MATT MARINER BROZE wrote: <<<<<Given that the double skull rowers were probably generating twice the horsepower (or watts) as the pedaler (and given that a double scull is faster than a single scull) the advantage of the pedal boat must have been in the much better efficiency of a screw propeller vs. oar blades for propulsion and the constant delivery of power from pedaling that could maintain a more uniform (and therefore more efficient than surging and slowing like the rowers) speed through the water. >>>>>> Great test! I think there's something more to the non-uniform power of the rowers than just the gaps in their power-output. They slide back and forth in their boat, constantly pushing the boat over its hull speed and slowing back down with just their moving mass. That can't be good. Perhaps rowers shouldn't row in sync to avoid that problem - they'd just have to find a way not to bump into each other and get their paddles tangled. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun May 01 2011 - 07:02:37 PDT
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