Kites/Kite Foiler

[Doug Lord]

Check out this video-watch the whole thing: http://project.kiteboat.com/video

[CaptBill]

Really cool.

What about the spring-loaded pontoon suspension system. Wild.

[keysdisease]

Absolutely awesome. Way cool

[Spiv]

Originally Posted by CaptBill

Really cool.

What about the spring-loaded pontoon suspension system. Wild.

At first I thought it was a foil control system, but perhaps it is just a simple anti-pichpole mechanism.

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by Spiv

At first I thought it was a foil control system, but perhaps it is just a simple anti-pichpole mechanism.

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I think your first thought was right: the boat with the yellow "feelers" sticking
out forward is basically a Hobie Trifoiler platform where the feelers move the
whole "ama" which the foil is fixed to.
The other boat with the bow mounted trailing paddles seem weird to me at first because I couldn't understand why they had such wide-almost massive-paddles. The Rave and Moth use trailing wands-fairly small- to move the flap on the hydrofoils. Then I looked again and I could see the whole foil moving(like the trifoiler) which explains the size of the paddles.
Pretty neat stuff!

[CaptBill]

It looks as if the paddles are driving a cam mechanism, maybe the foil, or shock absorber?
Any idea?

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by CaptBill

It looks as if the paddles are driving a cam mechanism, maybe the foil, or shock absorber?
Any idea?

======
I'm fairly certain the paddles are moving the whole foil similarly to the feelers on the trifoiler platform.
Below is a control animation done by Dr. Bradfield showing how a "wand" controls the main foil flaps on the Rave:

PS- doesn't seem to want to animate but you can manually scroll down to see how the thing works....

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pi...NmI0ZDFmOGM2ZA

[CaptBill]

You know, if you were to do the same arrangement of caming the power from the mainsail, and linking it into the foil, I would think you could really tame a foiling system. The wind constantly changing is what is hard about keeping them 'air born'. Were you to cam the right ratio of power she should be able to find a 'slot' all on her own. The placement of the foil-tiller is just right, being nearer the centerline. You could easily adapt a 'sheet-to-tiller' arrangement that might just work like a charm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUcYQCKP7CU

[Doug Lord]

Check out this interesting concept: http://www.powerkiteshop.com/peter-l...itecat-cat.htm

[Doug Lord]

Incredibly good high speed video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TWv6Wunh4vk

For those interested in foiling technology this thing is unique: it uses trailing "paddles(?)" instead of wands or forward facing "feelers" ,like on Longshot or the Hobie Trifoiler but does the same thing: moves the whole foil instead of a flap like Bradfields Osprey. Watch closely and you can see the foils moving-particularly the head of the foils. Very interesting.

[Spiv]

Unfortunately the links says that it is a private video and I cannot watch it...
Any fixes?

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by Spiv

Unfortunately the links says that it is a private video and I cannot watch it...
Any fixes?

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Thats the damnedest thing I've ever seen! I saw the video on SA and got it off of u-tube. I just checked the front page of SA and it says the same thing.
The boat in this video is the same one in the opening shots of the video in the first post of this thread-only significantly modified. Sorry about this. Check back because I'll be working on this!
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Just watched the video on the link in the first post again-there are at least three different boats using a system similar to the one I described and a modified Hobie trifoiler as well-take the time to watch it!
================
Found it again: http://project.kiteboat.com/page/?id=EXZB7N1334833CC55 Click on the arrow on the lower screen.

[Spiv]

Amazing speed in what seems relatively calm day!
Nice flat ride too.