A worthy invention?

Since it seems we have all kicked this idea into the long grass maybe he could use the concept to pump water from somewhere else rather than a boat. Can't think what though!
 
daveyw said:
Since it seems we have all kicked this idea into the long grass maybe he could use the concept to pump water from somewhere else rather than a boat. Can't think what though!
Click to expand...

Pump water up into a tank, then let it flow down again through a turbine and make electricity!

Much better idea than all these feckin' useless windmills that are springing up all over the place!

I claim my 10% royalties on the idea !

View attachment 29531View attachment 29531
 
Last edited:
stu22uk said:
Quite astonishing watching this all unfold. I wish I had just typed "easy"!
Click to expand...
I think the problem you have Stu is that none of the members on these forums have moved on from the log and lead period. Can you imagine their responses if Mr Raymarine or Mr Garmin had come on this forum to ask for their help in evaluating a way of displaying their boats position to the nearest 30 metres, after all whats wrong with a sextant who needs all the new fangled electrickery. A what? A VHF radio? No thanks I've got a full set of code flags (embroidered not printed).

Good luck.
 
Wandering Star said:
I think the problem you have Stu is that none of the members on these forums have moved on from the log and lead period. Can you imagine their responses if Mr Raymarine or Mr Garmin had come on this forum to ask for their help in evaluating a way of displaying their boats position to the nearest 30 metres, after all whats wrong with a sextant who needs all the new fangled electrickery. A what? A VHF radio? No thanks I've got a full set of code flags (embroidered not printed).

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Ooh - code flags! Goody!! Is there a regatta? So soon in the season as well...

Now, where are me shorts?
 
All nonsense aside I value all opinions. I wholeheartedly accept the criticisms and will heed them.

I knew it was pushing the boat out (so to speak) to contribute virtually nothing and then be received with open arms. I expected no quarter - and have received none!

It wasn't a sales pitch Phil - Im just trying to gauge appeal. Which, at the moment is pretty non existent... but that's ok!

I just hope people didnt respond negatively because they were disgruntled by my approach...

So - it seems the consensus among the fraternity at the moment is,

1. The need for such a device is scant. Current solutions cannot be improved upon by inclusion of my suggested device.
2. Boats of any age should never leak, if they do take whatever means necessary to source and eradicate all possible ingress points.
3. I've managed to cause major panic among a few who think the Gregorian calendar has been turned upside down and its currently April 1st.
4. We learned about the idiom "cinch".
 
stu22uk said:
Current solutions cannot be improved upon by inclusion of my suggested device.
Click to expand...

Actually we don't know that, because you won't tell anybody what it is.

Given the reaction here, I don't think you really need to worry that SuperGlobalMegaCorp are going to nick your idea. So perhaps you could drop the mystery and we can tell you what we actually make of it, and perhaps give some pointers for improvement?

Pete
 
Of course you are most likely correct Pete. I wouldnt want superglobal in on it anyway!

Im sort of torn in two directions... I would be happy with just the satisfaction that people were using something I conceived and built and that it served an appreciable purpose. Only then for someone to come along and claim it for themselves and profit form it would gall a little!

I'm not sure what it is you want to know - I didnt provide a schematic or divulge principals of operation but I did explain what it does and how its powered.

I didnt mention that there is no "pump", and no holes to be drilled or hull fittings req, in fact installation should take no more than 5 min with no permanent fixtures needed.

Angry replies now likely as the waters are further muddied!
 
Last edited:
stu22uk said:
. . . . . I didnt mention that there is no "pump", and no holes to be drilled or hull fittings req, in fact installation should take no more than 5 min with no permanent fixtures needed. . . . .
Click to expand...

A hose pipe loosely filled with towelling hung over the side will wick away any water from the inside of your boat by syphoning the water.

Try hanging a flannel over the side of the kitchen or bathroom sink full of water and watch it happen!

No solar, no electric, no problem. ;)



.
 
stu22uk said:
Blah... Blah... Blah... Balh....
What if a device came to fruition that ..... was not powered by batteries or electricity of any form, a device easily capable of keeping the boat dry, was simple and required no maintenance of any kind, a synch to install and remove, compact and powered by the very source of the problem – rain!
Is that something that may have some appeal?
Click to expand...

The answer is yes BUT for me I would not want it to keep the boat empty but DRY. I would want it to be used afloat and ashore, I would suggest wind power as well..

I mean dry as in every last drop, I would need at least 5 suctions for my boat...

The Americans do one called Arid Dry:

Also see my thread: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?334994-Automatic-Sponge

I have been pondering this if I can make a small removable windmill that would use small diameter hoses to suck air or water out of my 5 compartments. It may only be 1 or 2 sponges here and there but it really is annoying.

This could also be marketed to remove the need for dehumidifiers. How much would I pay 1 or 2 hundred I guess, lets face it its powered by the elements so its never going to be perfect...

My once keen girlfriend would now rather be on deck preparing sails than in the bilges, so its left to me. Then I have to unpack the cloths and food only then if I ask nicely am I allowed on deck to help (Anyway I digress)
 
Lenseman - Thats an interesting concept, do you deploy it over the winter? Seems it may have a very low flowrate and I suppose the hose would have to be sizable to get towelling through it. How then do you get it from the bilge up over the side without leaving something open?

Onesea - I like the arid bilge concept but it seems priced out of contention in a cooler climate like ours where the problem is unlikely to manifest sufficiently to justify the price tag.
I have designed and built another device which works all seasons but costs much more to build (£200 for parts... But i am buying at retail). It won't get the bilge arid dry but will remove water down to a centimeter in the lowest point of the bilge. Conventional float switches don't generally trigger until the level is up to a few inches.
 
daveyw said:
Hate to have a boat that's leaks that badly! I always take my speed log out when it's on the hard so I can clean the bilges and leave it out til launching.
Click to expand...

We have some yachts in our marina around 23 ft where the cockpit drains to the bilges. Maybe the OP has similar. They require attention of not covered up especially when there is torrential rain whether ashore or afloat.
 
My boat also lets some water in through the cockpit floor if it isn't trimmed by the stern, it fills up and then gradually seeps in through the seal. So you aren't unique, I suspect that there are lots of slightly leaky boats out there.

Good luck with your idea, it sounds an interesting concept, even if it has had a slightly mixed response, as has been already posted maybe your system has other potential uses rather than just for leaky boats.

I think that it might ultimately come down to the basis of cost per unit, if you are talking £200 for components, resale would probably be in the £300-400 range. This is quite a lot of money to spend to keep the boat dry when there are other relatively cheap options, such as poundshop tarpaulin covers in most boatyards, or a bilge bottom bung. For that kind of money I would invest in solar panels to keep the batteries topped up despite any leaks.

While there are people out there who do have lots of money to throw at their boats, they tend to be the ones in shiny new boats that don't leak and if they start to leak get it fixed for them by the boatyard. The target maket for your device would be the cheap leaky boat type, with DIY repairs where the idea of spending money is an alien concept. So it really all comes down to how cheaply you could make and sell it.

My boat has some small leaks which drain to the bilge without causing problems, they are gradually being repaired and fixed but that takes time and in the mean time I am reliant on my bilge pump working and my batteries staying filled. I have access to power in my alongside mudberth so I have a trickle charger on the batteries, but without that I would have problems and probably need a solar panel. So I would be a target customer for your item but it comes down to cost.

Good luck

Ross
 
Ross D said:
My boat also lets some water in through the cockpit floor if it isn't trimmed by the stern, it fills up and then gradually seeps in through the seal. So you aren't unique, I suspect that there are lots of slightly leaky boats out there.

Good luck with your idea, it sounds an interesting concept, even if it has had a slightly mixed response, as has been already posted maybe your system has other potential uses rather than just for leaky boats.

I think that it might ultimately come down to the basis of cost per unit, if you are talking £200 for components, resale would probably be in the £300-400 range. This is quite a lot of money to spend to keep the boat dry when there are other relatively cheap options, such as poundshop tarpaulin covers in most boatyards, or a bilge bottom bung. For that kind of money I would invest in solar panels to keep the batteries topped up despite any leaks.

While there are people out there who do have lots of money to throw at their boats, they tend to be the ones in shiny new boats that don't leak and if they start to leak get it fixed for them by the boatyard. The target maket for your device would be the cheap leaky boat type, with DIY repairs where the idea of spending money is an alien concept. So it really all comes down to how cheaply you could make and sell it.

My boat has some small leaks which drain to the bilge without causing problems, they are gradually being repaired and fixed but that takes time and in the mean time I am reliant on my bilge pump working and my batteries staying filled. I have access to power in my alongside mudberth so I have a trickle charger on the batteries, but without that I would have problems and probably need a solar panel. So I would be a target customer for your item but it comes down to cost.

Good luck

Ross
Click to expand...

Thanks Ross,

I agree with just about everything you said. Although I think you misunderstand about the price quoted. £200 (parts only) was for a different (all seasons) device which Im working on.

The original device spoke about for over the winter lay up would be much cheaper than that - perhaps £150-170 to the end user - roughly the same as the (current) price for a good quality deep cycle marine battery and with the potential to save the outlay for a new battery many times over.

I would be aiming at the practical boat owner as I'm aware some are lucky enough to be able to have new and prof maintained boats therefore it probably wouldn't interest them but I do think there are shades of grey between the two extremes you referred to.

Really appreciate your comments...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

webcraft
Resetting SmartShunt to 100%
Replies
7
Views
340
webcraft
webcraft

Share this page

Top