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> I was at REI yesterday, and saw an interesting idea for a kayak. It was
> powered by a bicycle crank turning a propeller. Seemed like it had higher
> freeboard, hatches front and rear, and an open cockpit, sculpted to pedal
> recumbent style. very large gear on the pedal crank, very small gear on
> the propeller shaft.
> Steering was by a essentially vertical handle sticking up on both sides of
> the cockpit, tilt either handle side to side moved a rudder.
> The stern and transom was flat across the rear, and the bottom of the hull
> extended out past the transom to provide a shelf over the rudder and
> propeller.
> At $2800 US dollars and all fiber glass, not for me, but if it could be
> adapted to stitch and glue, it might be interesting. The sales clerk
> claimed that it was a very fast boat, which sort of makes sense, since you
> are using leg muscles rather than arm muscles to power it.
> dave
The September 1996 issue of Woodenboat had an article about Harry Bryan which included pictures of a fin-powered boat he builds. It is probably not as efficient or fast as a pedal-driven propeller, but it seems to offer the additional advantage of totally hands-free operation. I believe that the boat could be propelled and steered using just the foot-powered fin. As a fisherman, this aspect appeals to me. I hope to build a boat with a similar drive system in the future.
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Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
