[hpv-boats] Escargot

[Rick Willoughby]

Clem
The claimed performance with two pedallers is 6.4kph.  Was the bottom  
fouled?  That will make a huge difference on any heavy boat where  
viscous drag dominates.

Also the two Seacycle units are not well matched to heavy loads.  The  
pedal drive I have for the 8t catamaran swings a 780mm diameter large  
model aeroplane prop.  Large swept area becomes more critical to  
achieve efficiency with heavy load at low speed.

A well designed 1t boat should be capable of sustaining between 7 to  
8kph with two pedallers working around 100W.  Typically a sailing  
boat hull will be a bit easier to drive than the barge type hull.

I do agree with the conclusion that weight is important but probably  
not as bad as your experience suggests.  The 5m length limit for free  
passage may be more serious.

Rick Willoughby
rickwill at bigpond.net.au
03 9796 2415
0419 104 821

This summer I experienced a three day trip on an Escargot, a human  
powered
boat weighing roughly one ton. The Escargot (literally translated  
"snail"),
designed by naval architect Philip Thiel is a charming tiny houseboat,
indeed.
Yet it takes some patience to get adapted to its speed limit.  
Cruising speed
without auxiliary power (electric) was around 3 km per hour. Powered  
by 2
adults - each one contributing around 100 Watts.
For more information on the "Escargot" see: http://www.gruene-flotte.de/

My conclusion from this 3 day trip:
Human powered boats should rather be lightweight.

Best wishes
Clemens