WAVE PROPULSION.

The idea is simple: to propulse a boat we need an oar and a boat, applying force to the oar we have the motion. But, what happen if the force is applied to the boat by the waves? Lots of smart people still working in develop fins, doing equations, investing money and time, having masters and titles..............Don't be smart, just modest and humble is much better to learn and found solutions. I have a tender boat, and a sculling oar astern, that's it.

After a couple of months experimenting I can say now this thing works. I will need some changes in the final shape and materials, increase proportions and a new adjustement to gain in speed. The principle is very easy to understand: something like a japanese ro -chinese yuloh in the original idea- where the blade is changed to a vertical position and the loom still fixed at the centerline with a bungee cord.



The original device I did using pvc pipes -too much flexibles-, some plywood and epoxy for the blade. This one bring-me 4knots with one meter waves, bad because don't works very well windward, also the result was after increase the pvc pipes in diameter.



Next: I will use different and definitive materials. I hope to sail a bit before summer.

Note: Thanks to Douglas Brooks http://thesabaniproject.blogspot.com/ to help by sending me his article about japanese ro oar.

NOTHING EASY

I still having some delays, cause I don't found yet nobody capable to pick'n up NA-Y to the water, close here. I have not a gps, compass and some safety stuff as well. But anyway, I will sail, I think in one or two days. While testing the wave propulsion device I will post some picks and then measures, complete design, proportions, etc.. The important matter here is to demonstrate how to sail using this device is safe and reliable. I hope to exceed the five knots in the first attempt.
So, that traditional eye are almost all my protection.

MULTIFUNCTION, an easy way.

We need, normally, an steering system, an auxiliary oar and a propulsion system. What if we use all toguether, in the same system? Is nothing complex, if we try to sintetyze.

The chinese yuloh can be modified for this purpose. The blade can be done vertical and the arm flexible, so this way we have all the system and is too simple. Simpler is smarter, if it works.

The blue shark tail size is something like the half of his lenght, and in the red tuna we can talk about one third. The difference is this shark's shape is trimmer like a narrow planning hull and the tuna looks more like a displacement hull, but the both reaches fast speeds. This bring idea about the lenght of the oar's blade.

PROPULSION DEVICE, design and shape.

Yes, propulsion device looks primitive, more if we take a look to the work in this matter the last hundred years. So, something is going wrong, the sea waves are plenty of power and is necessary to know how to use it, but the way of development of this technology is looking for an horizontal fin, like dolphins tails. However, a vertical fin, like a shark tail, increases estability, reduces drag and almost all the motion is used to propel the boat. Then, we will take a look at the nurse shark and yuloh.
The dolphin's tail is too efficient, but this one swimms in different way than a boat navigating. I can't imagine my boat jumping over the waves. Sharks or tunas swimming more like a boat navigate.

Precision Barometer.

The titanium bar is in my left leg, a bit uncomfortable while working, but the best barometer ever.
Stick legs just to olders pirates.
 

PROPULSION DEVICE II.

Soon this matter will be posted in detail(while using it in practice). The idea in back of this is to do something easy, simple and reliable. For a boat this size, the wave propulsion can be done very cheap too, and will work not under motion but under vibration or cavitation. I think not computer was invented yet to calculate the lot of variables to determinate resultant force, many vortexes are generated. Two or three small modifications has been done while building the hull as well.
The new technologies are used not only to select materials, but to simplify- opposite as most of the people think-  any mechanism as well. The complexity of new devices respond to a commercial finality, but this is not the case. I look for freedom, yes, this is not only an abstract idea, I talking about cruising for free, independent of winds or streams too.

NA-Y

I'm ready to sail, just need some days to complete details like the insurance or an affidavit. The only problem is I will experiment the propulsion device while sailing cause I don't found permits to do it here. Doesn't matter, a bit of faith ever is needed.
I will use in the beginning just the device derivated from yuloh. The other one -the fin in the bottom- cab be avoided to have a better point of view about just this oar performance .
 

GOVERNAMENTAL HELP IN SPAIN.

I send a request to spanish government to somebody help me to dock the boat in any harbour for a few days to experiment before sailing, explaining this is an experiment shared with everybody with any commercial interest. This is the answer:
"I want to be thankful for the information that it has facilitated to us, as well as its sample ofcapacity of initiative and innovation, but I must indicate to you that it is not function of thePresidency of the Government to promote the commercialization of the inventions realised bythe individuals and companyes." It receives a warm greeting. Signed: Jose Serrano Enrique Martinez. Director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government.
I know this sounds a bit fool, in a time when almost all the goverments invests in new and green technology. Probably they need a hundred million dollars project to support burocracy, but this is from people to people. I share for free and this works, saving oil and benefitiating our planet, as everybody knows.

They got some laws in helping individuals to develop green energy - but this is not real.

PROPULSION DEVICE.

In the left, a design showing the main system, based in the yuloh. At right, another fin free of motion to generate a vortex to rear. This is very schematic, cause the final angles, sizes, proportion and material will depend of the practice. But the concept is to use as less as possible any kind of mechanism under water to avoid drag.
The "yuloh" type use the lateral motion of the boat, while the other one the pounding. I think total is bigger than the add of parts in this case specially. Now I have to get it working.

BOAT BUILDING IV.

I think probably this week the boat is ready. Then I will began to build the wave power propulsion device, with the advice of Mr.Ken Upton, by the AYRS (Amateur Yacht Resarch Society) of London. As I hear Ken was the first person to observe the dolphins need ten times more muscles what they have to swim at the speed they reach, so the dolphins use the power of the waves. Let me see what happens.

POOR MAN'S TECHNOLOGY.

I found this trolley at rubbish bean. Is a bit rust but it works and is strongh enough. Take a look at the bottom, I leave a bit of curvature between the last bulkhead and the transom.
Nobody can doubt this boat is very light. The shape and lightness I was looking for is inspirated in currachs or curraghs of Aran. I hope it works.

STEP ONE IN WAVE POWER PROPULSION DEVICE.

I'm talking about wave propulsion, and this is a perfect machine, made by nature. See the "bottom",  looks like a planning hull. I know some people talks about dolphins and displacement hulls, but a boat have not muscles; springs or rubber ropes are not muscles. I'm not an "expert", sorry, I'm just a beach boy, but my device works.
I suppose the flow of water around a displacement hull is important but not desiderable if is intended to use that flow of water like a propulsion.

BOATBUILDING III.

Don't looks all that bad, I think.

BOAT BUILDING II.

After the rain, some fiberglassing and sanding. Then sanding. And then sanding. After all was perfect, just sanding a bit more.

BOAT BUILDING

Pure backyard boatbuilding. After this stage, three months of continuos rain, as never seen in Spain in forty years.

This is my first design, attempting to develop a wave propulsion system.

DORADO BOAT.

This boat was builded by Ashley Cook in New South Wales (Australia), and designed by Jim Michalak. I bought the plans at Duckworks (see link).


http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jim/dorado/index.htm

69-year-old Japanese sailor Ken-ichi Horie captained the world’s most advanced wave-powered boat 4,350 miles from Hawaii to Japan, the longest distance traveled by a wave-powered boat and, along the way, show off the greenest nautical propulsion system since the sail.

http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02/wave-runner

He does a media of 1.5 knots or so, like two miles per hour, because the weather was excessively calm for that  seasson.

 

Francois Kneider, an inventor who is in his seventies, continues to amaze the people who know him by the number of ideas he has and the innovations he brought to life. In 2005, he focused on building wave powered systems for boats.

This is the first project what I knew. The inventor, is an anonymous who in the 30's reach with this model a speed of 10 miles per hour.
But I think all began before, when the whalers observe the die whales was moving along at one knot or so-depend the waves- when floating.

http://www.rexresearch.com/boats/1boat.htm