Developping countries fast commuting boat project

Thanks again for your contributions

Sottorf''s solution consisting of a long slender low wash catamaran possibly fitted with hysucat foils looks interesting . However how to cope with the water hyacinths that could get stuck against the transversal foil? Or how can we avoid any harmful accumulation ?

I also read that in order to respect the fuel efficiency criteria light weight is obviously mandatory. Well, steel construction will probably too heavy. Aluminium could be then the right candidate. Composites might require important tooling. I was thinking about a sandwich construction using a plywood core. But the size of the boat might not allow it and in fine the boat might be heavy. What do you think?

Another suggestion arised here: basically assembling a strong and light catamaran base basically like a hobbycat structure where the hulls are joined by 2 beams, on top of which the cabin could be fitted. The interest of the solution would to have a versatile platform that could be use for other purposes and theconcept could be declined in various sizes. A bit like the chassis of a car. Stupid or mighty?

 

This is totally wrong. Russia has an amazing natural river network and it makes perfect sense to utilize it as a transport system. Did you know that you can sail a 100+m steel cargo ship up the river in St. Petersburg (Baltic sea) and come out in the Caspian Sea (lran) or Black Sea (Turkey) using 99% natural waterways? During Soviet times the major rivers were dredged and you could travel 1000s of km via river. In winter time they used hovercraft to travel on the same frozen rivers. Keeping roads maintnained in Russia's harsh winters is not easy task. It makes much more sense to use river transport where possible.

 

http://www.corinthiancatamarans.com/45ft_product.htm

 

@all
no new comments/answers about my last questions ?


@philSweet
Thanks philSweet that could be something like this.
However, we need to manufacture it here. That is a requirement.

 

The problem is NOT building it , the problem is at speed you will be burning big engines and may be only going 1/4 mile on each gal of fuel burned.

Speed is expensive!!

Get down to 8-10K and the fuel bill may be 1/20 of 35K .

 

@ Fastfred
Ok so what is the consumption we can expect of such a long slender low wash catamaran with hysucat foil ?

The Voskhod of our benchmark are big consumers, we will do a comparison. Let's assume a cruising speed of 30knots to make it simple and a ship fitted for 50 passengers.

 

Smaller SES like the Vosper HM218s that used to once be so plentifull in Hong Kong...are about the size you refer to and have very low draft and relatively low wash as well.

Compared to most other similarly-sized vessels of similar speed, the SES are usually more efficient to operate as well...although that cost saving in fuel will be offset somewhat by the maintenance and repair costs of the flexible skirt system.

http://www.seateamimages.com/big102299.html

 

Hovercraft.


I fooled around with them as a kid-IIRC- 1 hp (with a proper prop)will lift 5 pounds per square foot.
Figure out your size and weight,and go roughly on this to see if it'll maybe work.

let us know.

There's another poster who knows all about hovercraft.