Human Powered Boat

HP/V update

Wow.
We are actually building the boat.
Here's some pics.
PM or e-mail me if you'd like a 33 sec. video clip of the mold construction.

 

You are a MAD MAN...

Hello...

Note my new Email per my profile - I think...

Nice to see you off and making mistakes...

My advice is the advice of a friend - when ever starting a boat building project - the most important thing to include in the shop is a good solid chair with a small table beside with a coaster for your glass - a microwave to reheat the two day old black coffee - and a small notebook or chalk board or wet marker board...

I am NOT kidding - you must have these things - or you are a fake...

If I can help in any way - just ask...

Best of luck - stay in touch - herrons01@shaw.ca ...

SH.

 

Human/Electric Hybrid

Human/Electric Hybrid would be the best for getting the most out of the muscles/skeleton (the one factor we are pretty much stuck with) and running the prop in most beneficial manner.

At anything near your est. weight of 2600# the extra power generating gear and even at least one deep cycle battery would more than pay for their own weight.

If the source of power is one human body, the same body, for any length of time and you are able to put this energy into a hybrid or battery you should be able to design something such as one of those "does everything" exercise machines to keep max output while avoiding stressing any one area.

At least a few sets of 'push/pull' cables able to spin the prop using different muscles groups than either rowing or biking.

 

Hi SG. Started to write this:
"Biggest diameter and slowest RPMs possible/practical. As few blades as possible. Folding/feathering and variable pitch features all desirable, if reliability not compromised. Optimize the prop (add a kort too) for your comfortable (long-distance) RPMs. Sorry I can't quote you NACA or Reynold numbers. Just theory bits, as little I understand of it, so far <smile>"


Then went back over the thread and read stuff like:

And you said:

Where I'd say "that depends on how "slippery" the vessel is and how "aggressive" the prop is?" Dunno the proper terms. Is this right?

And you asked:

I believe the Gougeon Bro's of West epoxy fame successfully provided wood/epoxy laminated wind-generator blades that far outlasted aluminum blades which fatigued. The sense I have is that composites, well engineered, will be far more dependable that aluminum. Sorry to keep harping on the reliability/safety theme thingee <grin>

Don't even mention the G word, "galvanic", as in corrosion...

And, oh yeah, BTW... air props are always weed free <smile>

Anywhooo, must quality by saying I'm just an amateur. I bow down before the likes of Mr. Sponberg... What jehardiman said about Subhuman!

BTW, "flywheels" came up - things to smooth or store/release output?

Personally, I think LiFePO4 would be lighter/"better". Think about lying at anchor in a river current or tidal race, where the water running under the keel can spin the prop. How would you gather and store that energy for later? Easier than growing your own Wheaties while underway, eh?

Or an air prop, spinning while you ride at rest on sea-anchor?

I know your thread is subject "Human Powered Boat", but hey, breaks are an important part of work... OK? ;->

Guess all I'm trying to suggest is that your propulsion system have a "hybrid" component to its design, where it supports energy harvesting from your environment as well.

tks
loCk
human-electric hybrid
Living Better Electrically in Toronto

 

Just had a glance at "current_boat_drawing" on hpvglobalchallenger.org

SWEET! But then, I've sailed two/three hulls for a long time, so high-efficiency (uncomfortable/wet/fun) hull shapes like that are very familiar <hehehe>

LoCk

 

project update

I have just returned (last night) from a bicycle road-trip from Port Townsend to Eureka to both promote and train for our hp/v project. When some people heard that I would be pedaling down the 101 this time of year, they just shook their heads and asked, "Why?"
The answer was, of course, both to bring awareness to the project and also to help give me a sense of what pedaling to exhaustion everyday under...let's just say..."less than optimum conditions".
590 miles and 13 days later I had my answer. Sore knees, lack of sleep, lost 10 lbs...among other things.
Reality Check.
I had a very short interview with the Eureka Reporter and took a bus back home. I'm still reviewing some of the lessons learned and I'm looking forward to continuing with the construction in the coming weeks.
When the article comes out I'll put up a link.
Ciao'

 

feather prop

I think you'd want to be able to feather the prop sometimes when not in use.

 

SG
I did the design for and fabricated the prop shown in the attached. I can get prop efficiencies around 85% for these low power applications. The props are quite easy to fabricate from stainless flatbar so when the time comes I can give you a design and fabrication procedure.

You should experiment with JavaProp if you are interested in prop design and operation. I can do a little better than JavaProp but it is very easy to use.

Rick W.

 

Update

Ya Rick, I saw the sea trials for that boat on the website. Way cool. I just got the drawings from the designer of our propulsion system and haven't had much time to review them thoroughly yet. Things have just been happening so fast. Our website is about to get pumped up (I know I have been saying that for awhile...), I just received the (majority of) lead that we will be using for our bulb keel in the form of 60 fathoms of purse sein lead-line which I had to literally dig out of a blackberry bush, the mold still sits on the mold table ready to be laminated with the kevlar and glass we have, and most importantly we are working dilligently at making our nonprofit org. work for us as far as finding product donations and fiscal sponsorship.
Last week, YouTube kicked us down a new Casio 7.2 Mpix video camera, so we'll have an easier time uploading content to our site but it's all about the funding now and a great deal of responsibility for that will lie with our board of directors that we are working toward stregthening.
We were entered in the Greener Gadgets Design competition recently, we are currently up for $10,000 in start-up funds from Ideablob.com

You should check out our project there online and vote for us, they do make it a hassle as you have to register your e-mail, go to your in-box, click the link, click another link, log in...but then you can vote for us here:
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/1880-Human-Powered-Solo-Circumnaviga
We are also up for an award from the Tech Museum but will not find out about that for awhile.
What else...oh, lol, there's a Global Challenger group on MySpace now with all of about 5 people on it...the long and wet bike ride I took from the top of WA to Eureka, CA didn't pan out as much publicity as I had hoped, in fact, the write up about it in the Eureka Reporter was short, full of errors and used none of the photos they took...
Oh well, I got my exercize.

 

Man...

I'm such a bone sometimes...I totally forgot to post the model pics...
Here are a couple pics of the new model with some paint. I have a couple more models but none are painted. They are all 1:12 scale. I have no idea what to do with them other than play with them in the bath tub...

 

...and another thing.

If ANYONE want's to help out this project, simply copy and paste this link, then send it to those of your friends and contacts who might be interested. As I stated previously, it takes awhile to do all the steps to get your vote in, but it would really help us out.

http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/1880-Human-Powered-Solo-Circumnaviga

Thanks.

 

Ah Friday...

Hello...

Well - I am about to indulge again - no overtime - no weekend slots for techs...

So - send me a good profile shot of the model - even a plan shot - see what I can 'do' - I am currently very bored with my 'work'...

Or a lines drawing or 3dm...

Best of luck...

SH.

 

Kid Rock And ****...

Hello...

Just did a test fit on a 6 foot dummie - me - 'Catcher in the Rye' - hat and all...

That is a long *** 'pedal me bike' needle - I can do a 3dm - ah - but not just now...

Can you MIG and TIG aluminum - or for the Brits who really rule - or ruled - aluminium...

Cheers...

SH.

 

Damn Sean...

After all this time you never cease to amaze me...
The only problem is the boat is 23' 10" in length, I'm 5'6", and the keel in the model is deeper than the real craft.
btw...there's a good profile image in the photos section of our website...hint, hint.
One last thing...did you vote for us on Ideablob.com?

 

LUCY PINDER and KID ROCK...

Hello...

Frankly it was about time for Lucy Pinder to come out of the closet...

Ah what - OH RIGHT - the HPV thingee - getting pied - because I CAN - I DESERVE SAME - AND THE BUDGET COMPUTER SAID - 'YES'...

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVoQfoU0dQ - great fun...

Your original design of developed surfaces vs. this one - is like running first base to third by the retarded kid - no offence - just a reference to the great span of thought...

I can work up a 3dm for kicks - and piss a few people off who I owe **** too - but WTF - they bore me to tears - literal tears...

WHAT IS THAT BOW RUDDER FOR - WHAT IS THAT FORWARD RAKED KEEL - CATCH ALL THE KELP AND SUCK IT INTO THE HULL FOR - Geez...

Mind - I am home alone with my best friend - a brown glass bottle - Christ - it is like apple juice to me...

Cheers...

SH.