h a l f b a k e r yI like this idea, only I think it should be run by the government.
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The harnesses would be specially made for the dolphins, probably fitting individual mammals between the head and dorsal, minimizing pressure to the fin and allowing for maximal mobility of their lower body.
It would all be made out of really smooth flexible carbon fiber; stretchy stuff, like the stuff
those new laser swimsuits are made out out. The ropes would be very stretchy so that a great deal of gain would be noticed between the dolphins' initial move forward and an actual force on the boat. This means that they have a great deal of freedom to move.
To keep the ropes out of the way of the tails they thread through a rafter that looms above the front of the boat. This rafter is a center piece of a dolphin sled; it must be very sturdy and is made of the finest mahogany. It usually contains the engraved initials of the sled's first owner and dolphin team. Some engravings actually bear a bas relief of the team in action.
The sled would be a boat, of course. Probably a lightweight shell with flanking floatables to counter the gee and haw of the six or eight frisky little fins in the water. The center section, the basket, has a stand on the front with a driving bow where the rider holds the ropes and commands the sea! Mush!
Chariots Of Water
Chariots_20Of_20Water
[theircompetitor, Jul 25 2008]
[daseva] out for a Sunday ride.
http://z.about.com/.../6/J5459Chariot.jpg
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jul 26 2008]
Shark surfing
http://meview.metro.co.uk/?id=31939
Like this? [theleopard, Jul 31 2008]
[link]
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+ sounds like fun as long as the dolphins aren't harmed or over worked. |
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(This reminds me of a story my brother
told my little girls about some baby
armadillos that came out the woods and
tried to fly a kite, but got taken out to sea
by a gust of wind. They were saved by a
bunch of dolphins. The image of baby
armadillos riding on the backs of dolphins
always makes me laugh). |
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[nomocrow], that makes me smile. |
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As charming as this idea is, I've my usual objection--a lack of method. |
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A dolphin swims by moving its tail up and down. That tail has flukes that are several feet wide. Which is to say that there is a hell of an area at the back of a dolphin that cannot have chains, traces, or tugs through it. |
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This idea doesn't address that problem. It is probably a solvable problem, but I want to see something about it. |
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Otherwise, this is just a description of Poseidon's chariot. |
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Dolphins, the other sea horse! |
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What happens when they dive? |
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How about a dolphin-team submarine? |
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