NEWS
July 31, 2006
We got some good news today, Carl Chamberlin our hull modeler and co-designer ran all the numbers relating to internal volume, skin friction, prismatic coefficient, loading and ballances etc. and what we found was that acording to the values we have at this time, the loaded boat
should travel at 3 kts. with just under 1/10 hp. If that doesn't sound like a big deal, then consider that our initial estimates were for 1.5 kts. at 16 hrs./day to complete a circumnavigation in 2.66 years if I never stopped!
With the updated figures, the boat should be even more efficient than we had hoped. Recent experiments and calculations have pegged my power output at 1/5 hp. sustained and 1/4 hp. in short bursts with a peak power output of 1/3 hp.
So even with a 50% loss of power due to friction and such we should significantly exceed our original expectations.
To put this into real terms, it means that if I only pedaled 10 hours a day I could complete a circumnavigation in just over 2 years and still take a 2 month vacation along the way!
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