All right now, please hear me out on this one before you laugh me off the forums. Please!
Why not a twin pulsejet surfboard? While the picture that immediately springs to mind seems utterly wacky, it's really not that bad a fit when you think about it -- the surfboard, after all, is sort of an aquatic/marine "hang glider", to wit:
- You're way safer on open water than on a paved surface or (worse) on a city street (obstructions, pedestrians, etc.) or in the air (over who knows what terrain)
- The surfboard, well waxed, is a very low-drag watercraft, and requires little power to operate - just a matched pair of small engines would do nicely
- For an experienced surfer, control would be simple and intuitive
- Very "complete" control: planing trim, turning, etc. is all accomplished without fancy mechanical junk
- Jet power would be at the rear and down low, just above the drag CL
- A hand-held "dead man switch" could cut the power immediately in case of "wipe out" (or just "bailing out" if things go bad)
- You could (maybe) jet out near to a big wave, kill the jets, turn around and then surf in "normally" -- be the first Jet Kahuna in your town. Ha!
- Valveless engines could be re-used immediately, even if thoroughly dunked (you'd need to use a bladder type fuel tank, I guess, to keep your fuel dry)
For absolute simplicity, you can't beat this. So, why not? Any REAL surfers out there who can point out why this is a really, really stupid idea?
L Cottrill
Any Kahuna Here Who Can Hang Ten?
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Jet Board
WHAT TO FRAP, IT WORKED![url=callto://james.a.berquist][/url]
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When your surfboard jets off without you........
I once strapped an H-class rocket motor to the back of a windsurf board, it was awsome but achieved a very "unspectacular" speed. Wasnt lit long enough I think.
I once strapped an H-class rocket motor to the back of a windsurf board, it was awsome but achieved a very "unspectacular" speed. Wasnt lit long enough I think.
Sailing Student- How do I know if my life jacket is tight enough?
Me- Can you breathe?
Sailing Student- Yes
Me- Then its too loose!
Me- Can you breathe?
Sailing Student- Yes
Me- Then its too loose!
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Re: Jet Board
Jim, that has to be one of the most amazing things I've ever seen anyone do! It looks impossible from a stability standpoint, like balancing on top of an oversize golf tee or standing on top of a one-legged stool. Yet, there it is. Of course, I realize that surfers need a very good sense of balance, even on an ordinary board. But this just seems incredible to me.Jim Berquist wrote:Here you go, Go to the next level!
http://www.videovat.com/videos/2103/hyd ... board.aspx
L Cottrill
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Larry: I rented a sail board while in Greece one day. While in three ft of water I spent the next hour trying to hold up the sail, balance, and get it to move.
There was at least 20 other people Zooming around having the time of there life.
Then it happened! I got moving, Moving, Moving faster, Moving Really faster, Moving Really Really fast, Moving so fast it was all I could do to hold the sail up and keep the right angle on the dangle with the sail. Looking back to see how fare I have gone, BOOOM! Down I go.
Back on the board, I look and say OH SHIT! I was at least 1000 yards from all the others .
It took me another 3 hours of Curcio's travel to get back in. Never Never Again!
I must had picked that sail back up out of the water 500 times.
There was at least 20 other people Zooming around having the time of there life.
Then it happened! I got moving, Moving, Moving faster, Moving Really faster, Moving Really Really fast, Moving so fast it was all I could do to hold the sail up and keep the right angle on the dangle with the sail. Looking back to see how fare I have gone, BOOOM! Down I go.
Back on the board, I look and say OH SHIT! I was at least 1000 yards from all the others .
It took me another 3 hours of Curcio's travel to get back in. Never Never Again!
I must had picked that sail back up out of the water 500 times.
WHAT TO FRAP, IT WORKED![url=callto://james.a.berquist][/url]