What a novel boat! An Early V12?

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuuOhfdT8yc&feature=related

 

This caught my attention, anyone know if this was for fun, or a model of full size design?

 

Steve

[Keith Wardill 1Participant @keithwardill1]

John Fitch was an American Inventor – try Google ‘John Fitch Steamboat’ – he had some ‘original’ ideas

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Interesting function, but would it work scaled up full size?

In waves it would be hard to control.

I have a suspicion that the boiler was not functioning and the drives were electric powered?

Did you see the dragonfly hovering about at the 1.o5 point.

 

Clive

[Keith Wardill 1Participant @keithwardill1]

From Wikipedia, if you believe it.

 

Quote

‘The first successful trial run of his steamboat “Perseverance” was made on the Deleware RIver on August 22, 1787, in the presence of delegates from the Constitutional Convention. It was propelled by a bank of oars on either side of the boat……. in June 1790 launched a 60-foot (18 m) boat powered by a steam engine driving several stern mounted oars. These oars paddled in a manner similar to the motion of a swimming duck’s feet. …….. Estimates of miles traveled that summer range from 1,300 to 3,000 miles, and Fitch claimed that the boat often went for 500 miles without mechanical problems.^‘

 

end quote (my italics)

[adyParticipant @ady]

I was impressed by the system used for steering, therefore no propeller OR rudder required.

 

Looks a bit too heath robinson tho.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Rob, for a model it would be the simplest method of propulsion as the varying rate for steering on each side would be a big problem.

It is simple enough to arrange a constant speed for the beams to simulate them ebing the motive power.

 

Clive

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

If you watch his other videos you can see hes into RC tanks so its probably the same electronics in the boat, the button on teh transmitter that turns on the “puff, puff, puff” sound is another giveaway, about 1.33 into this vid

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/ModellbauWerner#p/u

 

J

Edited By JasonB on 30/10/2011 10:14:01

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

A few years ago there was an exhibit at the MEX two oared rowing boat propelled by an electric motor which drove the oars. It was photographed and was in ME. Its crew – well it had a skeleton which seemed to pull on the oars. Anyone remember it?

Dick

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