pontoon pedal boat
 

Bear Islander, Nice human-powered craft in the picture. This is exactly what I've been looking for. I was thinking of making one, but if I can actually buy one already made, that's perfect. Paddleboats are a waste, but this looks like it has a prop and thus more efficient. Can you state who makes it and where you got it if it's yours?

Thanks.

Orion

Sorry my reply is so late, I missed the question until today.

My HPB (human powered boat) is a hybrid I made myself from parts for two different boats made by Micro Marine Ltd. However they are out of business now.

My boat does have a prop. It can go about as fast as a canoe. Here is a link to a site that has info on many HPB boats and manufacturers.

http://www.humanpoweredboats.com/

Human powered boat
 

Bear Islander, thanks for the reply.

Looks like you've built the "perfect" craft....... double recumbent mesh seats, cat hulls, propeller propulsion, it's got it all for casual cruising and getting some exercise. All I need to find is the crank mechanism and I'll try to duplicate your effort. Thanks for the link.

Regards,
Orion

Propellor driven, but by which ?
 

I've often considered building such a beast myself and so have done a little research. One thing I didn't like about prop powered craft (vs the pedestrian paddle-wheels) was the increase in draft required. I've read that air-props (like on airplanes) are just as efficient as water-props in converting energy to motion (not sure if it's true, but that's what I've read). To that end I thought some sort of cat w/air-prop might be the way to go. It worked for MIT (though I wouldn't do the hydrofoils, at least to start with). Also would keep the moving mechanical bits out of the water. Just a thought for you to consider .... :coolsm:

http://lancet.mit.edu/decavitator/Decavitator.html

ps - if you do get to doing or thinking more about it, post on back, perhaps start a thread on HPVs in the boating forum.

Not bad in price, either
 

This waterbike's brochure appeared in my dentist's office:
http://www.tmboatsalesllc.com/waterbike.htm

It differs from the others because you can get an upper-body workout as well with the optional gadget. They claim 12MPH, and also claim that you can cross the English Channel with it.

(I'd check the weather first). :)

What about up-wind
 

I've pondered the air vs. water prop and it seems that the disadvantage of an air prop is travelling upwind at which point you'd need higher revolutions to achieve the same through-the-water speed. We generally don't deal with water currents on the lake so it wouldn't be a factor with a water prop. Either way, some very interesting craft have been built as evidenced on that site.

Thanks M&M

:) Thanks to the Webmaster for recategorizing this thread. I didn't want to post original in the webcam thread but it was the only way to reach the original target.

Penguin power to the rescue
 

Yup, it would be bad to have no (tail) wind on the way out and have to fight a head wind coming back to homeport :( Certainly a point in favor of the water-prop. Then again maybe the answer is something completely different. The pump cycle thingee on the site B.I. gave (thx B.I. !) got me thinking :eek: I've read that fish are more efficient, at least at low speeds, than prop/screw driven craft. Given any HPB is going to be low speed and given the low power output I can generate, efficiency is paramount. I'd heard about the "RoboTuna" but not the below until recently. If you're going to build something, might as well make it unique :D

http://www.rbbi.com/folders/tech/product/penguin.htm

Pedal Power
 

When I was a young lad there was a women at Sandy Point who had a water craft made with two pontoons and what appeared to be a bicycle between them. The pedals drove a gear case that in turn drove a prop. There is an old post card some were that has a picture of the afore mentioned craft.

Have you looked into other power sources? "MORE BEANS!" :eek: "What's that on the tely? Looks like a penguin."

Paging Doctor bloody Bernowski
 

Hmmm was her name Pepperpot ? :laugh:


Ideally I'd like to have the penguin do the paddling and not me. Alas they don't seem to have any at the zoo I can borrow and I can't spend the time to go to Burma to get one. :rolleye2: Just as well I guess, what with all the moulting and egg laying and then come 8 o'clock .... :D

http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode22.htm#11

There ia a small fleet of similar prop driven boats in the bay on the northeast side of the hole-in-the-wall. Seacycles and Waterbikes. Have you checked those out?

For the lazy
 

Last year on Paugus Bay two people came floating by on what sounds like a similar craft that is being discussed here.It looked like a lounge chair mounted on two small pontoons.It was powered by an electric motor though.Pretty cool.He gave me his business card cuz he sells them.I'll see if I can find it and post the name here if I have any luck.

electric pontoon
 

SS, sounds like a CraigCat [http://www.craigcat.com]. Comes in gas or electric and they're sold at Pier 19. I've seen one tied at the dock all summer.

Actually Orion,that name sounded familier but I don't remember it looking quite like that.However,those things are pretty cool!!