stability

[old man]

Hi everyone, as usual I have multiple Qs. I put my 78 inch side wheeler on the water for the first time on sunday and it was really exciting especially when one paddle lifted completely out the water when the boat was in a totally un-retreavabel place   "panic " "man over board"etc. The boat seemed to be listing somewhat dramatically too but when we got her back she was dry as a chip inside. Also on the work bench torque seems fine but in the water the motor seems absolutely gut-lees
Any thoughts or suggestion (proper or improper) would be most welcome.

                                                            Best Rgards to All
                                                              Old Man

[Stuart Badger]

A few suggestions.
Number one - try reducing the paddle speed, either by NOT using full speed on the throttle or regearing.
paddlers do accelerate slowly - especially if they have non-feathering wheels, this may make the motor appear 'gutless' but don't expect rapid acceleration.
If the paddle boxes are not vented then try and arrange some relief for the water that will be picked up by the wheels.
Finally if there is any way to LOWER the ballast (ie ANYTHING heavy) in the hull then try and do this, and try and keep the heavy stuff as close to the paddle shaft area as possible - this will reduce the 'dumbell' effect when the boat turns.

If all else fails you may need to fit a removeable weighted keel on a skeg to lower the centre of gravity.

Hope this helps.

Stuart

[R.G.Y.]

Sorry I wasn't there .Geoff

[old man]

Once again Stuart you have given me some sound advice every thing you have suggested will be done, hopefully without the false keel I think that would spoil the boat but if needs must........thank You.

  Hi Geoff,
                I am sorry you wer'nt there. there was another paddler there a nice one.
                                 Regards  Old Man
   

   

[kiwimodeller]

I have an 80" sidewheeler with a steam engine and boiler in her and still have to put in at least 6kg of lead to make sure she stays stable and does not roll about too much when turning. Even so she has the disconcerting trait of lifting the inside wheel and then not returning to level after the turn is completed. I have to give her a bit of opposite rudder at the end of the turn to get her to settle back to level. I also found that fitting two skegs about 1/2" deep along the chine line at the stern and a similar one along the keel line near the bow helped the steering a lot and also stopped her "crabbing" sideways in cross winds. Hope this helps, Ian.

[R.G.Y.]

My answer to the stability problem is. Add an extra servo a sail arm is best, fix weight on the end of the arm. I then control the boat the same way I fly a model aircraft.  The Glen Usk can be made to rock as though she is in a heavy swell. As long as the wind is not to strong, cross winds are no problem. No one else seems to like this idea? Geoff

[Talisman]

It's an interesting idea Geoff  - Taking it a bit further could you use a RC Plane Gyro to control the servo?.
Breaks over back to sanding for me...
Regards
Kim

[R.G.Y.]

That is a bit to technical for me Kim .Geoff

[Eddy Matthews]

Sadly it reminds me of my first ever paddler, a model of the Director class tug Forceful. It exhibited exactly the same issues, and it was down to too much top weight....

I sold the model to a fellow clubmate and he rebuilt the superstructure. The model now sails superbly - You learn from your mistakes, and I learned the hard way!

Having said that, the all of the comments made by others earlier should be tried first, they can often overcome these problems without having to resort to a rebuild!

Regards
Eddy

[steamboatmodel]

My answer to the stability problem is. Add an extra servo a sail arm is best, fix weight on the end of the arm. I then control the boat the same way I fly a model aircraft.  The Glen Usk can be made to rock as though she is in a heavy swell. As long as the wind is not to strong, cross winds are no problem. No one else seems to like this idea? Geoff

That's the same type of system used in a Mt Washington by one of the Metro Marine Modellers members.
Regards,
Gerald.