Brent,
There is a big difference from a naval architecture standpoint in towing a svelte Hobie Cat and a sea anchor like a K-250. Displacement being the first thing that comes to mind.
R/Jay
Resepectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Andros Is., Bahamas
Save the whales, collect the whole set.
From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Brent Hartwig
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 4:26 PM
To: PSUBSorg
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Kite Propulsion Testing in the Worx
Greetings Subdudes,
I just picked up a 16 foot Hobie Cat for kite sail testing some ideas for using a kite on my KL-250 during some longer surface runs, and also just for fun. I'll remove the mast, and change the rudders to being foot controlled, with each rudder being controlled separately, each by one foot, and both rotating in a toe in fashion, like the new twin rudder design on my sub. This way I can have them work as breaking flaps if needed. I can do this since I hope I will be able to keep both amas in the water when kite sailings, since I don't have the normal mast and sail trying to flip me over.
Having the rudders controlled by my feet, I now have my hands free to control the kite control bar on a new five string kite design that is out now.
I might also mount batteries in the amas to power electric thrusters mounted in the rudders or that come out of new bottom pockets in the amas, like seen on amphibious plane floats.
A interesting thing I found out when picking up the Cat from a friend on the far east side of Lake Pend Oreille, was that he has data about how when they were done with a good number of the steam boats that were once used on the lake, they brought them out in front of where his lake home now is, and lit them a blaze to sink them. So there are a number of ship wreaks there to explore if they are not to deep for my current sub.
This makes me want a sub that will take the 1,150 feet depths that are there. My current sub would go there, but it would require some thing like opening the hatch at the surface, filling the sub with beer, and saying Howdy Os, go sleep with the fishes. ;}
Regards,
Szybowski