JohnZimmerlee
1 µW
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Messages
- 1
For years I've been working on the ultimate Electric Solo Boat.
At first I thought it should be light enough to put on top of the car . . . and once on the ground the motors, battery, controls, and seat would be added. That proved too cumbersome and the connections too expensive. It would also require space in the vehicle for all of the components.
The boat should be long enough to track in the wind but short enough to turn and spin within its own length for agile fishing and photography.
At one time I had a trolling motor attached to cables and foot pedals for foot steering. I removed the twist handle control and mounted it to the side of the seat. Push forward on left foot to turn right; twist left hand right to go forward, twist left for reverse . . . while casting with right hand. Almost immediately, I realized I wasn't that coordinated.
Three years later, I have changed all of that!
Stream Dancer is a handsfree electric powered personal watercraft controlled solely by your feet that operates in 6 inches of water without harming fragile underwater environments.
Stream Dancer comes in 3 sections that stack and nest together in a compact package that goes easily into the back of a pickup truck, SUV, or minivan. Once on the ground, simply slide the bow and stern onto the midsection; attach the wheels, and roll it to the water's edge.
She uses two trolling motors, each fixed on either side of the centerline of the boat. Each motor is attached to an auger instead of a prop. Augers work well at speeds less that 9 knots, provide instant starts and quick turns, and work equally well in forward and reverse. The boat is trihull with inverted u-shaped tunnels between the hulls. The augers are recessed in the tunnels allowing full propulsion anywhere the boat can float.
On the top side, the floor is higher than the waterline allowing supper holes to disperse any water coming in over the side . . . allowing use in the surf and rough river waters. Sliding foot controls control each of the motors. Push forward on one heel and that side of the boat moves forward with incresing speed. Steer by appling faster speed on one side than the other. Pull back to apply increasing reverse speeds. Push on one heel while pulling back on the other and the boat spins like a top in its own length.
Flip the seat back forward and up pops a higher casting seat that can used while continuing use of the foot controls without adjustment.
This concept took first place in the Int'l Concept Boat Design Competition in January 2008 at the London Boat Show.
You can see it in action at www.streamdancer.com
Though the patent is complete, I'm having trouble finding a manufacturer to produce the boat.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
John Zimmerlee
Stream Dancer
At first I thought it should be light enough to put on top of the car . . . and once on the ground the motors, battery, controls, and seat would be added. That proved too cumbersome and the connections too expensive. It would also require space in the vehicle for all of the components.
The boat should be long enough to track in the wind but short enough to turn and spin within its own length for agile fishing and photography.
At one time I had a trolling motor attached to cables and foot pedals for foot steering. I removed the twist handle control and mounted it to the side of the seat. Push forward on left foot to turn right; twist left hand right to go forward, twist left for reverse . . . while casting with right hand. Almost immediately, I realized I wasn't that coordinated.
Three years later, I have changed all of that!
Stream Dancer is a handsfree electric powered personal watercraft controlled solely by your feet that operates in 6 inches of water without harming fragile underwater environments.
Stream Dancer comes in 3 sections that stack and nest together in a compact package that goes easily into the back of a pickup truck, SUV, or minivan. Once on the ground, simply slide the bow and stern onto the midsection; attach the wheels, and roll it to the water's edge.
She uses two trolling motors, each fixed on either side of the centerline of the boat. Each motor is attached to an auger instead of a prop. Augers work well at speeds less that 9 knots, provide instant starts and quick turns, and work equally well in forward and reverse. The boat is trihull with inverted u-shaped tunnels between the hulls. The augers are recessed in the tunnels allowing full propulsion anywhere the boat can float.
On the top side, the floor is higher than the waterline allowing supper holes to disperse any water coming in over the side . . . allowing use in the surf and rough river waters. Sliding foot controls control each of the motors. Push forward on one heel and that side of the boat moves forward with incresing speed. Steer by appling faster speed on one side than the other. Pull back to apply increasing reverse speeds. Push on one heel while pulling back on the other and the boat spins like a top in its own length.
Flip the seat back forward and up pops a higher casting seat that can used while continuing use of the foot controls without adjustment.
This concept took first place in the Int'l Concept Boat Design Competition in January 2008 at the London Boat Show.
You can see it in action at www.streamdancer.com
Though the patent is complete, I'm having trouble finding a manufacturer to produce the boat.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
John Zimmerlee
Stream Dancer
