Boat Suspension

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by intrepid71, Apr 26, 2014.

  1. intrepid71
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    intrepid71 Junior Member

    Something new in powerboat design. I have to say their prototype looks pretty cool.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nor6h3c8TYc#t=164

    I would be curious how much less the g-forces are compared to a conventional boat at the same speed and heading. Also curious how expensive the system is.
     
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  2. SamSam
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    SamSam Senior Member

    The motors seem to get a constant blast of heavy spray. I wonder how long the system would last in salt water.
     
  3. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Impressive on that limited demonstration, I thought COG might be getting on the high side though. Hardly going to be cheap. The spray around the engines could be dealt with easily enough if required, cats all have spray and mist close to the engines.
     
  4. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member

    Jarring and thumping is a big problem in high speed boats. Mind you, a mechanical device like that may be just a novel substitute for 'wave piercing' hulls.

    The big question is cost over time I guess.
     
  5. FMS
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    FMS Senior Member

    A flexible skirt or other deflector would solve the spray issue. Not a concern on the test craft.
     
  6. intrepid71
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    intrepid71 Junior Member

    They provide some acceleration comparison graphs on this page.

    http://www.nauti-craft.com/technology.html

    This company seems pretty serious about commercializing the concept. Unlike some of the radical boat designs that come and go on the web, this group seems to have real engineering and marketing skill. You would think this type of vessel would have appeal to government or commercial operators who are forced to operate small powerboats in rough conditions. If the price is reasonable you could even see it having appeal for recreational boats. People shell out extra bucks for hummers and range rovers, this seems like the boating equivalent.
     
  7. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    The acceleration graphs seems to be out of scale to me, fast planing boats experience greater "g" forces than that.
     
  8. SukiSolo
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    SukiSolo Senior Member

    Interesting beast, Citroën suspension applied to a fast cat. The key is the hydraulic pump feed - from the engine(s) to supply the main reservoir. So some HP from the engine must do that. Works well on the cars from DS onwards to current C6 although it has become more complex over time. Still one of the best riding cars in the real world for comfort over long distances.

    A lot of the ride quality can be controlled by valve orifice sizing, plus these days further electronic fine tuning can be used. If it is kept simple enough it might be tough enough and robust enough for marine use. A lot smoother than the ride on a hard plank on a Dory with 35 horses pushing at max...;)
     
  9. keysdisease
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    keysdisease Senior Member

  10. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Would have to cost an arm and a leg.
     
  11. daiquiri
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    daiquiri Engineering and Design

    I think there will be a very limited market for this technology. Cost, complexity and maintenance requirements will be very high, compared to traditional vessels. The CoG also appears to be in a rather high position, making the vessel potentially dangerous outside of a limited range of sea states. I don't see advantages in using it on leisure and passenger ships, where useful enclosed volume is everything, and see very few possible niches in the professional marine field.
    Military folks will probably be the most interested ones. They are in search of stable gun platforms for UAV gunships and for high-speed transportation of special troops. For the rest, I frankly can't see where to place that thing.
     
  12. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    US Navy Seals have 'seats' on their fast boats that are really more of a 'back brace' on a pole is supposed to let them handle hours of extreme chop at speed.


    Convair F2Y Sea Dart had skis on struts. Seems like it would increase 'the envelope' for sea-states for any seaplane, rather than rigid hull or floats.

    But I'd think hydrofoils would be better. Some small French plane has 'whiskers' for landing on water.


    How about a design that creates some aerodynamic lift at speed but still stays firmly in the water?
     
  13. tom kane
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    tom kane Senior Member

    Flying in ground effect is the only solution to smoothing out the bumps,just high enough and no more but do not use wings.
     

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  14. messabout
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    messabout Senior Member

    Easy substitute for complex suspension mechanisms..... Abandon the irrational notion that you are obligated to go fast.
     

  15. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Care to elaborate on that ? :confused:
     
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