Row boat design review

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by DATC, Feb 9, 2013.

  1. Waterwitch
    Joined: Oct 2012
    Posts: 147
    Likes: 37, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 20
    Location: North East USA

    Waterwitch Senior Member

    I admire you are willing to do the R&D and many prototypes to
    perfect a form. I had thought about building an Angus rowboat. Looking at the two successful boat designs linked, they are both fairly flat bottomed. It has been shown that more stable theoretically slower boats can be faster since energy can be devoted to propelling the boat rather than balancing. I am glad you are thinking about capsize recovery. The first time is not so bad , but by the 3rd or 4th time you have burned up a considerable amount of energy especially since you are out in conditions that made you capsize in the first place. Tippy boats tend to be more difficult to climb back into also. My local waters are cold also so in the spring time if you dress for the water temp you tend to over heat paddling or rowing, if you dress for the air temp and then fall in you do not have much time. These are some of the things I think about for my uses anyway. Your hydrofoil rudder sounds like it could cause a bit of drag as well as catch seaweed so I wonder if fuller sections would work out better in the long run rather than another appendage.
     
  2. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

    I've been in the 4th capsized position where your too exhausted to get in the boat in 45 deg water 40 knt winds. I use a rope ladder now that has pvc pipe for steps, and the rope retracts into the pvc with some sort of spring, A white water rafting guy designed it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2013
  3. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

    aaaaaaaaa
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2013
  4. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    I dont understand why you want an enclosed boat ?

    What is the function
     
  5. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

    I think mostly to camp in, get out of the weather if needed,
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2013
  6. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Easier to use a tight fit soft cover. Also less windage, less weight and more versatile
     
  7. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2013
  8. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

    that might be the best idea,
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2013
  9. messabout
    Joined: Jan 2006
    Posts: 3,367
    Likes: 510, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 1279
    Location: Lakeland Fl USA

    messabout Senior Member

    The windage and added aero drag will be problematic with any sort of cabin. If you are to row distances, like 40 miles, that will become a serious consideration. You can make the boat self righting, or very near so, without the cabin structure. and without much if any ballast.

    Any thing you can do, within reason, to reduce the aero drag on a HPV is worth some studied attention. SInce you are an experienced oarsman, you are already aware of the extra, sometimes exceptional, grunt work that is neccesary when bucking a headwind.

    I have paddled my kayak to windward on some occassions when I was lucky to stay in one place over the ground, never mind distance made good.
     
  10. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    My favorite row boat had a soft forward cover for winter work. The cover used luff tape on sunbrella fabric and an aluminum extrusion screwed into the inside of the sheer clamp. To skin the bow you installed the port piece, then the stb piece into the extrusion, then connected the two halfs with a zipper . The zipper was water proofed by a velcro flap. When building new I would furthur refine with a few sail battens and pockets in the cover to add camber .
     
  11. keith66
    Joined: Sep 2007
    Posts: 346
    Likes: 31, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 168
    Location: Essex UK

    keith66 Senior Member

    Coffin?
     
  12. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Another detail I dont much care for is a sliding seat. Sliders are great for speed machines and flatwater work, but become a bulky liability on a multipurpose rig.

    I prefer a two station, fixed seat rig. Aft station for general rowing and a forward station when you need to trim bow down for working to windward .

    Sliding seats take up too much space and are not versatile . Very clumsy in a beam sea.
     
  13. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

    I built a volksplane in 78 and it really looked like a coffin, but I flew it til last summer,
     
  14. DATC
    Joined: Feb 2013
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: new mexico

    DATC Junior Member

    I've just gotten use to the sliding seat,
     

  15. KJL38
    Joined: Jun 2008
    Posts: 107
    Likes: 16, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 75
    Location: Tasmania

    KJL38 Senior Member

    Here is a blog about an expedition using a Wayland Marine Merry Wherry with a cabin similar to what you have in mind http://olypen.com/cduff/Frames.html He doesn't seem to have had problems with the additional windage. Details about the boat can be found under Boat Construction in the menu on the left.

    I think for your purpose installing side tanks with enough volume to allow the boat to be righted with very little water on board would be an advantage. A video clip on http://angusrowboats.com/expedition.html demonstrates this.

    EDIT sorry wrong link, should be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKEEzKYxfpE
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.