for a track system you only want it to go front to back. how do you get it
to return if its all underwater? they run snowmobiles short distances
over water but the top of the belt is above water.

if you try hinged blades you have to figure out how to get them to lie
flat on the back-to-front return trip as they will be hinged the wrong
way.

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(William R. Watt) wrote in message ...
for a track system you only want it to go front to back. how do you get it
to return if its all underwater? they run snowmobiles short distances
over water but the top of the belt is above water.

if you try hinged blades you have to figure out how to get them to lie
flat on the back-to-front return trip as they will be hinged the wrong
way.

Well, you could have the return above the waterline... Or if the
return were sealed except for the flat on the bottom, the water would
just go over the top and be expelled when the flap exposed itself
again to make the push trip the length of the boat??? Still have that
steering problem though.
Scotty

Scotty says:

Still have that
steering problem though.

One small track each side? Variable diff off the pedals controlled from a
handlebar?

Just a thought....

Steve

Backyard Renegade wrote:

(William R. Watt) wrote in message ...
for a track system you only want it to go front to back. how do you get it
to return if its all underwater? they run snowmobiles short distances
over water but the top of the belt is above water.

if you try hinged blades you have to figure out how to get them to lie
flat on the back-to-front return trip as they will be hinged the wrong
way.

Well, you could have the return above the waterline... Or if the
return were sealed except for the flat on the bottom, the water would
just go over the top and be expelled when the flap exposed itself
again to make the push trip the length of the boat??? Still have that
steering problem though.
Scotty

Use two tracks.....reverse one for tighter turns?


--
I'd rather put more life in my days than put more days in my life......

Probably more doable with wheels than tracks. In the dark recesses of
my memory I seem to recall seeing a number of vehicles (probably
prototypes) over the years that used the wheels for propulsion on water.
One had 8 wheels and was about the size of a John Deare ATV. Not fast
but versatile. Could be useful on backwaters to get to a remote fishing
hole and a lot quieter than an air boat.

Ron

Probably more doable with wheels than tracks.

a thought does strike me that if cunningly engineered suitably stupidly
outsized wheels on a stupidly light body could be used, they could provide
all the lift bouyancy required... you'd want some very efficient mudguards
though... and you'd have no problem getting over quicksand either.

Al

"Al" ) writes:

a thought does strike me that if cunningly engineered suitably stupidly
outsized wheels on a stupidly light body could be used, they could provide
all the lift bouyancy required... you'd want some very efficient mudguards
though... and you'd have no problem getting over quicksand either.

I've seen a kind of water tricycle made of three large wheels with big
treads like a farm tractor. Used to see it tied up to a houseboat on
the Rideau Canal. Probably used it to commute to shore.

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