Please help with a community crowdfunding project..

[buzzook 0]

Hey, all!

 

As most of you will know, in sailing and boat design circles there is an ongoing debate about the 'seaworthiness' of multihull sailboats, which mostly revolves around the difficulty of self-recovery in the event of a capsize.

 

One idea to prevent this - originally proposed by Ian Farrier, the Kiwi trimaran designer - was to mount an inflatable airbag at the top of the mast that could inflate to prevent a multihull capsizing, or be inflated after inversion to assist with recovery.

 

On the "Multihull Collision Survivability" thread on BoatDesign.net forum this topic has been raised, and ideas proposed to develop a DIY version that anyone could do themselves (ie: not a commercial product).

 

But even these ideas need engineering solutions, and engineers cost money, which none of us have much of....

 

Then a plugged-in friend suggested "crowdfunding" as a possible solution....

 

So I've registered a profile on Quirky to attempt to raise crowdfunding to develop a prototype.

Please Tweet, Facebook, email the link to everyone you know and ask people to 'vote' for the project.

http://www.quirky.com/ideations/527033

 

'Voting' is free and doesn't involve any donation or commitment.....

 

Lots of sailors and their families will send you many warm fuzzies.....

 

And once the engineering is solved, and the plans produced, they will be published on the net for all to see and use!

 

Cheers

Mark

[Guest]

For your info.

Safety at Sea and Southern Pacific Inflatables have worked on a couple of prototypes with the BBW cat Ninja.

Basically it takes an inflatable fender and an automatic lifejacket mechanism and adds them together. Simple and cost effective.

The big trick is using readily available cylinders and getting the volumes right.

 

Jono Gravit

0274 754 169

[buzzook 0]

Exactly - "the big trick is getting the volumes right".

 

Hence why we're seeking crowdfunding to pay for the engineering, calculations and designs.

 

The idea of which you write is a good one, but as I understand it, the automatic lifejacket trigger requires full immersion before it will trigger, and Ian's original idea was for a mercury switch that would trigger *before* the mast hit the water, once it got to about 80deg.

 

So while this is a noble effort, it is not the best or most perfect solution. And is not "public".

 

But by all means, make the plans and drawings available to us all, as we intend to do also.

[wheels 543]

But by all means, make the plans and drawings available to us all, as we intend to do also.

Or just sail a mono.

[wheels 543]

If you haven't "got it" yet by the deafening sound of silence. Dude, you make your very first post a plea for money, from a complete stranger none the less and then your second post, asking for a ligit business to publicly share there intellectual property with you.

You must live on a different planet.

[RushMan 31]

A U shaped tube, electrical sensors at each end, mercury moves as the boat heels, could be attached to a bulkhead, wires to the inflatable bag at mast head.

 

Circuit complete at 60(?) degrees of boat heel, might need 2 sensors in case of a pitchpole.

 

That sounds pretty simple... Why hasn't anyone thought of it before now

[Guest]

Donald Crowhurst had the same setup for the 1969 Sunday Times Golden Globe race so the concept is hardly new by any stretch

 

The mercoid switch was a failure as there was not enough dampening effect to stop it prematurely deploying in a seaway.

 

Have a look at googling x-box accelerometer, these are used by hobby robotics guys and can easily be dampened via a little simple software programming.

 

The componentry is pretty easy to source and programme.

[buzzook 0]

X box accelaraometer...?? Will check it out...all ideas greatfully received.

 

And please keep the comments positive, folks, this is meant to be a "community-run-and-funded-public-project" wiyth results open to all....

 

...even so-called "legit" businesses.

 

It's about safety at sea...not profits for a few....

[Bad Kitty 252]

But by all means, make the plans and drawings available to us all, as we intend to do also.

Or just sail a mono.

 

Gee Wheels, is your head in the sand or up your ar#e?

[wheels 543]

Gee Wheels, is your head in the sand or up your ar#e?

Maybe both, I dunno. I am rather used to people (jokingly) calling my boat a "Septic tank" or "Floating footpath".

But let me ask you.... so here is someone that you have no clue as to who he is, making his very first post asking for funding, on the Internet, on a Forum, that currently has several posts from spammers etc. That's one scenario.

Maybe he is ligit for real. But even if he was, what guarantee do you have that if they get funding and then decide the idea is too hard continue....with a pocket full of money. Geee, I have lots of great ideas. Does someone want to fund me??? It takes more than just some ideas and some money to get a product developed. As Jono has found, with two fairly large companies resourcing an idea with knowledge, materials and funding. Then to add to insult, this guy asks for that Intellectual Property to be shared??? Come on Bad Kitty. Would you freely share your companies IP??? I think not.

But OK, you guy's go for it. I apologise and will bow out. By all means send him money.

[Guest]

Your being a bit hard on the guy

 

How big do you really think the Market is, Anyone that has time to develop new things should be able to talk about it on a Forum, It's not like he will take over the world and make a fortune with the ideas you lot through out there, and If he does good on him. If you don't want to help, then don't, simple. But trying to destroy his attempts to talk about it discourages what could be a constructive discussion.

[banaari 27]

Can't see anything inherently wrong with the concept.

Problem with Crowhurst's implementation as I understand it was it was never actually finished and wired up.

I forsee considerable difficulty in creating an airbag with attach points robust enough to withstand the stresses of the initial event, while still collapsing down to reasonable size at the masthead.

[buzzook 0]

wheels

A simple search on the boatdesign.net forum referred to in my intitial post would demonstrate to anyone interested that the idea of 'crowdfunding' has flowed from there, and that lots of DIY designers and multi-hull sailors are following the topic with great interest....

 

...as to why it was my first post...well, maybe I didn't have anything worth saying before.

 

And if you had read the post *carefully* you would realise that I was not asking for money but for 'votes' on the Quirky page so that the topic would generate a buzz on that site, and via that, perhaps, attract some crowdfunding.

 

But the question of 'what would happen to the money'...it would/will be spent on engineering solutions, and the results made public for all to see and use...even the 'commercial' types.

 

You asked what planet I'm from? Earth, obviously.

 

You meant something completely different to that, and your comment demeans *you* more than it does me or my intentions....

 

But, for the record, I do not believe that 'greed is good', nor do I believe that safety should be monopolised or 'for profit'. Although I do accept that sometimes that's the only way to achieve something. My head may be in the clouds, but my feet are still attached to terra firma!

 

I don't want to make any money from the idea - frankly, it wasn't my idea to begin with; it was Ian Farrier's - but as he and Corsair chose not to proceed with the idea, I am 'floating' it again with the view to eventually having a system designed and made public that can be used on everything from a Hobie to a Quorning or Fountaine Pajot - and everything in between.

 

To be completley honest, I do believe there is room for someone to commercialise the idea, but I am not that person. I seek a genuine "DIY option" that those with smaller boats, and the less wealthy, can fit to their boats to make them safer.

 

That's it. No more. No less.

 

If the other mob don't want to share what you call their "IP" then that's their prerogative.

 

But if I hadn't asked...nothing venture nothing win...

 

For all you or I know, we may end up sharing ideas. Stranger things have happened.

[Guest]

I wasnt too worried about IP either way, its been banging around for years. BTW - I sent you wrong its the Wi controller accelerometers they generally use for motion and spacial sensors, not xbox. As I said , easy to programme and adapt with the right software.

[Fish 0]

So would this thread be an example of the select few regulars jumping on any new posters for either being new or doing / saying something different

 

Just squash anything new guys, there isn't anyone else lurking wondering if they have something to contribute or not. This site is going down hill so fast soon reading the Woman's Day is going to be more interesting.

[ab1974 1]

Possibly Fish, however it is a tough one when someone posts fot the first time - and my first quick read was a request for money. Obviously the OP has clarified their position - probably would have got a better response raising the techical issue rather than associating potentially raising cash with it.

 

The problem I have is that the site seems to be getting a host of spam posters - some obvious some a little less so, so until that stops, the cred of new posters in my book is unfortunately to not take them seriously.

 

Can we stop the spammers??

 

I want new people on the site, lurkers need to be encouraged on.

[benny14 6]

So would this thread be an example of the select few regulars jumping on any new posters for either being new or doing / saying something different

 

Just squash anything new guys, there isn't anyone else lurking wondering if they have something to contribute or not. This site is going down hill so fast soon reading the Woman's Day is going to be more interesting.

 

+1. This is EXACTLY what is wrong with this site. This guy comes and promotes a positive project in a positive way and he gets nailed straight away. This is all from me... I've had enough...

 

Sorry for the thread hijack buzzook, I hope your project takes off, will keep an eye on it with interest.

[southernman 73]

Where is this forum going? It's loosing the plot - people are shot down before they can explain their case. I'm sick of it.

 

This is a great subject and I like the discussion only to be shot down by some forum experts who apparently command how and when I can have a s!*t.

 

The idea has kicked around for ever and i think it has leg's especially for the more lightweight sub 10 metre type boats that are the current go. The accelaraometer is a good idea, but the bigger issue would be mounting and wind profile and size? Surely if you are racing a multi and have this type of devise you are more concerned about the weight aloft, the draft effect etc?

[wheels 543]

and my first quick read was a request for money.

And that was exactly what I read also. But hey, go ahead and send money. It's the internet, so he must be ligit right?

That's it from me. Looks like I am considered as one pulling this site down, so I will solve everyones problems. I'm logging off and out of here.

[Guest]

I thought we had solved this problem with the drogue attached to the masthead.