Pedal Powered Boats

Have you considered the Mirage Oasis which is built for 2:

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_oasis.html

Dealers in my area periodically have a free trial week, where you can get a feel for speed, comfort and utility. Don't think they will let you try overnight, but there may be some places near big water resort cities that rent the oasis.

Somewhere on this list in the writings of Rick Willoughby, there is mention of quite an efficiency penalty (30%+?) when going to a cat compared to a mono. Staying around 4mph all day may be a challenge for the average human output of about 100 watts, but having 2 people will help.

Just some ideas, hope it helps.

Porta

 

I do like the Oasis. But $2500 is quite a bite. I would have a hard time slipping that pass my accountant wife. I was looking at a nice used Seacycle for $1100 and in trying to not smash my hopes too much she quietly and demurely reminded me of our financial goals and where we are, or better yet are not, and suggested that if I really thought it a neccessity I could buy it. Darn, I should have married a wife who can't do math.

 

Catamaran

Choosethisday
You could try the sidewinder setup as a quick cheap way of getting on the water. All you need is a second hand bike or used bike parts.
The prop can be made from a piece of flat steel bar and a piece of steel rod for the shaft. This is a good tactic with your wife as you can say that the original way was going to cost X amount of dollars. But this way it will only cost Y dollars and I have saved us Z dollars. You look good because you have made Z dollars and she will be enthusiastic about the project ( although in effect you haven't made any money just spent a bit less).
Once you get the boat going and take her out in it she may want to improve the boat with a better drive, this way it comes from her.

Ian

 

Actually, she might want to think of a way to charge for others to ride it. Or maybe figure a way to use it for a tax deduction. But seriously, I will think about the sidewinder idea, but then it might still involve some more hassle in transporting.

 

Catamaran

Choosethisday
Yes, I know what you mean. You think you have won and next the tables are turned!
Transport for me and I suppose most people is the biggest headache. With my proa the whole boat has to be assembled and taken apart every time just to get it on the water. Weight and size is the limiting factor every time I build a boat, if I lived next to the water with my own private beach (no chance) my boats would be different. Keep at it you'll get it on the water.

Ian

 

Is there any way to put in overtime at your own job of take a temporary job, so you can put aside money for your own uses? Maybe play the investment market with some redeployed assets of your personal allowance?

You indicated lack of time, so that has to be precious, even if used in a labor of love to build a boat. Building something custom usually goes over budgeted hours and $, unless you've done that exact unit before and are building a second copy, where you know all the low cost sources and shortcuts of time and that everything will work.

You can also scan such places as Craigs list, or look around areas of waterfront for abandoned units as there is not a shortage of people that quickly lose interest in this type of hobby. This type of thing depresses prices for existing units, so that in general boats are about the worst type of investment there is, other than the personal pleasure they may give you.

Portability if you don't live on waterfront is probably one of the biggest drawbacks for boats. It quickly gets complicated with trailers, licenses, constant upkeep, storage, repairs, etc. So you see why people lose interest and go for the simplest like a paddled kayak, which they wind up taking out 5 holidays a year, when the water is so crowded that the experience is degraded.

I've gotten around most of this by going small as possible, and using waters like large creeks where other craft can't go. Weather is not a factor except for serious rains. Transport is in the back of an old Ford pickup for my largest units and in the back of a Prius for my small ones, all fully set up and ready to slide out and go by one person. To do this I had to customize existing inflatables and abandon using a pedal unit. Something along the lines of the prophish was more or less the result:

http://www.prophish.com/quickfin.html

Just some more random thoughts, hope it helps.

Porta

 

Great thread.

I'm green here, but having trouble finding any discussion on bicycle powered boats. As in, something that you can use a regular unmodified/minimally modified bicycle as a power source. Obviously the efficiency won't be maximized, but the versatility and mass appeal may make up for that.

I've found a couple similar designs, both which use inflatable pontoons and can cleverly pack all the components in a backpack. Would be pretty nice to ride down to the lake or beach and tool about, and may even be used for river commutes.

http://www.shuttlebike.com/
http://www.akwakat.com/products.html

Both look nice enough but neither seem to be too available. I'd prefer something like the first design where the tires stay on, though I suppose you could strap them to the second design which is likely more stable.

Is there anyone working on something like this as a project?

 

Coregis
I found the web site for Akwakat very interesting but does anyone know how they take the drive from the bike chain wheel.

Dennis

 

There appears to be a smaller bike chain supplied which connects to the sprocket input of the 90 degree gear box seen at the head of the prop shaft.

Variations of these designs have been around a long time, there was one similar to the shuttlebike which I studied at hydrofest 2000. They never seem to survive long, but slight variations are periodically revived and surface under different names. I think someone in England? used something like this to do a canal system. Designs based on an upright that I have seen have been subpar as a boat system, but there may be specialized niche uses where they are just the ticket. Try one out like I did, and see if it will meet your needs, then go for it...

Porta

 

According to their site:

Forward and reverse momentum through the use of an ingenius gearbox assembly

Here are some of my favorites:

 

Hey everyone, I came across a really great source of foils to use for my purpose. A friend of mine is into sailboarding and in this sport the boards have a fin. Because sailboarding has such intense interest and the people who do it are very competive there has been a lot of development of all aspects including the fins used. They are interchangeable and most boarders end up with quite a few of them. But because of the rapid advances in the sport the fins become obsolete quickly and so the older ones, even though often in great condition, can be picked up quite inexpensively. I rigged up one to try on the back of one of my canoes, simialar to the Pacific Tailboats, and it worked better than I expected. So anyway, I think I will begin developing a pedal drive using one or two of these fins.

 

Akwakat

Correct - a secondary chain is supplied with the kit and connects the 54 tooth chain ring to the gearbox assembly. Tension is adjusted by sliding the mount bracket backward or forward on the rear stays.

Hi - I'm Greg, one of the Akwakat company owners and designers.

We are now on target for deliveries to begin in 6 weeks and have orders in place from 22 different countries.

A lot of the new design can't yet be seen on the website but will be unveiled at final product release.

Akwakat will be around for a long time and already has been well accepted for Eco Tourism operations and personal ownership.

Happy to answer any questions.


Regards from New Zealand.


Greg

 

Akwakat

Are the gearbox, shaft and prop sold as seperate units? If so you could rig up your own boat. What if you mounted it on a couple of slim 6 metre long hulls with a prop sized to fit? That would be something to see going at full power!

Ian

 

Mississippi River - PEDAL POWER

Hey guys!

First of all, I want to thank you all for your wonderful advice when it came to creating my pedal powered boat - the inspiration was enormous.

So, in about 5 weeks I leave for a trip down the Mississippi River on my pedal powered boat!!!!

I have a website where I am documenting the whole experience - And I am filming the journey and plan on making a documentary film from it.

www.ONARIVER.com
www.ONARIVER.com
www.ONARIVER.com

Again, thank you all for the support- I look forward to telling y'all about the experience!

 

I look forward to reading about it, Colin! Best of luck!