Ancient Kayaker, just a thought on your friction concerns: Friction is calculated as the product of normal (perpendicular) force and friction...
If you have experience with LEDs and still don't like them then thats certainly your privilege :) My experience has been different to your own...
Thanks Rick, that has cleared up my concern. I saw how the speed differential gave power to windward, but had a brain fart when it came to...
Fanie, Take sales spiels with a grain of salt. For comparison, wikipedia has an article on relative efficiencies:...
First Law of Thermodynamics Tom, your aero/hydrodynamics is normally so good that I had to do a triple think before coming in with this, but...
Hi Fanie, I've never used a 12V compact fluoro, but I haven't heard of any problems, and the 12V non-compact seem fine. That being said, I...
Thanks Mike:)
Lazeyjack, because I'm using fairly thin plate (5mm) and thinking of home building I'm planning to go with stringers over frames. Thanks very...
RHP, I do have a fondness for wood, but I'm not a fanatic. Ally is winning for me for these reasons: 1. Faster construction. The only way wood...
Fair comment on the NW passage Teddy. With the way things are going I may duck through the northern sea route as well :) Perhaps I should have...
At the moment plans are to start at the bottom end, around the Chilean channels. I'm not aiming for a NW passage, but Norway, Greenland and...
Thanks for the interesting note on the fram NordicFolk. A number of early wooden vessels seem to have been successfully strengthened for ice...
Hi Joel, Certainly electric propulsion is feasible on a motor cruiser. Diesel electric systems have been in use for almost a hundred years,...
Thanks for the input guys. I see your point samsam, I think I've settled on metal hulls as the safe option. Seaworthiness is something I'm...
Thanks for the input so far. I quite like the idea of thin plating over wood... I'll have to think on that idea. I'm in Hobart Mike. The...
Hi folks, I want to build a catamaran suitable for Arctic and Antarctic cruising. The tested choice for icy waters is steel, but this is...