New propulsion sytems for ships

[Pericles]

Kach22i,

The Hobie Mirage has an unusual flipper propulsion system. http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_mirage.html

It is listed within a site for HPVs. http://webpages.charter.net/rcgilmor...htm#WaterSites

They even have devices to enable boarding a vessel without getting wet feet.

http://www.powerskip.de/mainpage.html

Pericles

[Guillermo]

Originally Posted by Pericles

They even have devices to enable boarding a vessel without getting wet feet.

I thought those were to inspect the top of the mast without all the halyards fussing....!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Pericles

Kach22i,

The Hobie Mirage has an unusual flipper propulsion system. http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_mirage.html

It is listed within a site for HPVs. http://webpages.charter.net/rcgilmor...htm#WaterSites

They even have devices to enable boarding a vessel without getting wet feet.

http://www.powerskip.de/mainpage.html

Pericles

Cool sites.

[charmc]

It occurred to me that Maltese Falcon, the megayacht with the unstayed, rotating mast, self-furling square rig, might be a precursor of commercial sail powered vessels. She has demonstrated the ability to exceed 20 knots under sail, can be handled by a small crew, and has handled rough seas. At just under 300' long, she is the size of earlier square-rigged freight haulers. I doubt that we'd ever see huge bulk carriers powered by sail, but there are many, many 300'-500' commercial ships "sailing" the world's seas today, most at average speeds well under 20 knots. I'd like to get past the "wind isn't always reliable, doldrums, hull shape and mast footings mean she won't carry as much cargo as a diesel powered vessel" type of knee jerk reactions, and consider the possibility. What are the arguments for and against?

[Guillermo]

Masts based rigs are bulky, expensive and induce excessive heeling moments for a freighter. Those have been tried in the eighties with not much success, although there have been some informations lately about a new european initiative. For the time being the wind-based system I find more promising for commercial vessels' use is the one based in kites. See SkySails and Kiteship

Cheers.

[kach22i]

SAIC - Development and Demonstration of Articulated Motion Control Fins for a Prototype Underwater Vehicle
http://www.ceros.org/partnersandproj...phabetical.htm

[kach22i]

FastTrack, Killer amphibious vehicle - 39 mph on water and 55 mph on land
http://www.gizmag.com/go/6906/

The FastTrack company is not your normal company. Located in Hurst, Texas (between Dallas and Fort Worth), FastTrack was founded by Ken and Rod Wernicke, both retired engineers from Bell Helicopter. Ken led the design and development of the XV-15 and V-22 Osprey tilt-rotors and Rod, his identical twin brother, was also instrumental in the development of tilt-rotor technology. Keith, Kent and Tim, their engineer/inventor sons, are also in the company. Research and development began after the Wernickes answered a Navy request for information on concepts for a scout vehicle that could travel on water at high speed and proceed with all terrain capability for reconnaissance on land. The Wernickes conducted research for ten years before fabricating the first Fast Track vehicle, a full-scale demonstrator model, FastTrack 1.

Gallery link:
http://www.gizmag.com/go/6906/picture/31735/

The patent-pending technology that enables the tracks to work as the sole means of high-speed propulsion on water is unique. It enables a vehicle to “get out of the hole, over the hump and on to the plane from dead in the water. Videos of what this means in the real world can be found here.

Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaGLNcIkSm0

[Guillermo]

Kachi,
Very interesting, thanks. The idea had been proposed a long time ago, but it's the first time I see it in action. When I was young my father had told me about this concept.
Cheers.

[lazeyjack]

dont wish to wade though 200 posts BUT the marine diesel, is the most efficient use of fossil fuel known, for ships with big shp up to 100000kw, it is over 50% mech efficientcy, much higher than cars and trucks The modern 2 cycle crosshead diesel
Pity the silly politicians can not see the only way Nuke fuel , clean and SAFE and almost no waste, Now lets hear the screeching

[kach22i]

Build your own.

DIY Magnetohydrodynamic Drive.
http://www.neatorama.com/2006/09/21/...dynamic-drive/



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive

The first working prototype, the Yamato 1, was completed in Japan in 1991, by the Ship & Ocean Foundation (later known as the Ocean Policy Research Foundation). The ship was first successfully propelled in Kobe harbor in June 1992. Yamato 1 is propelled by two MHD thrusters that run without any moving parts.

In the 1990s, Mitsubishi built several prototypes of ships propelled by an MHD system. These ships were only able to reach speeds of 15 km/h, despite higher projections.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_1

[kach22i]

http://www.shelleys.demon.co.uk/fjun06fe.htm

[Guillermo]

Interesting, Kachi, thanks.

[charmc]

Major environmental benefits as the requirement for a tug is eliminated entirely

http://break.com/index/row_row_your_boat.html

[Pericles]

An Aquada might be fun to own.
A bit quicker than the Fastrack all round, would seem to be the Humdinga, but they are not going to be reasonably priced for us. http://www.gibbstech.co.uk/



Pericles

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Guillermo

Masts based rigs are bulky, expensive and induce excessive heeling moments for a freighter.

So you mean this sort of thing might be a problem for cargo carrying?