Neat old boating article
09-18-2012 | 05:15 PM
#1
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Neat old boating article
I've always liked to read old boating publications. Not only are they vastly more interesting than present issues, they're one of the few sources where one can find original specs and test reports on vintage boats.
They also had great tech articles relating to all things nautical.
Here is a particularly interesting example from a 1982 issue of Boating magazine.
It is rare to find such forward thinking in any branch of motor sports; where radical innovation is something of an antithesis.
Have a look.
While the article is centered around the predicted evolution of marine electronics and how it might affect the way boats are used (quite intriguing in its own right), mention is also made of advanced propulsion and hull technologies, along with some incredibly viable ideas for powering the "boats of the future" -- this is what caught my eye.
Among the suggested innovations is the postulate that boats will be moved via external combustion engines running on a myriad of available bio-fuels.
Given the relative obscurity of bio-fuels, it might at first appear perfectly reasonable to write them off as useless, but a cursory glance at some recent history makes a great case for the actual viability of these technologies.
A perfect case in point would be the impressive steam powered automobiles manufactured by Abner Doble in the early 20th century; these were state-of-the-art for the time, and are still regarded as being highly sophisticated. There are several specimen still in operation around the world.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N98mXwTsx5A[/YOUTUBE]
And here's a recent innovation of the same concept:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MifFKgWC0g&feature=player_embedded
[/YOUTUBE]
Rudolf Diesel first demonstrated his engine at the 1894 Chicago World's fair. It was of the stationary variety, with large flywheels for belt-driven implements. Mr. Diesel was running his engine on peanut oil, as he had designed it primarily for the rural country farmer; who could derive fuel from his own land. It was later re-purposed to burn fossil fuels after Diesel's death.
Henry Ford said in 1925: "there's enough alcohol in one year's yield of an acre of potatoes to drive the machinery necessary to cultivate the fields for a hundred years."
Later on, Ford found something even better to use: Industrial Hemp.
This Popular Science article from the late 30's shows what might have been.
One can just imagine the boats that could be made from industrial hemp and its byproducts.
They could be lighter, stronger, and a great deal more affordable. Pair that with external combustion engines powered by locally grown and processed hemp-based fuels, add in ultrasonic fuel atomization for enhanced efficiency, and we could get pretty close to those predictions of 1982, rosy as they seem from this side of the fence.
The technology has been there for over a century. The only thing that has kept it from being implemented is a most peculiar defect in the squishy lump of tissue between the ears of those whom could've made it all happen... Pretty darn frustrating.
They also had great tech articles relating to all things nautical.
Here is a particularly interesting example from a 1982 issue of Boating magazine.
It is rare to find such forward thinking in any branch of motor sports; where radical innovation is something of an antithesis.
Have a look.
While the article is centered around the predicted evolution of marine electronics and how it might affect the way boats are used (quite intriguing in its own right), mention is also made of advanced propulsion and hull technologies, along with some incredibly viable ideas for powering the "boats of the future" -- this is what caught my eye.
Among the suggested innovations is the postulate that boats will be moved via external combustion engines running on a myriad of available bio-fuels.
Given the relative obscurity of bio-fuels, it might at first appear perfectly reasonable to write them off as useless, but a cursory glance at some recent history makes a great case for the actual viability of these technologies.
A perfect case in point would be the impressive steam powered automobiles manufactured by Abner Doble in the early 20th century; these were state-of-the-art for the time, and are still regarded as being highly sophisticated. There are several specimen still in operation around the world.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N98mXwTsx5A[/YOUTUBE]
And here's a recent innovation of the same concept:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MifFKgWC0g&feature=player_embedded
[/YOUTUBE]
Rudolf Diesel first demonstrated his engine at the 1894 Chicago World's fair. It was of the stationary variety, with large flywheels for belt-driven implements. Mr. Diesel was running his engine on peanut oil, as he had designed it primarily for the rural country farmer; who could derive fuel from his own land. It was later re-purposed to burn fossil fuels after Diesel's death.
Henry Ford said in 1925: "there's enough alcohol in one year's yield of an acre of potatoes to drive the machinery necessary to cultivate the fields for a hundred years."
Later on, Ford found something even better to use: Industrial Hemp.
This Popular Science article from the late 30's shows what might have been.
One can just imagine the boats that could be made from industrial hemp and its byproducts.
They could be lighter, stronger, and a great deal more affordable. Pair that with external combustion engines powered by locally grown and processed hemp-based fuels, add in ultrasonic fuel atomization for enhanced efficiency, and we could get pretty close to those predictions of 1982, rosy as they seem from this side of the fence.
The technology has been there for over a century. The only thing that has kept it from being implemented is a most peculiar defect in the squishy lump of tissue between the ears of those whom could've made it all happen... Pretty darn frustrating.
Last edited by JP-8; 09-18-2012 at 05:22 PM.
09-19-2012 | 09:28 AM
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From: MIAMI, FL
That lower picture is Harry Schoell, who escaped the boat business, and drug me along. We have been developing external combustion engines for more than 5 years. We have 30 patents on the technology, and have built a car and a boat to set world steam powered speed records. The motors are all multifuel (anything that will burn) and cleaner than any other form of combustion engine. They range from 5 to 350 HP at present, and have been purchased by Raytheon, US Army, and several "green" forward thinking companies. See our website, www.cyclonepower.com;
Brownie
Brownie
09-20-2012 | 02:03 PM
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Wow, it really is a small world. I never would have guessed that you and Harry worked together, but it doesn't surprise me. Two great minds, indeed.
I've been following the Cyclone engine for a couple of years, and regard it as one of the best solutions to come about in many decades. It could initiate a second industrial revolution; something we need very badly.
In your estimation, what would it take to get these engines out to the masses? So often, these types of innovations are only evaluated for their military potential, and it goes no further.
A pair of these engines in an offshore boat would be remarkable. How remote is that possibility?
I've been following the Cyclone engine for a couple of years, and regard it as one of the best solutions to come about in many decades. It could initiate a second industrial revolution; something we need very badly.
In your estimation, what would it take to get these engines out to the masses? So often, these types of innovations are only evaluated for their military potential, and it goes no further.
A pair of these engines in an offshore boat would be remarkable. How remote is that possibility?
