Water propulsion idea

[boncrshr]

With all of the tire talk, I have been really agonizing over compromising mud performance with water speed. What if you could run any mud tire you wanted and still have good water speed?

Something has been bouncing around in my head for a while, and I just wondered if anyone had tried anything similar. What if you were to build some metal paddles, that looked basically like small flags with an eyelet at the other end. The eyelet would go over the axle stud and be secured by the lug nut.

The paddles I have in mind would be small, maybe 1.5"x1.5", and extend basically to the edge of each rim. With 5 small paddles at each wheel, the surface area should be enough to assist water speed.

The downsides would be that in certain terrain, you would probably beat your paddles up, but they would be cheap to make. The other concern would be sidewall punctures.

Thoughts?

[srg121]

Might not work if they don't exit water on top as they would be pushing the wrong way? might work with 12" rims,not sure where the water line is on max 4 and the amount of any extra weight in vehicle could raise water line as well.less weight will make you go faster becouse of the obvious reason and cause your tires will be higher lessening negative propulsion from top of tires going wrong direction

[Mike]

Check out this thread: http://www.6x6world.com/forums/tire-...-slingers.html

[Robio_8x8]

Very good point Srg

Might not work if they dont exit water on top as they would be pushing the wrong way? might work with 12" rims,not sure where the water line is on max 4 and the amount of any extra weight in vehicle could raise water line as well.less weight will make you go faster becouse of the oviuose reason and couse your tires will be higher lessining negitive propoltion from top of tires going wrong direction

Your push forward will fight the push backwards (your ying will yang)

I was thinking of tracks helping to paddle but it would reduce the buoyancy.
Increase the buoyancy and that paddle idea just might work.

[srg121]

kinda like offsetting penalties.....may actually slow you down since they would cancel out but also put alot of drag on motor!!!!

[JRP3]

I'm new to this AATV thing but if I had any serious water crossing to do I'd simply buy a small electric trolling motor and hang it off the back. It can be pulled off and tucked out of the way when not needed.

[micmac]

Here is a thread about Ray Koles system. He designed and built a 6 x 6 called the bushwhacker. I think this was in the design phase but he hasn't updated yet. He lives in Canada so water testing might be a little cold right now!!

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/general-6x6-atv-discussion/1134-new-propulsion-drive.html

[liflod]

For a paddle wheel to be effective, 2/3 of it must be out of the water. On our machines, 90% of the tire is in the water.

[Robio_8x8]

That much ?2/3 out

For a paddle wheel to be effective, 2/3 of it must be out of the water. On our machines, 90% of the tire is in the water.

I believe you but I was hoping it only needed to be 1/2 or 1/3 out would be sufficient.

The problem with only 10% being out of the water too is you move and then you tops sink on one side. This is why they should bring back the balloon tires. You would not see one today but a Jiger with Balloon tires could do 5mph+ from its tires with only a 8hp motor and two people . It had a high water line and I am sure with more power motor and one less person it could swim faster. I guess a Gip Sea would be the same but I never seen one in the water .

[Marc]

if the paddles are under water the effect will not be very good but it will work.
this has to to with the different pressure of the water in different deep. I once had a poncin VP 2025 which lay so deep in water that the tires are about i inch under water. But it drives forward with about 1 to 2 km/h.
You also could read about this phenomene in the book "Mit dem Auto baden gehen" a book about amphibious vehicles. Sadly not about AATVs

[Marc]

Ops i hit the return button to early.
I also wanted to say that this system was used at the 2x4 Penguin AATV and the 6x6 Scat. The Penguin had a second aluminium wheel with padles on the outside of the rim (looked like a mill wheel) and the Scat had 4 big padles on the rim. Ask Amphiman, as far as i know he should have bought a Scat with this paddles.