Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Their websites says it is brilliant, but doesn't actually explain what it and how it works.
Waste of hosting costs - IMHO
Waste of hosting costs - IMHO
What is Yellowfin?
- Thread starter Major Catastrophe
- Start date
burgundyben
Well-Known Member
I think they have been coy to date about exactly the design because they still have patent awards pending.
Have you watched the vidoe clips? does look very impressive. As far as I can make out is a cross between a surface drive and IPS.
As far as I know its still in development testing, not a saleable product yet.
Have you watched the vidoe clips? does look very impressive. As far as I can make out is a cross between a surface drive and IPS.
As far as I know its still in development testing, not a saleable product yet.
rickp
Well-Known Member
It seems to be a very clever use of variable pitch props, probably in a similar way to a helicopter controlling cyclic as the blades rotate. ie. the pitch of each individual blade change as it rotates.
Some of the videos show very impressive manoeverability for what is presumably a single proped boat.
Rick
Some of the videos show very impressive manoeverability for what is presumably a single proped boat.
Rick
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
That prolly explains it.
The results look very encouraging and the fuel savings claimed seem impressive.
Other than a pic of the six bladed prop - or is it a fan? - there is little to see what all the fuss is about.
The results look very encouraging and the fuel savings claimed seem impressive.
Other than a pic of the six bladed prop - or is it a fan? - there is little to see what all the fuss is about.
capnjack
Well-Known Member
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
Very interesting. Thanks.
I think I want one.
I think I want one.
gjgm
Well-Known Member
this is going to be a bit vague..
I met some guy while having a coffee at LBS, who was a consultant engineer;so he was there assisting exhibitors clients. I asked him about this system.Aparently developed by an expert in er... fluid dynamics.. I think. Sorry, cant recall what thats used for, but nothing to do with boats. Anyway, this boffin happened to use his understanding of these dynamics, and starting thinking about boat propulsion, more out of interest than anything else, I undesrtood.
Consultant was a bit thoughful that prototype was one thing, full development might require a partner like the Swedes. Meantime, he obviously wants his patents signed off. About 2 years b4 it would be a practical boat application, was the thought.
No idea if any of this is on target, or this consultant was actually a janitor on level 2...
I met some guy while having a coffee at LBS, who was a consultant engineer;so he was there assisting exhibitors clients. I asked him about this system.Aparently developed by an expert in er... fluid dynamics.. I think. Sorry, cant recall what thats used for, but nothing to do with boats. Anyway, this boffin happened to use his understanding of these dynamics, and starting thinking about boat propulsion, more out of interest than anything else, I undesrtood.
Consultant was a bit thoughful that prototype was one thing, full development might require a partner like the Swedes. Meantime, he obviously wants his patents signed off. About 2 years b4 it would be a practical boat application, was the thought.
No idea if any of this is on target, or this consultant was actually a janitor on level 2...
ontheplane
Well-Known Member
It looks brilliant
Imagine if it works as well as it does - half the power to get the same performance
Does anyone know a boatbuilder working with them at the mo?
Imagine if it works as well as it does - half the power to get the same performance
Does anyone know a boatbuilder working with them at the mo?
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I would'nt hold your breath. Nobody outside the company seems to have driven it which is a sure sign that the system is not production ready. If it was, they'd be bribing every boating journo under the sun to drive it.
Jury's out as far as I'm concerned. Good idea though and anything that promises to improve fuel efficiency is a good thing
Jury's out as far as I'm concerned. Good idea though and anything that promises to improve fuel efficiency is a good thing
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Seems technically very complex to me (maybe why its already 7 or 8 yrs in development), which means more to go wrong, plus it doesn't give the extra manouverability of IPS. I think Yellowfin has its work cut out when VP introduce D9 and D12 versions of IPS. Where it might score big time is if it can be retrofitted on shaft boats, but that sounds like major surgery and mega bucks so can't see it happening.
rickp
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
plus it doesn't give the extra manouverability of IPS.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting - as that doesn't seem to be the case from the videos.
Rick
plus it doesn't give the extra manouverability of IPS.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting - as that doesn't seem to be the case from the videos.
Rick
sarabande
Well-Known Member
When it turns up on your dish
A yellowfin is funny.
You'll find the taste is fish
And it's proper name is "tunny".
A yellowfin is funny.
You'll find the taste is fish
And it's proper name is "tunny".
Pete7
Well-Known Member
[quoteInteresting - as that doesn't seem to be the case from the videos. Rick
[/ QUOTE ] My thoughts too. They have been operating out of Saxon Wharf in southampton for a while, wish I had paid more attention when passing now, just thought it was a rib with a stern drive in it. Nothing obvious was above the water line. However could be an intersting drive for the smaller stern drive boats in the future, especially if you need to trail it.
Pete
[/ QUOTE ] My thoughts too. They have been operating out of Saxon Wharf in southampton for a while, wish I had paid more attention when passing now, just thought it was a rib with a stern drive in it. Nothing obvious was above the water line. However could be an intersting drive for the smaller stern drive boats in the future, especially if you need to trail it.
Pete
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
hmm, fair point, what i should have said is I wouldn't have thought they're as manouverable as IPS, as the units don't rotate in a horizontal plane, but seems thay have found another way round the same problem.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I don't see how it can be retro fittable to shaft drive boats as the shaft exits the transom like a sterndrive not the underside of the hull like a shaft drive boat. I think it's more of a competitor to sterndrive installations which Yellowfin seem to suggest on their website as there is an efficiency comparison with a sterndrive installation
Even if it can be fitted to the size of boat that normally has shaftdrive, the handling characteristics of the boat at slow speed would be interesting as the thrust from the prop is right aft - imagine a 50ft flybridge boat with sterndrives?
But even if they could make it work across a wide range of boat sizes, they have one more big problem. With Volvo and Cummins having invested so much money on IPS/Zeus, and both Volvo and Mercruiser having sterndrive packages, is Yellowfin going to be able to get into the market at all if these engine manufacturers don't cooperate on engine/drive packages which likely they won't. I wonder if Yellowfin will become a sort or technological curiosity on pleasure boats like surface and jet drives?
Even if it can be fitted to the size of boat that normally has shaftdrive, the handling characteristics of the boat at slow speed would be interesting as the thrust from the prop is right aft - imagine a 50ft flybridge boat with sterndrives?
But even if they could make it work across a wide range of boat sizes, they have one more big problem. With Volvo and Cummins having invested so much money on IPS/Zeus, and both Volvo and Mercruiser having sterndrive packages, is Yellowfin going to be able to get into the market at all if these engine manufacturers don't cooperate on engine/drive packages which likely they won't. I wonder if Yellowfin will become a sort or technological curiosity on pleasure boats like surface and jet drives?
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Well i hope not as some of the individuals seem to have invested a lot of money in it. If it does work well then probably best sell the IP to Yanmar or similar.
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
With Volvo and Cummins having invested so much money on IPS/Zeus, and both Volvo and Mercruiser having sterndrive packages, is Yellowfin going to be able to get into the market at all if these engine manufacturers don't cooperate on engine/drive packages which likely they won't. I wonder if Yellowfin will become a sort or technological curiosity on pleasure boats like surface and jet drives?
[/ QUOTE ]
As Yellowfin needs half the size of engine of a normal boat and gives a 50% fuel saving, maybe thye don't need the old dinosaurs. Interesting that the engine they are using is a VW diesel.
As far as I can see with Yellowfin the technology is in the prop, hydraulics and computer, not in the engine. If they settle for a a small range of sizes then it will be a far more economical than all the present engine options.
I think it is a goer and if they can prove it works and is reliable it could be the death of the big Volvo lumps.
All empires eventually fall. Fact.
With Volvo and Cummins having invested so much money on IPS/Zeus, and both Volvo and Mercruiser having sterndrive packages, is Yellowfin going to be able to get into the market at all if these engine manufacturers don't cooperate on engine/drive packages which likely they won't. I wonder if Yellowfin will become a sort or technological curiosity on pleasure boats like surface and jet drives?
[/ QUOTE ]
As Yellowfin needs half the size of engine of a normal boat and gives a 50% fuel saving, maybe thye don't need the old dinosaurs. Interesting that the engine they are using is a VW diesel.
As far as I can see with Yellowfin the technology is in the prop, hydraulics and computer, not in the engine. If they settle for a a small range of sizes then it will be a far more economical than all the present engine options.
I think it is a goer and if they can prove it works and is reliable it could be the death of the big Volvo lumps.
All empires eventually fall. Fact.
powerskipper
Well-Known Member
what I was led to believe is it uses a giro compass, and GPS to know where it is and at what angel it is at, it then adjusters the drive to do what you ask it to. very simplified version. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
RogerRat
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Interesting -
[/ QUOTE ]
I think so to for all of us, would be nice to see Volvo have some more competition.
I liked the variable pitch prop idea: in theory, you could set the revs at optimum torque and adjust the pitch to max speed, which would give you the most efficient return for any given sea conditions. (I think) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Not only that, but no reverse gear required as the pitch can be made to go negative, I believe. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Interesting -
[/ QUOTE ]
I think so to for all of us, would be nice to see Volvo have some more competition.
I liked the variable pitch prop idea: in theory, you could set the revs at optimum torque and adjust the pitch to max speed, which would give you the most efficient return for any given sea conditions. (I think) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Not only that, but no reverse gear required as the pitch can be made to go negative, I believe. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
what I was led to believe is it uses a giro compass, and GPS to know where it is and at what angel it is at, it then adjusters the drive to do what you ask it to.
[/ QUOTE ]
GPS and gyro compass, plus the computer and hydraulics are relatively cheap nowadays, added to the smaller number of moving parts the Yellowfin presumably has, I assume must make less complicated and cheaper to build and repair than an IPS.
Correct me, but isn't IPS as complicated as a very complicated thing?
Just trying to talk up alternative technology. Apparently they can make petrol from tractors and ploughshares now.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
EDIT:
I was just watching Monster Moves, which I have seen before, when my brain suddenly asked, why would a boat drive system require GPS? I can understand the skipper needing GPS, but not the propellor.
what I was led to believe is it uses a giro compass, and GPS to know where it is and at what angel it is at, it then adjusters the drive to do what you ask it to.
[/ QUOTE ]
GPS and gyro compass, plus the computer and hydraulics are relatively cheap nowadays, added to the smaller number of moving parts the Yellowfin presumably has, I assume must make less complicated and cheaper to build and repair than an IPS.
Correct me, but isn't IPS as complicated as a very complicated thing?
Just trying to talk up alternative technology. Apparently they can make petrol from tractors and ploughshares now.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
EDIT:
I was just watching Monster Moves, which I have seen before, when my brain suddenly asked, why would a boat drive system require GPS? I can understand the skipper needing GPS, but not the propellor.
