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I got it into my head that I could build a novel type of fold-up boat, I whipped up a cardboard mock-up which worked, so I decided to make the full-sized version. For this I needed waterproof solid sheets so I thought, why not plexi-glass? That way the entire boat would be transparent. I used a
sheet rubber I work with for building shower pans to adhere the sheets together in a way which required no seams. No seams, no leaks.
It turned out to be far more stable than I thought it would be and I kind of enjoy the bit of vertigo induced from seeing bottom so clearly... or not.
Since then I have figured out a way to collapse one to a suitcase size for trips, but I have not had time to even make the mock-up of that one yet.
[links]
Folded up
http://s68.photobuc...ecent]=1&sort=1&o=1
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 17 2015]
Ready for test run
http://s68.photobuc...ecent]=1&sort=1&o=0
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 17 2015]
First time out... sorry not much video.
http://s68.photobuc...mp4.html?sort=3&o=0
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 17 2015]
Seethroughcanoe
http://www.seethrou...m/clear-canoes.html
This company missed the opportunity to put "seathroughcanoe" as their title and their website is terrible, ripe for the taking.... [bs0u0155, Sep 18 2015]
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Fantastic! I really like that. I've been looking for a clear
version of one of those little fishing boats you propel and
steer with your feet so you can use a fishing rod at the same
time. I'm able to find clear kayaks - no folding ones though. |
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If you actually come up with a design that functions then
follow through and make it we might have to kick you out of
the gang though. |
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Having just educated myself on the intricacies of a couple
of plastics, namely polycarbonate vs the polyethylene
usually used for such things as kayaks and canoes I went
through a few stages: 1. Polycarbonate is way tougher
than polyethylene, and clear... let's do this. 2. It's got a
higher density than water... 3. does it matter? nah. 4.
oh, wait, it says here you have to be careful with
moulding... have to mould around radii 100x bigger than
the thickness... hmm. 5. meh, we can design around this.
6. wait, this is too easy, has this already been done?
<link> dammit. |
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like the folding idea though, could bring the cost down,
also, add in a polarizing layer to cut down glare at the
waterline. Then, for extra credit make it out of a plastic
with the same refractive index as water, then you'd
REALLY confuse the fish. |
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Not the dolphins though. Wait, you'd have fish swimming
into solid objects and being confused, dolphins not. How
long before dolphins are chasing fish at your boat and
gobbling up the stunned ones? Good luck with the hinge-y
bits though. |
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Also, you actually DID something, sure you're posting to
the right place? [+] |
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If I'm not mistaken, you're using a pure rubber? If so, just a
suggestion, you might want to look at the fiber reinforced
rubber (or rubber doped cloth, not sure which) that is used
for white water rafts and the like. It would up the weight a
bit, but would greatly increase the durability against sharp
rocks or broken tree branches. |
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"S.S." traditionally stands for "steam ship", I think. Are you
indicating something you haven't specified in detail, yet? |
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to be fair, the Nimitz is a steam ship with a very consistent
heat source. |
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[2fries], count me as impressed. |
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Thanks for the materials info. Straight black rubber and contact cement, (although water-proof) is not the best way to go I'm sure.
For the collapsible suitcase version I found out that cutting through only half the depth of the plexi-sheets allowed me to fold them in half, way more times than I cared to continue trying, without snapping.
I wonder if I might ask if someone knows of a flexible clear rubber and clear adhesive to connect the individual geometric folds? |
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//"S.S." traditionally stands for "steam ship", I think. Are you indicating something you haven't specified in detail, yet?// |
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It's just a stutter... s-s-sea threw. |
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//What's the suitcase version for ?// |
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Carry-on luggage for tropical vacations of course. Who wouldn't want a clear kayak that folds up into a suitcase? |
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//cutting through only half the depth of the plexi-sheets
allowed me to fold them in half// |
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That worries me. "Living hinges" such as clam-shell food
packaging are used almost exclusively with polypropylene,
and rarely with polyethylene. Acrylic (Plexiglas) is not
generally used for these designs. Obviously it can work, but
I would worry about the long term durability. The big thing
is if they do crack at all, the crack will propagate very
quickly. |
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//Acrylic (Plexiglas) is not generally used for these
designs.// |
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I don't know if we're talking Plexi-glass or Lexan here, the
names are often used interchangeably. Plexi is acrylic,
Lexan is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate outperforms
polypropylene in almost every mechanical way, including
fatigue. |
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PC isn't any better than PMMA for living hinges. It's
extremely tough and durable, yes, even under cyclic loading
(fatiuge limits), but it's not flexible, and in order to produce
a living hinge it would have to be cut so far through that it
produces an inherent weak point. |
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Shirley a nice series of cuts to the inside would produce a
pleasing radius with very little flexibility per cut required..
10 cuts, 9 degrees per section, would be easy enough to get
the inside of the radius to touch so it held up in compression
too. |
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I would not choose to use pc for a living hinge. Also, living
hinges are not good at transmitting weight forces of heavy
parts hanging on them or the side pressure from buoyancy. |
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I would love to go drifting down the river in your boat. + |
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Psst: sp. "seams" - but I love the idea. [+] |
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Doh!
It seamed write at the thyme. |
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When traveling at night, you could have the red/green port/starboard lights deployed inboard, below the water line. You might want to slot a small sheet of something opaque between them, though - possibly a double-sided mirror. It would be less practical than having them above the water line, but much more ... mystical. |
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Also, it might help you to see the frogman as he attaches the limpet mine. Why would a frogman attach a limpet mine to a boat that could be folded up into a suitcase? Well, it is a challenge to the ingenuity to devise a frogman who would fit into a *smaller* suitcase - possibly into carry-on luggage. This once achieved, the "limpet mine" might just be a waterproof sticker saying "gotcha!" |
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//Shirley a nice series of cuts to the inside would produce a
pleasing radius with very little flexibility per cut required..
10 cuts, 9 degrees per section, would be easy enough to get
the inside of the radius to touch so it held up in compression
too.// |
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To make the bend, sure. To get it to flex repeatedly, not so
much. |
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Clearly a great way to spend a weekend. |
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