Oliver Coles
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 06:45 PM |
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Wind turbine boats, any thoughts
HI
Im not sure who knows about this but on a series called super models that was shown on discovery home and lesure a while back, there was a part
about a chap who had built small model boats powered by a wind turbine. What it was, was a styrophome hull, with a superstructure supporting a multi
bladed turbine or propeller ( the sort of thing you see on a farm that can turn into the wind). This was connected via universal joints i think to a
porpeller at the back of the boat. This set up meant that whichever way the wind was coming from, the propeller would always turn and so the boat
would advance foreward at a steady speed. Since it was a long time ago since i saw this program i cant remember the specifics of how he coupled the
wind turbine at the top to the propeller at the bottom with universal joints. Does anyone have any thoughts as to how this could be made to work so
that the turbine at the top can be made to turn right round 360 so that it can use wind from any direction.
Sorry if i sound confusing, i don't realy know what i am talking about. 
Only 16 and i have already had my midlife crisis
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Simon
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 07:04 PM |
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Oliver,
Haven't seen the programme, but understand what you mean.
Something like Mariner (Kevin Costner) in Waterworld or with a wind speed contraption.
http://www.inspeed.com/anemometers/images/large/hand-held-windmeter.jpg
Think it'd be quite easy to do, but you'd have to be very careful with weight. The mast would all need to be lighter than a sail, perhaps
so light, it would need guy ropes. Low friction for joints (cv's) etc etc.
Go for it. Would deffo make for interesting coversation at a sailing club!
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 10/9/06 by Simon]
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kev_the_mole
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 07:19 PM |
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Not quite a turbine but Google 'Walker Wingsails' as an alternative!
Cheers,
Ian
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JoelP
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 09:15 PM |
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hard to imagine it being more efficient than a regular sail.
Head to wind, surely you are trying to build a perpetual motion device? Across wind etc its all fine, though im sure a sail would be better.
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rav
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 09:22 PM |
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glad its not just me that has crazy ideas like powering a boat with a winturbine!
It must have some potential, modern wind turbines are very efficient, taking drive down a tower and turning it through 90 degrees with suitable
gearing for a prop would be fairly simple, and if it was mounted on a wide multihill it could remain vertical all the time, always facing into wind =
maximum use of the airflow.
Also no need to tack, trim the sails etc, just sit back n steer!
Wonder how efficient a turbine and propeller can be...!
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Chippy
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 09:49 PM |
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Can see one minor problem with it, half way across the channel and the wind dies, Hmmmmm!  Ray
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rav
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| posted on 10/9/06 at 10:07 PM |
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well yeah nut thats the same with any sailing boat!
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Sacal
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| posted on 11/9/06 at 04:01 AM |
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30' mast with 20' carbon fibre blades...that should do it
Revelation II
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 11/9/06 at 05:24 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Chippy
Can see one minor problem with it, half way across the channel and the wind dies, Hmmmmm! Ray
Whats any differant to what normally happens
Just had a freinds boat demasted off Arbroath this week. When Ali cracks it doesnt half go........ forty five feet of mast snapped clean in two.
crack started at a rivet. So wind turbines would be an interesting technical challenge.
Cant say I would like one to fall down on the deck.......masts are bad enough!
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Browser
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| posted on 11/9/06 at 07:58 AM |
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Some say that Skysails are the future
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 11/9/06 at 10:36 AM |
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Stuff the spinaker or the cruising chute!!!
those look the business
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Chippy
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| posted on 11/9/06 at 03:38 PM |
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rav. with most sailing boats you have a nice diesel lump that when the wind dont blow, press the button and go. (well I have, on all the boats
i've owned). If the wind is driving the prop, no diesel lump to use.  That was my point. Ray
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