The fastest speed recorded for a human-powered watercraft is 14.89 mph (12.94 knots), in the Men's 100-meter Flying Start event. It was set by Dr. Allan Abbott (longtime holder of the human-powered land speed record) on September 27, 1987, aboard a hydrofoil named "Flying Fish 2." This is according to the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA). Source: http://www.ihpva.org/hpva/hpvarecs.html#nom73 If you'd like to see what such craft look like, check the photos of human-powered hydrofoils at: http://www.cks-precision.ltd.uk/ihs/misc.htm Dan Harrison *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net> wrote: >>>>>>I don't know how many Paddlewisers also read US News and World Report, but there's an interesting article in the current issue about waterbikes. The story is also online at: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000904/nycu/waterbikes.htm Anyway, this story is about the increased popularity of waterbikes -- kayak like hulls with a pedal drive system. The photo in the article (not on the website) shows what appears to be a pretty big kayak, something like a Chinook with aspirations to be a sit on top, fitted with a crank mechanism. The USN&WR story intimated that these boats were designed for open water, but I think I'd be kind of leery of that. I did see a guy out on one of these on an inland lake this summer -- it was more of an upright thing with a bicycle framework. He got wiped out on about a one-foot wave, and had a heck of a time getting back on board. I was thinking about going out and giving him a hand -- the water was pretty warm -- but he managed to get back on top before I could get the yak in the water. The article also says that they're faster than the typical kayak. Has anybody tried out one of these things? What's your reaction? Fact or fad? I know Matt Broze had a watercycle that went like a house afire -- but IIRC, it had limited stability, being only something like 12" wide.<<<<<< A Sea Saber (similar to one like I later owned) in the mid 80's won the Cross Sound Race against several hundred competitors in canoes, kayaks and rowing craft (like sculls and shells) on the roughest day the race was ever run in the 20+ years it has been held. The Sea Saber won every year it was entered as well. Pedalcraft can be seaworthy. I have tried 5 or 6 other pedal craft since then and none has been very impressive in the speed department until I tried the Water Bike a little over a year ago. At 12" wide by 20' long it was quite fast and closer to the Sea Saber in top speed than the others by far. It wasn't quite ready for prime time in the retractable outriggers then but I assume they have the bugs worked out by now. The Sea Saber was 50 lbs, 11" wide and 21' long and had a small proa type outrigger about 9 feet out to one side. Speed claims the pedal boat websites make are unreal. Up to 12 mph or more in sprints is claimed. Seven or eight mph sustained speeds. Major exaggerations! Check out these race results for a dose of reality in just a 2 kilometers race. http://www.humanpoweredboats.com/HydroFest/2000/R_2KCriterium.htm For 100 meters flying start there is: http://www.humanpoweredboats.com/HydroFest/2000/R_100m.htm Greg Barton just won the Cross Sound Race of about 8 miles in an average speed of about 8.3 miles per hour. I don't think the Sea Saber ever went that fast, but it was beating the top kayaks at the time which included a few Olympic paddlers by 5 or 6 minutes. Richard Frost <maloneme_at_gwi.net> asked: >>>>>>From what little I have seen, these are much more than a fad. I have frequently thought about designing one myself, but I doubt I'll get to it this decade anyway. Combining a comfortable pedaling position with an efficient prop shaft angle always leads me to raising the pedalers center of gravity to the point where a kayak form is too unstable in wavy water. I feel the really successful pedal powered boat will have outriggers or be a catamaran type of craft. Is anybody doing that yet?<<<<<<<< Yes, many folks, but they are all slower due to the extra wetted surface on two hulls unless they can lift off on to hydrofoils once up to speed. A trimaran with small outriggers for stability should be faster and more seaworthy. Follow the link Wes gave above and the one in the article and you should get to a lot of their websites. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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