Ok, but when I read closer it said this was a Sterling Engine,
that is a good way to blow all the money--engineering an
efficient Sterling Engine that is light enough to be practical.

"DSK" wrote
"Bart Senior" .@. wrote
Free 150 knot hydrofoil, only $1.25M.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-5...QQcmdZViewItem


Interesting vessel, interesting marketing scheme. I wonder if they can
actually build such a vessel of if their "engineering department" consists
of the computer geek/graphic artist who drew up the picture.

Imagine hitting a log with this thing.

Bart Senior wrote:
Who would run a turbine on gas?

Navy's been doing it for years.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/lm2500.htm

They're not as fuel efficient at lower speeds as diesel or steam ships,
but they provide more power per pound than anything else available. The
super-fast speedboats have been using gas turbines for a while too.

DSK

Bart Senior wrote:

Ok, but when I read closer it said this was a Sterling Engine,
that is a good way to blow all the money--engineering an
efficient Sterling Engine that is light enough to be practical.


My understanding is that Sterling engines are pretty much toys at this
point... can't really generate very much useful power for their weight &
heat input. That's a whole seperate engineering problem.

But gas turbines are quite practical & powerful, power to weight is
their best characteristic rather than fuel efficiency. A jet engine is
basically a gas turbine, set up so that the exhaust gas pressure gives
all the "push" and the power train only drives the compressor.
Alternatively you can design one so that the exhaust is not very
powerful and the turbine shaft drives a heavy load. Ford built a turbine
powered truck years ago.

DSK

A couple of years ago a guy at the marina across from mine had a jet
turbine powered catamaran using a helocoptor engine. It was capable of
175 MPH. He went airborne one day last year down near Annapolis and
him and another guy died. I used to see him "taxi" out of the marina.
The thing sounded like a jet fighter.

That engine belongs in an airplane not a light weight boat.

rgnmstr" wrote
A couple of years ago a guy at the marina across from mine had a jet
turbine powered catamaran using a helocoptor engine. It was capable of
175 MPH. He went airborne one day last year down near Annapolis and
him and another guy died. I used to see him "taxi" out of the marina.
The thing sounded like a jet fighter.