[hpv-boats] Belt Drive

[Rick Willoughby]

Mark
As Ian pointed out the typical V-belt will have poor efficiency for a  
pedal drive.

I have used toothed belts and they can be set up nip idlers to have  
very low losses.

Nauticraft go a step further using a toothed belt in a twisted  
configuration.  It feels nice and seems reliable.  THere is a sketch  
in this brochure:
http://www.nauticraft.com/downloads/ 
escapade_pedal_boat_brochure_9_2008.pdf


Has anyone tried using a automotive fan belt to change the direction  
of power transfer 90 degrees.
  That is to say go from pedals to gear then at gear use the fan belt  
to change the direction of power 90 degrees
to the propeller by twisting/turning the fan belt the 90 degrees over  
some distance like a few feet.
  Or possibly from the pedals to the propeller, I like the idea of  
going to some gears so that it might be
possible to increase propeller rotation significantly while keeping  
cadence at a pace I can more easily manage.

Rick Willoughby