Hickman Sea Sled Information

It looks like there was no follow up article. Damn shame. Up to us to do it.

 

Yep. He was pretty renowned NA in 1958 so I doubt he would be just making things up from whole cloth. I wonder if the one he mentions was a box or if it had chines and curves by then? No way to know.

 

From John Howell's Genealogue: Allison CHURCH Bird wrote to say William Albert Hickman (nephew of our Alma Hickman) invented the Hickman Sea Sled -- Scientific American Sept. 26, 1914 says: "A new type of vessel, which promises to revolutionize water craft and which takes the same place on the water that the automobile does on land."

The Automobile of the Sea https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-automobile-of-the-sea/#

EagleSpeak: Sunday Ship History: Hickman's Sea Sleds https://www.eaglespeak.us/2008/09/sunday-ship-history-hickmans-sea-sleds.html

 

Scientific American September 26, 1914

 

More testimonials, courtesy of @BlueBell 's sleuthing.

https://community.boatbuildercentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65247

 

Actually, this is the right one.

https://community.boatbuildercentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27847

 

Of course you're right.

 

Just trying to help.

I never participated in the discussion on the HS18, but it was interesting. The one you linked was when I was first learning about the sleds. How does Serenity do in a 2 foot choppy head sea? Do you have to back off or is it normally running at 10 knots anyhow?

 

Excellent questions. At the price of gas I don't generally go fast often. In fact, only in bad weather to test her.

I haven't seen anything yet I even wanted to slow down for, let alone been forced to slow down for. I have been the fastest boat on the arm when it was rough everyone else was forced to go slow. And once I went out when no one else wanted to leave their dock.

 

I saw 6' chop out there inside once, so I know it can get rough; even inside.

 

Haven't seen that yet, but I know it's coming. I've been told by Marcus Lee that his sleds were able to handle any wave that fit inside the tunnel without slowing down. For me that's 3-4'.

 

That falls (hehe) within practical limits for most humans. Above that and people get sick ez.

 

Read the stuff from Robin Bease at the beginning of this thread.

 

Not sure we have this footage:

 

That's a damn fine piece of history.