2007-08-25 05:05:51 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
if you put the fan pointing twords the sail
2007-08-25 05:20:12 · update #1
If you put the fan facing the sails, the boat would go aft.
If the fan faces aft, the sails would help it get wind and it would move forward.
There are very large propeller driven boats that can go into the wind.
2007-08-25 09:34:13 · answer #1 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blowing air into the sail would not move the boat as the attached point would be putting the fore away from the sails> If you put a big fan or fans facing away on the stern like a air boat it would move a small boat but steerage would be a problem until it reached 2 to 3 knots>>An a long extension cord or generator>
2007-08-25 05:43:01 · answer #2 · answered by 45 auto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A sail is a vertical wing. It works by having the air flow faster over one side of it faster than the other resulting in pressure that pushes the boat along. The exception is when you are running directly downwind. Then the pressure pushes you along but it is always much slower than when you are on a reach (angle to the apparent wind). No fan will generate enough air flow to make the sail work.
If you stand in a wagon and throw a ball, the wagon will move (Law of Action/Reaction). The fan would act in the same manner. The sail would actually ad resistance and slow you down.
Pushing on light air is not as good as pushing on the much heavier water. The suggestion about a propeller is a good one.
2007-08-25 05:39:08 · answer #3 · answered by tokayman321 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would need to be a very large fan but it would work. If the fan were in the stern blowing on the sail set on a "reach" position it may work best. A reach is the sail position when the traveler cars are out slightly and the sail is sheeted out. This is the position for off or down - wind sailing.
I'm sot so sure as it would work as well if you were trying to point up-wind (main and jib) closer to the center-line of the boat. The fan would need to me on a bow corner.
This plan would work much better if tested on a Hobie Cat. They are extremely lightweight and have a huge sail area. The fan could be moved to a corner of the trampoline to get a more direct air shot at the sail-pan.
2007-08-25 05:42:06 · answer #4 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A fan is the same thing as a propeller. So, yes the boat would move, but the fan would be better off under water and not out of the water.
2007-08-25 05:13:53 · answer #5 · answered by Ham B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm stewpid and it looks like my kind of question. for the boat to move, the fan would have to be pointed to the aft of the boat. every action.....equal & opposite reaction?
2007-08-25 08:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now I understand why the American Sailors hardly never win the Americas Cup.. they are using 110volt ventilators.. the others 220volt ventilators.. did you really expect a better answer?
2007-08-25 10:58:46 · answer #7 · answered by glljansen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes but you would need a LOOOOOOOONG extension cord
2007-08-26 01:17:00 · answer #8 · answered by MR. T. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋