Converting a Electric motor Qboat to a Sailboat.

[Projectnick]

Hello everyone,
I have a Qboat which is Electric powered and i want to put a sail power on it. I am a Naval Arch Student and I don't see many materials online on conversions. I have been reading stuff about it and I am not sure how professionals choose the shape of the sail, number of sail, and area of sail. I would really love some professional advice.

This is my boat
http://www.oceanscience.com/pdf/Q-Boat 1 Spec Sheet.pdf

this boat has a keel and rudder too.

 

[dskira]

Its time for you to have fun making your own research. You don't want someone to tell you how to do it, it will spoil your learning curve.
Try and error are the most interesting moment in life. Be a real student: study and learn by doing.

 

[PAR]

Welcome to the forum Nick.

I find it difficult to imagine a student in your field, not having a reasonable grasp on the fundamentals of hydrodynamics. Without a clear idea of the shapes involved with your Qboat, it's difficult to suggest anything about a conversion. Can you post lines for this craft?

 

[latestarter]

This site is worth studying; Lester Gilbert's Radio Sailing
http://www.onemetre.net/

 

[Projectnick]

I dont have lines for the boat, but it regular v-shaped displacement kind. Thank you all and late starter.

 

[messabout]

New Orleans is literally crawling with sail boats. Look around some boat yards, sailing clubs, and yacht clubs for real world examples of a huge variety of sail boats and rigs. You will meet some old time sailors who might have suggestions.

 

[DCockey]

Hello everyone,
I have a Qboat which is Electric powered and i want to put a sail power on it. I am a Naval Arch Student and I don't see many materials online on conversions. I have been reading stuff about it and I am not sure how professionals choose the shape of the sail, number of sail, and area of sail. I would really love some professional advice.

This is my boat
http://www.oceanscience.com/pdf/Q-Boat 1 Spec Sheet.pdf

this boat has a keel and rudder too.

Is this part of a school assignment or project?

 

[DCockey]

I dont have lines for the boat, but it regular v-shaped displacement kind. Thank you all and late starter.

Do you have access to the boat? If so you can measure the boat and develop a set of lines. Several methods are described in this book which can be download free: http://www.museumsmallcraft.org/publications.html Given the size of the boat in question the simplest method may be to use templates.

"Taking off lines" is a marketable skill and an example of having done so would be a good addition to your resume.

 

[Projectnick]

Thank you DCockey, its a project

 

[DCockey]

What year are you in? How much knowledge of sailboats do you have?

Do you need to convert an actual boat or only put together a design? How long do you have? Is it a team project or are you working by yourself?

 

[DCockey]

Principles of Yacht Design is a very good textbook on sailboat design. While the example worked is a 40' racer/crusier sloop the principles apply to any sailboat.
http://books.google.com/books/about/Principles_of_Yacht_Design.html?id=U-BBAAAACAAJ

 

[Projectnick]

I don't have much knowledge about the sail-boat. I just know the terminology and the physics behind it because i am reading the Principles of yacht design by larssson and CA Marchaj, Sail performance book. I know the design process of the regular ship hull where they use the NavCad, GHs, rhino and other for different prediction, but never even see a real sail boat. I am not an American, that describes it. . I just have to put together a design by myself, but not really construct it in a semester to study.

 

[DCockey]

Good to hear you already found Principles of Yacht Design.

 

[Projectnick]

I am digging!! Thanks

 

[Skyak]

I design sail rigs for kayaks that would be an easy fit but you have far bigger issues with righting and control. If you look at manned sailboats you will be way off in terms of righting unless you can match the active control. For more guidance, look at remote control sailboats, particularly the ones that copy the hull shapes of standard sailboats like the laser. RC boats have giant keels relative to their displacement.

My advice, start by measuring the the righting of the boat you have. With that you can begin to consider the ability to carry a sail. My gut feel is that you are going to have to choose an unconventional sail that is self trimming and you may have to build a 'battery keel' because you can't get the righting you need without raising the displacement too much without relocating the battery much lower. Alternative would be to go with a light lithium ion battery and a deep lead keel or a multihull (which has been done).

Some other important considerations -do the instruments and communications on the boat need it to be upright to work? Will the sail or the keel interfere with operation? Do you have draft limits? How will you control the sail and with what feedback?