Meet... The Mule
- Thread starter Brian D
- Start date
Please explain how this is "Junk Technology". Foils have been around for quite some time. I know some have difficulty letting go of the square rigger days but, all of our sloops are a function of technology advancement. I wasn't fan of the foiling cats myself and probably not of these either but, they are an evolution of technology being applied to racing. Just like auto racing, technology, design, and materials are fleshed out there first. There are now carbon boats, first appeared in racing boats. Now it is becoming more prevalent in production boats.
Awesome.. saw that video when they came to he cradle of aviation museum for a presentation which supposedly was later that same day... I won't say how fast they said they were going...
Isn't it obvious when the power boats were struggling to keep up? 
What I'd like to know is what wind speed is needed for a boat like to achieve foiling speed? I might put some skis on my boat and see if I can do the same thing.
What I'd like to know is what wind speed is needed for a boat like to achieve foiling speed? I might put some skis on my boat and see if I can do the same thing.
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Ha! That's what they said about the wing keel! Now I have one!
I seem to remember a certain windspeed I'm not allowed to repeat... But really look at the water in the video... That's no more than force 4... If it's that
One video I watched did not mention wind speed, but the guy (a Brit if I remember) said these boats are capable of up to 50+ knots. That I believe. I guess if you are a racer, that is good. But for a leisure sailor, I don't see any of that technology moving down to the common sailor. At least not yet.
Where is the common sailor going to get the 4 guys to peddle bike generators to power the hydraulic systems needed to control the foils.
Common sailor can use wind generator and/or batteries.. depending of course how much power is actually needed.. of course we are talking many moons down the road
Looks very cool, think about the wings and spoilers added to race cars and how that technology is common on cars and even performance oriented SUVs now.
I can't imagine trying to avoid crab/lobster pots wile tooling along at 25+ knots.. part B: that foil looks a lot like a Rocna anchor.. It'd be fun (?) to unstick that from a clay bank !..
Cool technology, no doubt.. fun to sail .. Indeed !! Practical for other than class racing or ocean crossing at speed; prolly not.
Cool technology, no doubt.. fun to sail .. Indeed !! Practical for other than class racing or ocean crossing at speed; prolly not.
Just imagine dodging the Gulf oil platforms.. Kind of wonder what would happen cruising upto Cuban waters doing 25+ knots. Sure to bring out visitors.....
(highjack?) We were "visited" by a Pegasus class Coast Guard hydrofoil one night while doing a transit from Isla Mujeres Mx. to Key West.. We could see a big boat occluding the stars as it approached at 30+ kts.. was pretty spooky until they got close and turned on 10 bajillion lumens of spotlight and told us they were Coasties.. we were blinded for many seconds.. They let us alone without boarding after verifying papers.. We got to watch as they got back on the foils and quickly got out of sight!.. I can't imagine them running into nets with that thing at speed!
Yes it is raining here today..
Yes it is raining here today..
I think the Batts are only to power the wing arm joints to raise and lower... I think there will be grinders to power hydraulics for the"sails" and to actuate the wings at the end of the arms... those grinders have to be hands this time... No peddlers, right?
Right... Providing the common sailor the power to control these things only seems impossible now because noone has figured it out yet... Let's remember that this tech on big boats is still in its infancy
