The forward facing propulsion thread

[Jeremy]

As it seems that there are one or two of us playing around with forward facing propulsion systems, be they pedal driven flappers, waggling yuloh like things or conventional oars linked to unconventional reversing linkages, I thought it might be an idea to gather all these developments together into one thread.

I've been carefully following the development of the waggling yuloh invention that Chris W has skilfully engineered on to the nether regions of Rosie Mae and suspect, from a brief conversation about power losses in blocks, that Chris has further improvements in mind (if you let me know the size of sheaves you want, Chris, I'll see what I can knock up for you from Delrin).

I'm currently finishing off a reversing linkage that will be fitted to Aero for testing before too long, so will hopefully post some photos of the prototype that the two Chris' saw on Sunday.

There's also an interesting thread on the Boat Design forum that's been discussing some variations on the theme of front rowing, here: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/front-rowing-system-canoe-37905.html

Jeremy

[Jeremy]

I've trial fitted the forward rowing system this morning and taken some photos.  At the moment the handles are missing, as I'm waiting for a bit of Delrin rod to arrive so I can turn some up.  Here's the oar out in roughly the catch position:



And another photo with the oar roughly in the release position:



The aft part of the linkage can go over-centre to allow the oars to be brought inboard and shipped:



And finally some close ups of the linkage and pivot:





As soon as the Delrin arrives I'll turn up some handles and it'll be ready to try out on the water.

Jeremy

[Chris Waite]

Ah Jeremy

You overestimate me Sir!  Apart from gratefully accepting your offer of larger diameter Delrin blocks, I have no further ambitions; the Ped-yuloh is complete in principle and only needs its prototype appearance buffed up and tuned a tad.  It did a comfy nine miles driving the small, voluptuous and gravitationally endowed Rosie Mae at a good walking pace on the raid.  I could see where I was going and eventually found myself twiddling my thumbs, which are usually otherwise occupied.

The objective has been achieved.  I didn't use it more as, unrefined on the little boat, it currently takes a couple of minutes stuffing around to swap to and from sailing and back again, unlike the oars that can be whipped out for a mere couple of strokes.  Also on that day, I found afterwards, the most pressing problem was actually moderate stress-induced delamination of the 18mm B&Q ply seat that I was sitting on.



There are some 'experts' out there who reckon the blade should be flat-ter on its aft side than forward to produce a double edged foil section and on that account, I might be a smidge rougher with the Bodger's Friend (Surform), when making a final pass over the above and abaft mentioned aspect, but otherwise the system needs only trimming to fit the boat in question.

And which boat?  Now that is the question

Christ-oar-fore W.

(Those not familar with this thread, might care to see the 'Yuloh' topic dated January 11 under 'General Discussion' on the earlier '2'nd page)

[GregHBBR]

Chris Waite wrote

(Those not familar with this thread, might care to see the 'Yuloh' topic dated January 11 under 'General Discussion' on the earlier '2'nd page)

Easier to say the Yuloh thread!

Just visit the thread, copy the URL, and link to it! - The date of the most recent post, and page that it's on are variable. The URL is permanent, so it's always better to use that!

A further tip for those that have missed the facility:
If you are logged in you can easily find an interesting old topic again by adding it to your forum favourites list. Before you leave the topic, click on the faint star on the pale blue bar at the top of the topic to turn it yellow. You get to your favourites list by clicking your username towards the top right corner of the forum and choosing "My starred items" from the menu. Click on a yellow star to remove a topic from your favourites list.

[Chris Waite]

Ah Greg, (or even Paulie), only a month later

I am trying to continue the Yuloh saga and the invitation to "Just visit the thread, copy the URL and link to it" sounds sublime.  It is so sublime in fact that I have now been invited, twice at least - "If you trust this web site, click here to allow scripted windows..." and lost my carefully worded text.  

Sounds like a load of tosh to me and as usual when I'm using these things - nothing happens - I press link and the screen simply flickers and jumps about a bit.  How do you "link to it" and what 'it' are we talking about?

And please, while you are clearing this up for me could someone explain embedding again as it now seems to be hidden as a suggestion at the bottom of 'Tips'.

How about clearing up the crud and keep the claptrap concise, get rid of the old and now inaccurate messages.  

In Cyberius Simplicitas


ADMIN EDIT:  Adding CWs later message which was accidentally deleted because Nabble now deletes replies as well as the original message (Greg's message).

Thank you Greg

Reinforcing your admonition to 'Keep things tidy', I wanted to move to channel 'How to embed a You Tube video' under 'Announcements & FAQ's'.......... and I would, but I don't get a 'greyed out' background with a separate bright box.  I get this sodding ('scuse me) '?' bar invitation "to allow scripted windows if you trust this website"

Now Gregory

You know I am not lying to you as after I had told you that when I try to 'Insert an Image' it doesn't go where the cursor is, but is dropped at the end of the message and has to be moved to its correct position...   you didn't belive me, then the gremlins got to you and it happened to you as well (and you haven't released Nabble's explanation of why).

So believe me when I tell you I have unwitting infernatural super powers and YOU move this infernal message to 'Announcement's & FAQ's'.

While we are on the subject, the Minister of the Interior has been trying to book flights to and round North America where her Canadian relatives and American children live.  Can you book an in-country flight with Delta Airlines from outside the USA.

Can you hell

For payment, they ask you which country you are based in and accept UK, but then assume that the whole planet consists of states with two letter codes and post codes of five numerals...

Why am I at the mercy of incredibly intelligent, yet perochial and microcephalic (look it up on line) computer programmers?  While working out in the Middle East, we used to bank with an 'INTERNATIONAL' company who worked out of Bermuda.  And guess what, they used to turn their fax off when they went home in the evening and for the weekend. Not only does the Muslim Middle East have its weekends Thursday and Friday, but the planet is a large baseball lit from one side by a big light bulb and that means when one side is dark - night-time, the other side is, guess what? That's it; Daytime!
 


So much for Globalization

CW

[PapaLobo]

Hello Jeremy,

I am much taken with your forward facing rowing system and would like to know more but I see it is sometime since you last were on this part of the site so will wait to hear from you before going into much detail.

I have been moving my 18 Sailfish cruiser with yulohs, sculls, and traditional oars with good results but find the standard rowing position sitting on the cabin step limited and tiring and would love to switch to forward facing. The sailfish would be about a tonne laden and I suspect the system you have designed would need beefing up but I really do like it and would be grateful for any help.

Kind regards,

James

[BrianP]

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?218633-Why-not-more-interest-in-pedal-power&p=5140381#post5140381