New propulsion sytems for ships

Kach22i,

The Hobie Mirage has an unusual flipper propulsion system. http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_mirage.html

It is listed within a site for HPVs. http://webpages.charter.net/rcgilmore/Illustrations.htm#WaterSites

They even have devices to enable boarding a vessel without getting wet feet.

http://www.powerskip.de/mainpage.html

Pericles

 

I thought those were to inspect the top of the mast without all the halyards fussing....!

 

Cool sites.

 

It occurred to me that Maltese Falcon, the megayacht with the unstayed, rotating mast, self-furling square rig, might be a precursor of commercial sail powered vessels. She has demonstrated the ability to exceed 20 knots under sail, can be handled by a small crew, and has handled rough seas. At just under 300' long, she is the size of earlier square-rigged freight haulers. I doubt that we'd ever see huge bulk carriers powered by sail, but there are many, many 300'-500' commercial ships "sailing" the world's seas today, most at average speeds well under 20 knots. I'd like to get past the "wind isn't always reliable, doldrums, hull shape and mast footings mean she won't carry as much cargo as a diesel powered vessel" type of knee jerk reactions, and consider the possibility. What are the arguments for and against?

 

Masts based rigs are bulky, expensive and induce excessive heeling moments for a freighter. Those have been tried in the eighties with not much success, although there have been some informations lately about a new european initiative. For the time being the wind-based system I find more promising for commercial vessels' use is the one based in kites. See SkySails and Kiteship

Cheers.

 

SAIC - Development and Demonstration of Articulated Motion Control Fins for a Prototype Underwater Vehicle
http://www.ceros.org/partnersandprojects/partnerlistingalphabetical.htm

 

FastTrack, Killer amphibious vehicle - 39 mph on water and 55 mph on land
http://www.gizmag.com/go/6906/

Gallery link:
http://www.gizmag.com/go/6906/picture/31735/

Video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaGLNcIkSm0

 

Kachi,
Very interesting, thanks. The idea had been proposed a long time ago, but it's the first time I see it in action. When I was young my father had told me about this concept.
Cheers.

 

dont wish to wade though 200 posts BUT the marine diesel, is the most efficient use of fossil fuel known, for ships with big shp up to 100000kw, it is over 50% mech efficientcy, much higher than cars and trucks The modern 2 cycle crosshead diesel
Pity the silly politicians can not see the only way Nuke fuel , clean and SAFE and almost no waste, Now lets hear the screeching

 

Build your own.

DIY Magnetohydrodynamic Drive.
http://www.neatorama.com/2006/09/21/diy-magnetohydrodynamic-drive/



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_1

 

http://www.shelleys.demon.co.uk/fjun06fe.htm

 

Interesting, Kachi, thanks.

 

Out of the box thinking for propulsion method

Major environmental benefits as the requirement for a tug is eliminated entirely

http://break.com/index/row_row_your_boat.html

 

An Aquada might be fun to own.
A bit quicker than the Fastrack all round, would seem to be the Humdinga, but they are not going to be reasonably priced for us. http://www.gibbstech.co.uk/



Pericles

 

So you mean this sort of thing might be a problem for cargo carrying?