is doing.

Jeeeze.

-Tom

[Boat Design Net Moderator]

I don't see the issue - I'm sure the Original Poster will appreciate any and all links/references.

[cthippo]

How about one of those screw drive designs?

[jyoder111]

No, it's not a submarine. More of a tug to pull a canoe full of people or some tubes or floats.

[claydog]

Originally Posted by CDK

In an old episode of the British TV program "Top Gear" they covered 800 yards over a lake at high speed with a snowmobile and a 4-wheel drive with special tires!

Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AApGZECbHwU

Sleds actually get better "traction" on water than snow and will stay up as long as you don't run out of gas, foul a plug, or get the drive belt wet. There was a YT video that made the rounds of snowmobile sites a few years ago were someone mounted a sled chassie in a small aluminum boat, fast as hell but not much steering when the rudders were out of the water.

[claydog]

Originally Posted by jyoder111

I've been trying to find information on modern examples of boats with a water caterpillar drive. Is there a better term/name to use?

I'm working on an HPB project with a focus on power instead of speed/rpms and am considering using a caterpillar/track drive instead of a paddlewheel. This will allow me to reduce the diameter of the wheel(s), I hope.

Anyone know of examples? I'm sure it's been done somewhere...

Not sure how a HPB would work with a track, but here's a link for snowmobile tracks. Mountain tracks are going to have the tallest lugs and have the longest OAL. A sled track will bend around a 7" dia wheel without a problem and drive sprockets are easy to come by.

http://www.tracksusa.com/index.html

[CDK]

Originally Posted by claydog

Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AApGZECbHwU

Sleds actually get better "traction" on water than snow and will stay up as long as you don't run out of gas, foul a plug, or get the drive belt wet. There was a YT video that made the rounds of snowmobile sites a few years ago were someone mounted a sled chassie in a small aluminum boat, fast as hell but not much steering when the rudders were out of the water.

A copyright notice from Sony Music Entertainment: the video is blocked in my country????
They can't know that, I use a satellite link.

[claydog]

Originally Posted by CDK

A copyright notice from Sony Music Entertainment: the video is blocked in my country????
They can't know that, I use a satellite link.

Dam the luck. Search snowmobile water crossing on YT, there are hundreds of water crossing vids, even a oval track race series .