Modern paddlewheels

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Guest, Dec 23, 2003.

  1. Jeremy Harris
    Joined: Jun 2009
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    Location: Salisbury, UK

    Jeremy Harris Senior Member

    The track drive certainly has some advantages, as you can get a lot of effective paddle area into a relatively small footprint. It also gives a potential efficiency advantage, as most of the paddle area is generating thrust in the right direction.

    I think the main disadvantages are in the engineering required - making such a system reliable and seaworthy would be a challenge - and in the potential lack of manoeuvrability. Side wheel paddle boats are very manoeuvrable, as you can run the paddles in opposite directions to almost turn within the boats own length. Stern wheelers are not as easy to steer, and had to use several shallow rudders to get effective control, and even then they weren't fantastic at turning in tight spots.

    I suspect that a single central track system might be rather like a stern wheeler, and be challenging to steer, although you might be able to fit shallow rudders either side of the central tunnel that might be reasonably effective. Might be worth building a model to see how the system works, I've a feeling it could work well if properly engineered.
     
  2. Tiny Turnip
    Joined: Mar 2008
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    Tiny Turnip Senior Member

    This may be the thread you're referring to, Jeremy.

    http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/pedal-boat-design-11932.html

    Rick and Geno get into the meat of the design they pursue round about post #350, but there's a lot of material leading in.

    this image from post #362:

    [​IMG]
     

  3. Jeremy Harris
    Joined: Jun 2009
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    Location: Salisbury, UK

    Jeremy Harris Senior Member

    Thanks! That's the thread I was thinking of. Hopefully some of the stuff Rick posted there may help michaeljc
     
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