Yellowfin Vairable Pitch Surface Drive

failed miserably? is'nt every one else?

 

Dead thread Frosty, available for "piracy"? & drivel?

 

I was development manager for Yellowfin for 9 years, and left the company just before xmass 2008. I was involved with all sides of the design, and did all the test driving and demonstrations.
All the prototypes we developed worked really well, especially the version with a splitter gearbox (single engine twin propellers).
We recorded really high efficiencies.
Maneuverability was superb.
Even though I would really like to, I can not comment on the production/commercial side of Yellowfin.

 

So they are definatley not commercially available?

Sounds like it was a good thing, businesses only fail for a few reasons - poor planing or poor finanical management.

Time.

 

That's interesting PetterM we must have at least passed each other on their stairway on one of my many visits to their offices. I agree with you entirely, there was (is) nothing wrong with the design or engineering or most of the performance claims, the fault lies entirely at the doorstep of the founding Directors who defrauded investors, partners, buyers and governments.

I understand your position on commenting further but I have a feeling that in the end you may have to give evidence in court, when all shall be revealed.

 

the concept appears to be the most advanced, affordable system of propulsion that exists, i hope it doesnt get buried in the courts, & that it becomes available to all

 

speaking of which can anyone enlighten us as to what happened to the wankel rotary engine, which daf bought, trussed up & tossed into a cupboard

 

Mazda's still building them, in relatively small numbers, but they have their dedicated (rabid?) adherents: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Wankel_engine
And there are at least a few shops converting the Mazda engine for marine use: http://www.atkinsrotarymarine.com/

Curious to see what happens to the Yellowfin technology now that the company appears to be toast.... will the engineering die with the business, never to be seen again? Or is there a chance someone else will buy up what's left of the company?

 

Just to add a postscript.
I recently valued what remained of the boats for the broker's men. Always a sad occasion no matter what the history.
To an extent this looked like a solution in search of a problem?

 

Yellowfin goes into administration

(By IBI Magazine/Motor Boats Monthly)

The UK's Yellowfin Ltd, the company behind the Yellowfin propulsion system introduced at the Southampton Boat Show in 2007, has gone into administration.

The company made headlines when its revolutionary variable surface drive (VSD) was first unveiled, but commercial success proved elusive.

Writing as recently as May, the firm's MD, Anne Duncan, said: "Far from fading from view, we have our manufacturing partner lined up and are ready to go.

"The delay in launching Yellowfin is purely down to financial issues, with our decision not to float the company as the markets started to deteriorate."

The company was founded in 2001, and ploughed £13m into the development of the drive system for boats between 6m-46m (20ft-150ft).

Edward Symmons, the company responsible for the sale of the Yellowfin, expects a lot of interest in the technology, saying the drive has a market potential of up to £2.6bn.

"Following the administration of Yellowfin, this niche business is being sold along with the assets of the company. Of most interest to an investor is the patented technology of the business, for which intellectual property rights have been secured," the company said.

"With such a substantial opportunity to complete the final phases of production and bring the technology to market, with or without the existing manufacturing partner company, we anticipate receiving a lot of interest in this sale."

Interested parties should contact Steve Mason at Edward Symmons LLP on 44 (0)20 7344 4500.

(18 September 2009)

 

Yellow Fin = Voith Vector Prop??

Hi,

Is it possible that Voith have taken up were Yellow fin failed by creating an automatic pitching surface drive? Looks like a very similar hub.
Could this make surface piercing drives applicable to a broader range of vessels yielding greater efficiencies?
Check it out on: http://www.voithturbo.com/vt_en_pua_marine_vct_vector-prop.htm and lets see if anyone has any experience with it and it's availability.

 

The vector prop looks very similar but has nothing to do with the Yellowfin VSD.
Vector prop looks like it's designed for relatively low speed.