Comments on PedalTheOcean.com: GEEKMOBILE

Greg,The boat is VERY stable with the two pontoons...

2008-07-27T07:44:00.000-06:00

Greg,
The boat is VERY stable with the two pontoons.

It probably does not need to be so stable.

I agree with one of the above comments ... where you could probably narrow the pontoons.

Would having just one pontoon be an option?

... or ... what about no poontoons .... but holding a pole with floation ... that you would 'lean into and float' when required.

Using hydrofoils to get the vessel out of the wate...

2008-07-26T21:20:00.000-06:00

Using hydrofoils to get the vessel out of the water is not an option, energy cost is way too high. My recomendation for hydrofoils was not for big wings (nor the Bucky Fuller picture style), but for small fins, whose main role was to provide slight lift & lateral balance (reducing the need for floats and their associated drag.), with the additional benefit of weed clearance from the prop. I

Matt is correct. Rick and I have looked at the who...

2008-07-26T18:05:00.000-06:00

Matt is correct. Rick and I have looked at the whole hydrofoil issue and at these low speeds, a displacement hull is more efficient.

Regarding the outrigger floats and their width, again, the floats were designed for the exact flotation that I require. They happen to be wider (and heavier) than design because of expanding foam and they are being rebuilt right now.

Weeds are a

Not that simple with hydrofoils at lower power to ...

2008-07-26T16:50:00.000-06:00

Not that simple with hydrofoils at lower power to weight ratios. The necessary wing grows to enormous size, the induced surface wave effects directly above the wing similarly grow to substantial proportions (from negligible for hour/sprint power to weight ratios). Never mind weed issues.

Weight does not increase drag, more vessel contact...

2008-07-26T13:12:00.000-06:00

Weight does not increase drag, more vessel contact with water does. Get your vessel out of the water.
Hydrofoils provide stability and provide lift to reduce and eliminate drag. Design your hull like a wing to provide more lift when your hydrofoils lift your vessel out of the water.
("It's cheating, it's cheating!")

As I had stated in the past, "Ditch the fairing!" ...

2008-07-26T11:48:00.000-06:00

As I had stated in the past, "Ditch the fairing!" It is a distraction that will only waste time and divert you from concentrating on what I will now go on record as being your biggest problem: WEEDS! As you pointed out in this blog, you estimated that you lost at least 0.5 kph in average speed due to stops to clear weeds from your bow and prop. This is what will be your ultimate downfall. If

Greg,Just two comments today:1. It looks like at ...

2008-07-25T23:15:00.000-06:00

Greg,

Just two comments today:

1. It looks like at least one of your small hulls will always be touching the water. They never carry much weight though. It seems like the ones you have could be narrower and that would reduce their drag above and below the water. Maybe Rick could give you a design with minimum drag at 11kph while producing 5 pounds of floatation. Of course