User:Vincecate/WaterWalker2

Building a 1:5 scale model/prototype like the WaterWalker model that is big enough for 2 people to take a kite powered ride along the South side of Anguilla. The legs will be 20 feet long. I have done several seastead models but this will be the first large enough to play on.

Costs

• Rope - $108.59 - 150 feet of 3/4 inch nylon rope
• Barrels - $80 - 4 from a West Indies Concrete in Anguilla at $20 each
• Steel Beams - $212 - 4 steel beams at $53 each
• Hardware - $100 - hinges, nuts, bolts
• Wood beam - ~$20
• Plywood - ~$60

The barrels are a great deal. The rope price does not include shipping and duty. The other prices are tropical island prices which include shipping and duty - US prices should be less for these things.

Weights

• Barrels 20 lbs
• 3" square tube 20 feet long - 48 lbs
• 4x4 at 16 feet long - 60 lbs
• 4x4 at 20 feet long - 75 lbs

Flotation

The barrels are 54 gallons which is 432 lbs in fresh water and a bit more in salt water. The plastic underwater should float so only about half of the 20 lbs of the barrel really counts, or 10 lbs. The ropes holding the base in shape may be underwater or above water, not sure yet. Don't know the weight yet, but probably small and if underwater it should nearly float.

• Flotation 1728 lbs (from 4 barrels)
• Using half each 864 lbs
• Weight of beams 200 lbs (4 metal beams)
• Weight of other 100 lbs (short central beam, platform, and various hardware)
• Available for people and other 564 lbs

Might fill lower part of steel tubes with foam so they float. This would add a bit extra flotation.

If we had an aluminum box beam that was thick enough to weld to we could close off the end and make something to attach to at the same time. A 6 inch square aluminum box beam would be great. Aluminum is a better choice for a production model but it costs much more so I am not using it for this prototype.

Design Decisions

There have been several design decisions that I puzzled over.

• Going from 3 legs to 4. I did this because it gives me a wider base and lets me use 4 of the cheap barrels I have available. With this I am sure I can carry 2 people and maybe more. Makes structure a bit more complex.
• How to join the legs together at the top. With 4 legs the 4 hinge method on a central column seems good.
• With 4 legs it makes sense to have diagonal ropes between the legs but I think this is not really needed. Without the diagonals opposite sides can move in or out while other pair does opposite. Should be limited range though as weight is transfered to legs coming together. Might reduce passenger motion. WaterWalkder with moving legs seems fun to try. Makes tieing the platform not so easy, but might be OK without ties.
• Ropes out of the water or at ends of legs? If the ropes are out of the water there is less drag for the structure moving through the water; however, the stress on the leg is more. If the ropes are in the water they can help to attract fish. In lower stress mode I can make structure wider before breaking anything. Can also use the same attachment point used to tie barrels. Expect to tie at ends of legs.
• How to make platform for people. Don't want it to be too heavy but people need to be able to hang out for the whole trip. Decided on a small seat at the very top and a 4' by 4' platform about 4 feet down from joint. Can lean on the legs while standing. Attaching both with L brackets.
• How to attach the barrels
  • Strap barrels along end of the leg - no movement or danger of hitting leg but bigger waterline area
  • Tie them so they float horizontally with tail fin so line up in direction of movement - could reduce drag when moving through the water. Complicated with what I have.
  • Tie them so they float in normal barrel orientation (vertical) - minimizes waterline area - some danger of barrel hitting leg. With ropes and legs in the water heave should not be too much of a problem. Choice I made.

Sponsors

After this has been built, tested in the ocean, and documented on the web, these sponsors have pledged these amounts:

• Joep - $300
• Jesrad - $200

Maiden Voyage Route

Plan is to do 2.5 miles route that is never far from land. Will go into the water at one beach and then get out of the water at another beach. The wind is normally from the East and we will do this on a day when that is so. Will have a person in Hobie Outback along with model. The kayak may pull the model a bit south at the start if the kite has any trouble going south enough to clear land 1/2 mile from start.

If we can average 1/2 MPH then it would be about 5 hours to make the 2.5 miles. At 1:5 scale this is simulating a 12.5 mile trip at 1.12 MPH.

Things to bring on maiden voyage

  * Life jackets for everyone (3 or 4)
  * Swimming fins
  * Sun screen
  * Water/drinks/cooler
  * Two people on board 1 or 2 in kayak
  * Sea Anchor - test how much it slows it down  
  * Kite/pulley/attachment-rope,  maybe backup kite
  * Cell phones
  * GPS
  * Fishing pole/hooks/bait/container

Possible things to work on next for this project

• Measure force/speed for barrel in pool - barrel half full of water - both on side and upright
• Measure force/speed for 4x4 section in pool
• Measure thrust lbs from Hobie Outback
• Measure force from kite
• Make attachment to barrels and test by filling barrel with water and lifting by rope
• Model 4 leg WaterWalker to test if we really need diagonal ropes (I no longer think we need them)
• I have pulled my 2500 lb boat (really 3600 lbs with water ballast) with my kayak, this at 1/10th the weight but less hydrodynamic is probably similar really. So I am sure I can move it with a kite or kayak. But question is how fast. If it was 1 MPH or more I might do an 8 mile trip instead of 2.5 miles. On the other hand it may be good to start with a small trip. I also need to measure how far off-wind I can travel before trying the longer trip and I can only do this on a test voyage.
• Just build it and launch it

Other Pictures

Got these 3 barrels for $20 each from the concrete plant. Now planning on using 4.

This 3" by 3" square tube is 20 feet long and cost me $53. Tropical island prices include shipping and duty, so are usually nearly twice mainland prices. I just got one so far to make sure I can work with the ends and that it is strong enough.

Testing 20 foot steel box-beam (square tubing) with 250 lbs on it.

Testing 16 foot 4x4 with nearly 300 lbs on it. The extra weight came on of its own accord.