| Author | Message |
Freedom
37 posts |
#5972 2007-08-25 09:05 GMT |
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if you put the fan pointing twords the sail |
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MindsEye
41 posts |
#5973 2007-08-25 09:08 GMT |
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I've reported you for such a boring question.
ZzZzZz..... |
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BloodFlower
43 posts |
#5974 2007-08-25 09:13 GMT |
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A fan is the same thing as a propeller. So, yes the boat would move, but the fan would be better off under water and not out of the water.
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Beanie
47 posts |
#5975 2007-08-25 09:39 GMT |
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A sail is a vertical wing. It works by having the air flow faster over one side of it faster than the other resulting in pressure that pushes the boat along. The exception is when you are running directly downwind. Then the pressure pushes you along but it is always much slower than when you are on a reach (angle to the apparent wind). No fan will generate enough air flow to make the sail work.
If you stand in a wagon and throw a ball, the wagon will move (Law of Action/Reaction). The fan would act in the same manner. The sail would actually ad resistance and slow you down. Pushing on light air is not as good as pushing on the much heavier water. The suggestion about a propeller is a good one. |
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Zoe
46 posts |
#5976 2007-08-25 09:42 GMT |
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It would need to be a very large fan but it would work. If the fan were in the stern blowing on the sail set on a "reach" position it may work best. A reach is the sail position when the traveler cars are out slightly and the sail is sheeted out. This is the position for off or down - wind sailing.
I'm sot so sure as it would work as well if you were trying to point up-wind (main and jib) closer to the center-line of the boat. The fan would need to me on a bow corner. This plan would work much better if tested on a Hobie Cat. They are extremely lightweight and have a huge sail area. The fan could be moved to a corner of the trampoline to get a more direct air shot at the sail-pan. |
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PrehistoricSwimmer
40 posts |
#5977 2007-08-25 09:43 GMT |
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Blowing air into the sail would not move the boat as the attached point would be putting the fore away from the sails> If you put a big fan or fans facing away on the stern like a air boat it would move a small boat but steerage would be a problem until it reached 2 to 3 knots>>An a long extension cord or generator>
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Skatergod
32 posts |
#5978 2007-08-25 12:53 GMT |
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i'm stewpid and it looks like my kind of question. for the boat to move, the fan would have to be pointed to the aft of the boat. every action.....equal & opposite reaction?
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HocusPocusCrocus
42 posts |
#5979 2007-08-25 13:34 GMT |
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If you put the fan facing the sails, the boat would go aft.
If the fan faces aft, the sails would help it get wind and it would move forward. There are very large propeller driven boats that can go into the wind. |
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TrickSkate
33 posts |
#5980 2007-08-25 14:58 GMT |
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Now I understand why the American Sailors hardly never win the Americas Cup.. they are using 110volt ventilators.. the others 220volt ventilators.. did you really expect a better answer?
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Minnie
36 posts |
#5981 2007-08-25 19:15 GMT |
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If you are trying to fill up the sails using a fan, the boat would go backwards since some of the air would spill around the side of the sails. If the fan was more from the side, and the sails were trimmed right then yes, the boat would move forward
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FireInTheSky
42 posts |
#5982 2007-08-26 05:17 GMT |
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yes but you would need a LOOOOOOOONG extension cord
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