Pedal power???

[Marcjsmith]

Inboard...nah too heavy

outboard...nah fucking thing won’t ever start

electric...fuck me forgot to the charge the batts

pedal power...good enough for the America’s cup good enough for me We can go two up if needed.  



View attachment 5AB81F36-4E8E-4425-B23B-67687F23B9A2.MP4

 

[Lex Teredo]

There are a couple races with their own little communities here that do stuff like that for propulsion - R2AK and maybe Everglades Cup?  

It's a thing.  But don't google these races and look at the design decisions.  It will screw up the way you view sailboats and sailboat racing the way that viewing some types of porn changes your view of humanity.  Just. Don't. Google. 

 

[markwbird]

I'm actually surprised this isn't more common.  It's a good solution for light boats that just need enough to get in and out.  Why, just the other day I passed a crew on a J-22 ooching their way back to the marina with no wind and a long way to go.  A little pedal power would have been perfect for them.   

 

[JohnMB]

I'm actually surprised this isn't more common.  It's a good solution for light boats that just need enough to get in and out.  Why, just the other day I passed a crew on a J-22 ooching their way back to the marina with no wind and a long way to go.  A little pedal power would have been perfect for them.   

Rocking and sculling are very effective for most small keelboats and require less equipment. One person can move a soling along very nicely with very little effort standing on the rear deck and rocking and sculling. My J70 will move along decently rocking,  sculling is less effective.

 

[Foolish]

Whatever happened to oars?  

 

[Only Fools Rush In]

Rocking and sculling are very effective for most small keelboats and require less equipment. One person can move a soling along very nicely with very little effort standing on the rear deck and rocking and sculling. My J70 will move along decently rocking,  sculling is less effective.

What is rocking and sculling?

 

[JohnMB]

What is rocking and sculling?

Sculling is repeated movement of the rudder to propel the boat.

Rocking is exactly what it sounds like, rock the boat and it moves forward.

Combining the two can be very effective.

 

[Matagi]

I hate to be the one telling you, but you are overestimating your lung capacity a bit.

In fact, these two are equal, in simple terms:

 

[fastyacht]

I'm actually surprised this isn't more common.  It's a good solution for light boats that just need enough to get in and out.  Why, just the other day I passed a crew on a J-22 ooching their way back to the marina with no wind and a long way to go.  A little pedal power would have been perfect for them.   

Or a yuloh

 

[fastyacht]

Whatever happened to oars?  

Just not those oars please

 

[Sail4beer]

Make mine Shaw and Tenney

 

[Ex Machina]

Inboard...nah too heavy

outboard...nah fucking thing won’t ever start

electric...fuck me forgot to the charge the batts

pedal power...good enough for the America’s cup good enough for me We can go two up if needed.  


View attachment 490503

I’m pleased to see the exhaust is well outboard .  is there a thru prop exhaust as well to keep the engine noise down ? Wonder if it runs on bio based 2 stroke oils ?  Throttle response would be way crisper if a female were to give it a twist .  Would it restart easily after a dunking if WD40 was squirted down the throat of the carb ? Compression test would be challenging ! Can you turn off the voice prompts ? 

 

[Boathavn]

It looks like Race to Alaska (R2AK) is back on this year.   An aqua peddlers dream.





The bigger boats on this race seem to use some elaborate, stow-able pedal-type contraptions.

Here is a blurb from their website:

Race to Alaska Explained
Stage 1 Race start: June 13, 2022, Port Townsend, Washington
Stage 2 Race start: June 16, 2022, Victoria, BC
Application deadline: Tax Day baby! April 15th

The inside passage to Alaska has been paddled by native canoes since time immemorial, sailing craft for centuries, and after someone found gold in the Klondike the route was jammed with steamboats full of prospectors elbowing each other out of the way for the promise of fortune.

It’s in the spirit of tradition, exploration, and the lawless self-reliance of the gold rush that Race to Alaska was born. R2AK is the first of its kind and North America’s longest human and wind powered race, and currently the largest cash prize for a race of its kind.

This isn’t for everyone
It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.

R2AK is based on the hardest kind of simplicity
You, a boat, a starting gun. $10,000 if you finish first, a set of steak knives if you’re second. Cathartic elation if you can simply complete the course. R2AK is a self-supported race with no supply drops and no safety net. Any boat without an engine can enter.

In 2019, 45 teams were accepted and 25 finished.

Stage 1: The Proving Ground

Port Townsend to Victoria BC (40 miles)
R2AK  starts with an initial race across open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border.  The first stage is designed as a qualifier for the full race and as a stand-alone 40 mile sprint for people who just want to put their toe in.

If you want to be a part of R2AK but don’t have the time or inclination for the full race- join for a full day of all out racing across some of the biggest water in the course. Racers continuing on will clear Canadian customs in Victoria.

Stage one finishers get to bask in the glory for a full day and a half.

Stage 2: To the Bitter End

Victoria, BC to Ketchikan, AK (710 miles)

Racers start in Victoria at high noon on the Thursday after the Stage 1 start, and continue until they reach Ketchikan—or are tapped out by the sweep boat. Other than a waypoint at Bella Bella, there is no official course. To quote the bard, You can go your own way.

If this sounds like your brand of whiskey, R2AK is the race for you.

"The Sail Like a Girl" team had their boat  across the slip from me last summer for a few weeks.



Their pedal setup can be seen here:



They are a nice bunch.  The always brought borrowed tools back and seemed to enjoy the wafting bachelor pad music when working diligently on their boat.

I hope they're back again this year and in the running for the steak knives or better.

 

[bluelaser2]

But don't google these races and look at the design decisions.  It will screw up the way you view sailboats and sailboat racing the way that viewing some types of porn changes your view of humanity.  Just. Don't. Google. 

People who don't know better like to slag on Hobie Islands.   Yes they are rotomolded.  Yes they look like toys. Yes they are often owned by people who have never sailed anything before.   

So fuckin' what. 

People make epic voyages on these things, you can carry them to and from the water, the pedal drive is a thing of beauty, and the experience of working with the sail- kayak sailing in general - is a very satisfying & legit form of water pleasure.   It sails upright & has dual controls for tiller & sheet, which is obviously excellent for educating people new to the experience.  With a 2.5hp outboard they become really capable adventure boats that can be beached just about anywhere with no worries.  They hold their value nicely too.  One of my favorite boats.  

Here is a minute or so of upwind sailing in Lake Erie chop.  The thing goes just fine- better even than some more serious vessels.  

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4ZKK4Hpb2aK7rjA28

 

[Talchotali]

Looking closely at this pic, I assume that oars are a secondary means of propulsion only and the Bass-o-matic electric outboard is primary (till the battery runs down).

Since this boat looks to be in the <$1,000,000 class, my assumption is that the skipper wisely follows the rules of the $1 sailboat class and has three redundant, dodgy methods of locomotion should the wind not cooperate.

Five will get you ten that there is a drill motor outboard in the cubby.

MAKITA POWER!  For that last 50 feet to the dock...

 

[Santanasailor]

Pedal Power, Now that’s something I know just a bit about   

When I watch my diet, sometimes I come home a winner 

 

[fastyacht]

My bike has toe straps and tubulars.

 

[shebeen]

Inboard...nah too heavy

outboard...nah fucking thing won’t ever start

electric...fuck me forgot to the charge the batts

pedal power...good enough for the America’s cup good enough for me We can go two up if needed.  


View attachment 490503

doesn't look like anywind through the sails, so yes it helps and he's steering at the same time.

 

[shebeen]

There are a couple races with their own little communities here that do stuff like that for propulsion - R2AK and maybe Everglades Cup?  

It's a thing.  But don't google these races and look at the design decisions.  It will screw up the way you view sailboats and sailboat racing the way that viewing some types of porn changes your view of humanity.  Just. Don't. Google. 

ha ha.

the promo video for their "Lite" version last year got me hooked. This guy is the right mix of proper serious, funny, psycho.