Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Yachts and Sail => Topic started by: andrewh on March 03, 2009, 02:06:35 am

Title: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: andrewh on March 03, 2009, 02:06:35 am

So naturally I think the world really needs a VAWT powered racing footy catamaran :}

Not quite being sure of the ideal setup - strangely the books are silent on 12 inch Savonius rotor yachts - so I built one last night and tonight

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/Footys/DSCF0062.jpg)
Hulls and above
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/Footys/DSCF0063.jpg)
the stuff in the water
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/Footys/DSCF0065.jpg)
In the DFTF - works well with a hairdryer
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/Footys/th_DSCF0073.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/Footys/?action=view&current=DSCF0073.flv)

Amazingly the pop-bottle prop is quite close to workable - I must make a variable-pitch prop since the second channel thet we are allowed is not needed for sheets, or sails

I look forward to sailing straight upwind - confounding the tackers :}
andrew

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: dreadnought72 on March 03, 2009, 08:40:15 am

Of course, by going upwind you'll just get faster and faster until the bearings melt.  %%

Andy

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: andrewh on March 03, 2009, 09:15:48 am

Andy - you got the idea :}
Hydrofoils for upwind travel - it won't be beating, no tacks required
I saw a windmill catamaran in Pop mechanics in the mid-1960s - never forgotten it, but it was a horiz, axis with (Ugh, I cant bear to say it) gears

Love your master-planker avatar!
andrew

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: dreadnought72 on March 03, 2009, 06:36:03 pm

That's no avatar - it's the output of a CAT scan of my brain.  %%

Andy

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: Jimmy James on March 06, 2009, 11:15:58 pm

 :-))At last some thing new to try.. Looks like it could be fun...
Freebooter

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: andyn on March 07, 2009, 12:11:25 am

Looking good, but I still want to know how you managed to gain access to my bath...

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: amdaylight on March 07, 2009, 03:32:48 am

So how well does it work, have you tried it out side yet? By the way I really think that is a great idea. :-))

Andre

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: andrewh on March 09, 2009, 01:29:40 pm

great - a full set of andy's/andrews/andres :}

Now I have given away my little daughter, there may be a little time to give her a try before heading for the Canada/US later this month

There is a little improvement to do first - as pictured she was assembled in a hurry because I was eager to see if the idea worked at all!

The turbine is already being replaced (at least in my mind) by a combination Darrieus turbine with a Savonius section as a "starter"  I would like to make the Darrieus section as a helix - but will have to imagine a way to do this first.
I can see a way to spiral wrap an airfoil section with a flat bottom - let the epoxy harden then add the inner section of the airfoil - all darrieus blades seem to have a thin symmmetrical section set at Zero degrees - ie the camber line perfectly tangential

AndyN - if you can use my workbench, I don't see why I can't do tests in your bath (or DFTF)
andrew

Title: Re: Well, its wind-powered!
Post by: konewone on March 24, 2009, 09:47:06 am

Clever cookie  :-)) tackless sailing ... GREAT IDEA !!! now you've done all the hard protype work just wonder how long it will take the Chinese  :o to copy and sell it ... reckon you should patent it !