[MHml] horsepower & sleds

[Gary Pearce]

This has been mentioned several times in the past and _looks_ pretty cool but 
apart from the mechanical complexity and weight the device is relatively 
inefficient. Especially as the lowerable unit must be either hydraulically or 
electrically driven.

I read that a slightly different device which was effectively a lowerable 
steerable saildrive also driven either by hydraulic or electric was less 
mechanically complex, cheaper, lighter and likely to mean the the Voight 
system for yachts was unlikely to reach production. 

Gary

On Friday 02 February 2007 10:57, Alan Christoffersen wrote:
> Why not go with one of those german made "propellers" like a Voight
> Shneider system - I can find the company. They have a "hot tap" system that
> you push down though the bottom of the hull, and it retracts fully and
> seals. Size is around 8 to 12 inches. Mount electrical motors vertically
> onto here. Have a nice big generator in a box craned into you cockpit. This
> will even enable you to sail sideways!!  The weight in the boat under race
> conditions would be minimal.