Human Powered Boat

Heh heh, no problem...
But seriously, of course I'll have all the necessary safety equipment,

 

HPV update

The designer and I had another meeting today, we made some changes to the skeg/rudder to accomodate a pipe shaftlog and he's scaling it up just a bit to give us the necessary volume for necessities. That should be done sometime this week. I'm excited about that because with that shape alone we can print the hull developments on label stock (adhesive paper), transfer that to posterboard, cut with an exacto knife and a little hot glue later and we have a scale model to assist in prop and powerplant design/placement. Obviously this will also help in locating interior, deck and house structure as well.
I still haven't nailed down the prop or the "power transmission" sides of the equation either. I am considering a few options most of which have been discussed earlier in this thread.

I could use some feedback regarding the two main contenders: a) pedal power via 2 pedal/crank/chain/sprockets (one for my arms, one for my legs) connected to a bevel gear turning the shaft, and b) well, this one is hard to explain...a counterweighted (maybe even a garage spring) lever driving a flywheel geared to the shaft. I figure with this set-up I could use my arms and/or my legs depending on which muscles hurt least that day. (Think of those pump action rail cars.)
What would one consider to be the main advantages/disadvantages of either?

Please keep in mind that complexity is a detriment to what I'm trying to achieve. This craft must travel...where are my notes...23,310 nm. (or so) My average leg will be just shy of 50 days, but that includes 2 legs in excess of 90 days. That's plenty of time for any deficiencies to appear.
If there are any prop experts who wanna hold my hand through that design challenge, the name of my 1st born is still on the table...no, I'm not married.

 

KEEP your hands FREE! worsening weather, eating bracing your self while pedaling, sudden movement by rogue waves. DO not have anything near your head or chest in storms. A helmut with a 1 or 2 point anchor system --- used in NASCAR by law--- will save you a sprained or broken neck in storms. Pedaling position and in bed position. As you see, I worry more about you than the boat or event. If you almost make it, you will be healthy enough for a better retry or something else.

 

For sure! Boats can be replaced, you can't. Helmet, an inflatable PFD (check out lifesavingsystems.com, look at the Inflatable SAR Vest)and a regular type I PFD SOLAS (easily accessable) would be neccesary. Also, get a one man life raft, lots and lots of flares, 2 radios (at least 2 VHF, at least), a satellite phone etc. etc. By the way, is the boat going to be self righting? If not, how do you plan to escape if its knocked over? Hatch? Maybe you should have outriggers for stormy weather.

A couple of other things you should have are a dry suit (wear it!), a HEED (it's a breathing device like a mini-scuba tank that you hold in your mouth for evacuating a downed helocopter), good goggles, an EPIRB (or 2, as you wish)

Look on equipped.org (it's called equipped-to-survive, a site about, of course, survival. But you probably know a HECK of alot after BUD/S and probably other military training)

You sure can't have too much safety equipment (unless having too much sinks you)

 

Thanks for the input, but how about we save the discussion on equiping and safety systems until after the boat is built. Right now I'm looking for feedback regarding propulsion and construction...
Got any?

 

Arm pedals do sound a little awkward. That's why I mentioned the "Nordic Trak" thing back in the beginning -- for the arm levers. But the simplicity issue is a good argument against them. I also wanted to ask about the flywheel, why it wouldn't be both lighter and more roll stable to just make a strong heavy prop out of bronze or stainless.

 

The strong --very strong prop is mandatory. For efficiency and to survive high impacts in a storm as you crest the waves. Also the mid oceans are covered with floating junk of all sizes that are flung off the tops of waves.---------- No problem for normal sized boats out there. -----------You have no idea of where or how big they will hit you. There are big steel containers floating from sunk container ships out there and the stuff that was in them. Strong hull and prop. Most important, lots of good luck. How many big yacht owners do we have to tell him the size and amount of junk he can find due to wind and currents.

 

The strong --very strong prop is mandatory. For efficiency and to survive high impacts in a storm as you crest the waves. Also the mid oceans are covered with floating junk of all sizes that are flung off the tops of waves.---------- No problem for normal sized boats out there. -----------You have no idea of where or how big they will hit you. There are big steel containers floating from sunk container ships out there and the stuff that was in them. Strong hull and prop. Most important, lots of good luck. How many big yacht owners do we have to tell him the size and amount of junk he can find due to wind and currents.---------Check with the deep water coast guard and any big container ship company. Tell them what you are going to do and what you can expect to meet out there over the long period of your cruise.

 

Skippy,
The reasons against a metal prop are quite straight forward. It takes more energy to spin a heavy prop with absolutely no increase in speed or efficiency. Let alone the added expense and hassle...see, I used to work in a bronze foundry here in P.T., I know what is involved with casting metals and frankly, it doesn't add up economicaly, practicaly or efficiently.The flywheel option obviously increases weight and complexity, but if the trade off results in significant added rpm, I could live with that.
As far as the awkwardness of the twin pedal/cranks option, I'm not too sure I see it. Imagine a recombant bike, only with an additional sprocket and crank at arms length. I don't haveto use it...but it's there if I want to. I could even power the boat with only my arms in virtually any position although there would be a significant reduction in power were I to do so.
Thanks for your help so far. I look forward to your future input to the project.
SG

 

Cyclops,
Are you serious? I'll be making less than 2.5 kts for the better part of the trip. Some in shipping lanes, some open ocean. Just what do you think the odds are that my 20' boat will hook up with a semi submerged COSCO container mid ocean?
How much dammage do you think I would suffer...pedaling my metal
boat at less than 2 kts?
Please forward me the contact info for the deep water coast guard or the department of lost containers for shipping companies.

 

If you mean those super efficient, almost laying on your back type of bicycle pedal setup, that should have been a given at the start of this project. It can also be form fitted and padded around you for wave protection in tolerable conditions. Restraints should be built in. No item or space should be single purpose unless absolutly required. I have no idea on what a bed would be made of. ALL materials should be of a closed cell structure to prevent dampness and mold, mildew as much as possible. Fast drying time is another benifit. Those foil covered blankets for freezing people might help in cold wet times. Local rescue squad could wet you down on a simulation of the coldest day expected, let you get shivering and then slip into a outfit. I think there are tops and bottoms by now beside the blanket. Try to get one of those companies to sponsor by donating their product. Begging in person is most effective with people. They pickup your sincerity and want to help.

 

I guess I was worried that there would be a wheel between the arm cranks, placing them away from your body. I would want the axle to be close in front of my chest, with bearings on either side.

Okay, here's a scheme: Attach a cable with a handle on one end to each pedal, and pull on one handle as you're pushing the opposite pedal with the other foot. Very simple, and obviates the crank and/or flywheel. A variant would be to install blocks a little ways beyond the pedals, and run longer cables around the blocks to the bottoms/backs of the pedals. Then you're exerting the leg and arm of the same side at any given time. The first way stresses the crank less, the second way I'm not sure, maybe it's easier on your back? You could also have both just for variety, they should be very light.

 

Yup, for sure. Wouldn't be too comfortable, plus, I think, more power can come from the legs. By the way, what material are you going to use as primary construction? Perhaps aluminum might be alright, as would GRP. And, maybe, have a carbon fiber or other composite as your seat. No glass-all plexiglass (and as little as possible) is probably preferable.

 

Regarding your flywheel idea. Here are some facts that can help you make up your mind:
Advantages:
Flywheels store energy
Stored energy is more smoothly applied to the work. Plus it can be geared up allowing a smaller prop.
Stored energy acts as a ballast load so if the prop hits something you won't receive as much of a physical shock through your drivetrain.
A flywheel set up properly is also gyroscopic. You might be able to engineer it as a device for added stability.
If you are in a current that is faster than the speed of your boat you may get energy storage from the current.

Disadvanteges:
The heavier the flywheel is the more energy it will store. RPM increases mean more energy storage. A larger diameter gives more energy storage.
Each of these ways of increasing energy storage make it more difficult for a human energy source.
A flywheel is not 100% efficient and only the very smallest ones with magnetic bearing, operating in a vacuum at very high rpms can even approach 100% efficiency. So some energy will be lost.

 

It is dead weight causing less speed and taking up food space. It is more pieces to cause stress on driveshaft or breakdown. Solomon IS THE sole source of onboard motive power. Even his name says that---Solo mon.