What innovations would enhance your boating

You were joking?

Jim@sea said:
With today's advanced computer design, modern manufacturing, metals, composites, etc., could a manufacturer consider making again the "DOWTY SYSTEM" again where water was sucked up and blown from the stern. Thus providing the foward propulsion. Well known in the late 50's, but ahead of their time? Patents must have expired by now. Ideal for shallow water use.
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The UltraJet range of marine waterjet propulsion and control systems (aka water jet propulsion, water-jet propulsion, hydrojet propulsion, & jet pump) is designed, manufactured, and supported by Ultra Dynamics. Formerly Dowty waterjets, UltraJet propulsion units are well suited to the performance and durability requirements of military, paramilitary, commercial, and passenger craft in real-world conditions. Today’s UltraJet product range benefits from more than 50 years of design and manufacturing experience with waterjet propulsion.

But they still use rubber bearings!!!! now that could be improved.
 
Nick_H said:
actually I don't think it would work! The prop would spin faster for sure, but would have less grip in the water so they would cancel each other out. Ah well, back to the drawing board ...
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Nope, actually it does make sense. Nothing new under the sun, in fact - see below.
But I suppose it's not worth the hassle with "normal" boats, i.e. those which don't spin cleaver props, with extremely aggressive pitch.
In fact, that's what create problems in boats like the one below to get on plane, rather than the lack of power, of course.
PropVent.jpg
 
There are many issues with electric propulsion, the main one being the battery supply to power them, even used as an additional power boosting system it absolutely hammers the batteries, which kills them in a short time. Fine if you have a Formula 1 budget but most people don't.

Motors are getting ever more powerful, these nearly all use rare earth magnets in them, this is also a contentious issue. Most are made in China as they have no Health and Safety legislation, and the manufacture of these motors is very toxic due to the chemicals involved, and the dangerous waste products. In China they simply tip them on spare land, or pour them into rivers, this will leave a legacy for centuries, in countries with H&S legislation they would have to be manufactured in totally sealed conditions and workers would be totally covered in chemical suits. In addition all the waste would have to be disposed of properly to prevent this contamination.
Chinese workers currently have no protection, and an average life span of 5-10 years from making these motors, so you would be killing people by using them.

Currently, there are moves to outlaw this practice from many countries, environmental groups, and various local and international health organisations.
 
DAKA said:
Over the past generation we have seen Decca make way for GPS to be enhanced with dGPS and colour chart plotters, how much easier can boating get and what innovations would you like to see come about over the next few years ?

I saw this(needs sound up for best effect) yesterday and although there are teething problems it just needs a little more development input and you can have an amphibious motor bike / helicopter/airship stowed in the lazarette .:)
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A Liferaft small enough to carry aboard with ease.
A lifejacket integrated into a jacket.
A affordable Chartplotter with AIS, Radar and sonar all built in and only requires power to set up.
A affordable 200-250hp Diesel outboard
Small solar panels powerfull enough to replace combustion engines all together! too far? :p
 
My thoughts are

Hull in better and lighter materials for better fuel consumption

Carbon fiber?

Hydrofoils can keep trim angle at optimum planing boats

Adjustable V angle of the hull shape that can be changed in rough seas

Optimization of propeller systems so that they can get lower maintenance const costs in relation to the outdrive. Hydrodynamic optimization is necessary.

Diesel engines are allready downscaled. Lowest consumption is the typical 50% load as further downscaling will make consumption and wear a lot worse.

Diesel engines can be improved by use of miller timing and two stage turbocharging. But the engine price will then go up.
 
There is much contention over the use of carbon fibre and much of this is down to price, and its not as expensive as many think. Carbon fibre is more expensive than polyester resin, but you use much less of it for the same structural rigidity and strength, so it is viable, and obviously you use much less reinforcing also.

If carbon fibre became the preferred choice of boat builders, potentially you could have a much lighter, stiffer, stronger boat of the same size for around 5-10% more build cost. The gains would be beneficial for the average user as it would use less fuel, require less maintenance on the hull and S/S and could work out cheaper for the average user over an average lifetime.
 
Assassin said:
There is much contention over the use of carbon fibre and much of this is down to price, and its not as expensive as many think. Carbon fibre is more expensive than polyester resin, but you use much less of it for the same structural rigidity and strength, so it is viable, and obviously you use much less reinforcing also.

If carbon fibre became the preferred choice of boat builders, potentially you could have a much lighter, stiffer, stronger boat of the same size for around 5-10% more build cost. The gains would be beneficial for the average user as it would use less fuel, require less maintenance on the hull and S/S and could work out cheaper for the average user over an average lifetime.
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I really am surprised at the claim that carbon fibre is only 5% or so more expensive than frp. In which case I would have thought we should all have funky cf looking hulls with clear gel coat to show off the cf structure. Are you sure that this is right?
 
wakeup said:
I really am surprised at the claim that carbon fibre is only 5% or so more expensive than frp.
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Wasnt the Earth Race Carbon fibre ?

It might be stronger theoretically but if the hull gets too thin how can you fix anything to it like stations/engines without flex issues ?
Once thats sorted it has to be a great innovation and step forward :)
 
Phill said:
I could do with a self replenishing wallet
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Well, I suppose it's hard to raise the bar, compared to such expectation...
I'd be already happy with just a long lasting wood varnish.
That must be a piece of cake, in comparison!
 
Reducing the price to reasonable levels would depend entirely on it becoming the product of choice, thus replacing polyester based products as the material of choice. Issues are with manufacturers switching over to it, many are familiar with GRP and while carbon fibre could be so much cheaper its a case of all the major manufacturers making the switch together.

Hulls would be so much thinner, but the issues come with the re-design work which would be necessary for items such as engine mountings, and many items would have to switch to being bonded rather then mechanically fastened.
 
And the repair costs for CF would be much higher too. With grp, you can pretty much just lay up and let it cure (assuming it's not to humid or cold). But the CF process is much more involved and involves pressure and heat. Not many ovens you could fit a motor cruiser in to cure the CF.
 
  • Low cost on board diesel fuel polishing system.
  • Self bleeding diesel engines
  • Twin fuel filter housings so one of a pair of filters can be easily changed while engine is running.
  • integrated plotter, radar, VHF, AIS, auto helm in a single box
  • GSM based shore power monitor that texts you if 240v supply stops (ie size of a big 3 pin plug with a sim card in it and backup battery)
  • An expensive FLS that actually works, can see 100m ahead in shallow water at speed.
 
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