Soviet Era Hydrofoil Pictures

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by Earl Boebert, Jul 6, 2012.

  1. Earl Boebert
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    Earl Boebert Senior Member

  2. souljour2000
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    souljour2000 Senior Member

    Wow..thanks for posting...very stylish..wonderful 1960's futurama-look...and way safer.. even today than a Sukhoi or a Mig or Yakovelev...we hope:) One of those would make for a really cool houseboat...I'll have one of those and two White russians... blondes please
     
  3. mydauphin
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    mydauphin Senior Member

    Thanks for pics/site. These boats were works of art. There is a small one being restored close to me. Corrosion is out of control on it. I don't know why this fixed foil design did not take off in west. it seems simple and self adjusting.
     
  4. souljour2000
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    souljour2000 Senior Member

    Truly Buck rogers/Flash Gordon stuff..very,very cool, thanks again! Screw the European chic look....I love these...And unlike a tupolev..if an engine dies...or the pilot is drunk...you probably still live to talk about it...
     
  5. FMS
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    FMS Senior Member

    I enjoyed these. Thank you for posting.
    The wide range of the photographs from the cockpit and helm to the 80's service pictures and then lined up in the yard is very interesting.
     
  6. sottorf
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    sottorf member

    really great website of Soviet hydrofoils!! Note the inventor of modern Russian hydrofoils was Rostislav Alexeyev. He is also the inventor of the Soviet Ekranoplans. Truly a great engineer, designer and scientist!

    For those interested in hydrofoils, it is also worht checking out the International Hydrofoil Society Website www.foils.org they give a lot of historic information on hydrofoil developments around the world.
     
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  7. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Great stuff-thanks ,Earl!
     
  8. fast company
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    fast company Junior Member

    Was it fuel cost or lack of paying passengers that made most of these obsolete?
     
  9. sottorf
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    sottorf member

    Fuel cost on hydrofoil is extremely low and fuel prices in Russia are very low in comparison with most countries so that was definitely not the reason. Paying passengers was partially the reason. In Soviet times the transport system was sponsored and operated by the state. After Perestroika and introduction of free market system most of the ferry routes turned out to be financially unviable - hence a lot of boats were laid up.


    There were also all kinds of other problems associated with the collapse of the Soviet Union:
    - some suppliers of parts were in Ukraine and other states now independent.
    - loss of know-how because engineers emigrated or retired and there were no new people to replace them.
    - closure of shipyards specialised in production of high-speed craft

    The designs and technology is also not obsolete. THe hydrofoil technology is very good and well worked out. It is only the superstructure design that they need some modernisation to remain compliant with modern regulations for high-speed passenger craft (IMO HSC code).


    Russians are very resiliant and there are interesting new developments now. Expect to see some interesting things in the next 10 years or so as the State is pumping money back into the marine industry to revive it.

    Perhaps one of our Russian forum members can elaborate further on this. I am not Russian but I work there a lot and this is what I understand of the situation as a foreigner.
     
  10. fast company
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    fast company Junior Member

  11. sottorf
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    sottorf member

    The modern catamaran hulls are not quite as efficient as the hydrofoils. But given the modern catamarans have more efficient propulsion than the old hydrofoils, they come out pretty similar in terms of cost/passeneger/NM.

    If you compare a new hydrofoil which has modern engines and propulsion it will work out more efficient than the catamarans. As far as I know the Olympia 14600 is the most recent hydrofoil (1993). It has the following specs:

    LOA: 43.3m
    Displacement: 138 tonnes
    Speed: 37 knots
    Installed Power: 4000 kW
    Passengers: 250


    A comparable modern 250 pax catamaran catamaran would be:
    LOA: 31m
    Displacement: 110t
    Speed: 37 knots
    Installed Power: 3800 kW

    In general pretty similar. If one had to build the hydrofoil a bit lighter weight it would come out slightly better than the catamaran albeit at higher production cost.

    The answer actually lies in combination of the two technologies: a hydrofoil supported catamaran, where you support part of the vessel weight on hydrofoils located between the hulls of the catamaran. Keeping the hulsl in the water means you can utilize all the well proven propulsion systems of normal catamarans.
     
  12. Alik
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    Alik Senior Member

    The major problems with hydrofoils are:
    - Complicated servicing; those Soviet-era craft have to be lifted every 10 days for polishing and setting of foils.
    - Seakeeping is an issue; hydrofoils possess lower seakeeping performance compared say, with catamarans of similar size.

    Frankly speaking, in today's Russia I do not see too many perspectives of shipbuilding industry growth due to corruption (where 70% of funds for each governmental project is stolen), unfavourable conditions to private business in favour of bulky and ineffective 'governmental corporations', tough tax policy, loss of technologies and human potential. What they say about development of shipbuilding is mostly propaganda stuff.

    Add tough situation with regulations where Russian classification societies are also corrupt and possess lack of up-to-date experience with high speed craft and impose ridiculous requirements. Russian River Register does not recognize any of IACS-members certificates, even Russian RS-certificates for equipment. An attempt to bring new technologies, materials and equipment and to build kind of modern craft becomes unforgettable fight with bureaucracy and corruption; one will be required to certify every item on the boat on the cost of the project. I always advise my customers to deal with adequate societies instead of RS/RRR, if possible.

    Try to read and understand structural sections of these rules, have fun. It is far away from internationally accepted approaches and is also full of errors and omissions. I am still surprised on how do they define bottom impact pressure on planing craft from sagging moment :) Unfortunately, we have to face such problems every day and 'educate' them...
     
  13. Alik
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    Alik Senior Member

    The cats on Your link are designed by Incat-Crowter.

    Other cats are designed by us but built by same yard; they are 18m/70pax/25kts composite cats designed to operate under bridges. Two boats were built in Vladivostok and shipped ny railway to St.Pertersburg in parts; assembled and outfitted on site and
    launched in 2011. Construction (from start to delivery) of first two boats took only 9 months including shipping. Note the styling similar to 1960-es Russian craft. See photo below.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. sottorf
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    sottorf member

    My experience exactly working in Russia as a designer. It is not to be taken lightly but I however disagree that there is no scope for growth. The government is pumping money in to the industry now. Yes huge amounts will disappear to corruption but there will be some growth I think. Currently I am designing a new 25m carbon fibre passenger catamaran for operation on Russian rivers as well. THe only reason this vessel was not made a hydrofoil-supported catamaran was also because of problem with low bridges.

    I did not know about Russian hydrofoils requiring maintenance every 10 days. That is strange and should not be so. It is probably due to old age. Seakeeping of hydrofoils is highly dependent on the hydrofoil design. I believe Olympia style hydrofoil craft will have similar seakeeping to catamarans. If the foils are deeply submerged (not surface piercing) then the ride comfort is the best possible. The Boeing Jetfoil is still the world benchmark for passenger comfort of high-speed passenger ferries and that design is 30+ years old! In Hong Kong they still continue to operate them at high cost because enough passengers are willing to pay the extra price to be comfortable and not get seasick.

    Nowadays there are aslo good foul-release paints available that can stick to hydrofoils so that they do not need cleaning more than once a year if the vessel is used regularly.
     

  15. Alik
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    Alik Senior Member

    I am talking of Russian-designed hydrofoils Cometa type in particular, operated on Black Sea in 1970-80s. Those were scheduled to lift up every 10 days and yes, at sea state 4 and above they were crawling on their bottoms :)

    As to the growth, yes there is some small but ridiculous to compare this growth to Asian countries. Major market for Russian-built ships is river transportation, because it is somewhat enclosed area due to hassle with RRR certification and requirement of Russian flag. Besides, if You are designing boats under RRR, You should be certified by them as design office or use a substitute 'designer' in Russia :)
     
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