Speed freak gets a paddler!!

[Ernie Lazenby]

 Some of you may know me from Marine Modelling Magazine where for 12 years I reviewed fast electric boats and wrote features about world water speed record craft. My main interest is model of high speed boats; I raced them nationally winning many national titles but I have also run submarines and a number of scale boats.  My most recent model is a gas turbine powered model of Doanld Campbells K7 Bluebird and theres a video clip on you tube.

 Okay ego trip over, so what is a speed freak doing on Paddleducks you may ask;  well I am making a paddle driven multi stepped hydroplane!!  yep its true. In 1908 Henry Faber submitted some line drawings and text to the American patent office for his idea of a paddle wheel driven hydroplane. A full size boat was never built nor to my knowledge has a model ever been made. 

  The paddle wheel/drum sits in the middle of the boat. Its a complex system of curved blades designed to force the water towards the centre line of the boat thus creating lift.  I have started the build and the wheel/drum has been turned out for me by a club member who has the facilities to turn out a 72mm diameter drum.

  Some club members; Eddy and Walter who you may have heard of(moderate sort of folk!) reckon it wont work but we will see.

  I will post pictures soon.

  So thats why you have got a speed freak as a member of the group!

[Eddy Matthews]

Welcome to Paddleducks Ernie, good to have you with us....

Although I've never made any secret of the fact I don't think the model will work - I'll certainly be eagerly watching developments, and I'll be the first to pat you on the back and say "Well done" if you prove me wrong! 

For the info of other members, Ernie and I have worked on a number of projects in the past, as we both have an interest in world water speed record boats - The two most noticeable being John Cobbs "Crusader", and Ken Warby's "Spirit of Australia".

Henry Faubers paddle hydroplane was never built in real life, so it's a total unknown, and it will certainly present a whole host of problems. But having said that, I sincerely hope it does work as it would be a real show stopper, both as a water speed record boat, and a paddler!

Regards
Eddy

[Dinosaursoupman]

Welcome Ernie,

I'm curious about the estimated RPM that that paddlewheel will be doing.

Randy

[Ernie Lazenby]

Hi Randy thats a very question. As I am working in the dark havng nothing to refer to I have consulted a chap who plays league chess with me in the local league, hes a scientist who crunches numbers and he reckons around 2000rpm should get it moving along but as he said, numbers mean zip if it dont work!

  I will probably end up experimenting with different motor/gear ratios/cell count/

   If it does not work i can always fill the hole up in the bottom and make it into a fast electric! 

   The project has certainly ended up as a talking point in the club.

[steamboatmodel]

It sounds interesting, Please keep up updated with lots of photos and videos. the only thing I ever tried was with one of the Cox 0.49 glow engines mounted on a flat boat(board) sidewise with a home made six blade paddle. It didn't go that fast, but it sure made things wet.
Regards,
Gerald