Phenomenon whats the latest?

chewiekw

New member
Has anyone heard if they have been testing? What the status on the project?

I hope they are making some changes and will be back out on the water soon..

Scott
 
Seems like the prodject got lost since there Sarasoda test run. I have been anxiously awaiting more news,and nothing has been coming.
 
They may have a bit of a bow carry issue with those super long pickle forks.... I continue to suggest that they reach out for Gilbreath.

But what the heck do I know?

T2x
 
They may have a bit of a bow carry issue with those super long pickle forks.... I continue to suggest that they reach out for Gilbreath.

But what the heck do I know?

T2x

That doesn't suprise me as most of the deck (tunnel) was cut out of. I can understand their reasoning for doing that though..... a bit too much bowlift at 250mph would not be pretty.
 
That doesn't suprise me as most of the deck (tunnel) was cut out of. I can understand their reasoning for doing that though..... a bit too much bowlift at 250mph would not be pretty.

But not enough at 120 and you have other problems...eh?
 
But not enough at 120 and you have other problems...eh?

:iagree:

I would think that they could use the canard wing to get past the "hump" and get the boat to the point where it will carry itself, but aparently not.

I certainly wish them the best.
 
I would think that they could use the canard wing to get past the "hump" and get the boat to the point where it will carry itself, but aparently not.

I had a large adjustable canard between the front sponsons on my 46 Skater for awhile. JT & I tested it in Biscayne Bay at high speed and in a couple races. It had a very nominal effect and certainly not near enough to help generate adequate lift to replace tunnel deck area.

I also cut tunnel deck on my 44 turbine MTI when it was initially being built and ended up adding it back after several test sessions.

Just sayin ....
 
I had a large adjustable canard between the front sponsons on my 46 Skater for awhile. JT & I tested it in Biscayne Bay at high speed and in a couple races. It had a very nominal effect and certainly not near enough to help generate adequate lift to replace tunnel deck area.

I also cut tunnel deck on my 44 turbine MTI when it was initially being built and ended up adding it back after several test sessions.

Just sayin ....

Great minds think alike........ :D

Now, in a perfect world little Al will show up somewhere and run 350 mph proving the rest of us wrong.......

On the other hand......... Jerry (or JT) is only a phone call away.

T2x
 
I had a large adjustable canard between the front sponsons on my 46 Skater for awhile. JT & I tested it in Biscayne Bay at high speed and in a couple races. It had a very nominal effect and certainly not near enough to help generate adequate lift to replace tunnel deck area.

I also cut tunnel deck on my 44 turbine MTI when it was initially being built and ended up adding it back after several test sessions.

Just sayin ....

Very cool :cool: I did not know that you had tested the wing and tried cutting out the tunnel deck. At least you can understand their line of thinking as to trying what they did. Like T2x said though, too bad they didn't call JT as you have already tested it and you know it doesn't work.
 
I hadn't heard that they cut out the deck (tunnel) . I would have thought that they would have wanted it, expecially since the cannard was computer controlled with gyros.
 
So, if you dont have enough lift at slow speed with short tunnel, and too much at high speed, why not put some tracks in and make the first 6' or so retractable? They are going for speed in good conditions, so its not like they need incrdibly quick transitions...
 
So, if you dont have enough lift at slow speed with short tunnel, and too much at high speed, why not put some tracks in and make the first 6' or so retractable? They are going for speed in good conditions, so its not like they need incrdibly quick transitions...

There is a tendency when designing a boat in a silo to make broad brush, knee jerk decisions to wit:
  • Fear of lift.........cut back the tunnel
  • Fear of stuffing.....put big wings on the forward entry areas
  • Desire for light weight.....layup the hull with tissue paper laminates
  • Need more speed............ wedge in ridiculous amounts of horsepower
  • Fear of rough water handling woes.....Make the hull 100 feet long
  • Fear of speed....adjustable gizmos to "stabilize the bow"
  • Fear of being ignored.......$200,000 paint schemes, girls in bikinis, neon lights and fire works displays

In truth, guys like Switzer, Hledin, Staudacher, Schoel, Molinari, and Buzzi didn't learn boat designing on a bar stool. The key to successful designs are subtle changes of proven technology in anticipation of projected performance envelopes. Every now and then a hull comes along that nails it on the first go round (The Switzer wing, The 41' Apache, The Cougar Cat, Gancia de Gancia, etc) but the designs came from guys who had years of trial and error to hone their design skills. The Phenomenon looks to have come from a clean sheet of paper....... but who did the drawing? I am not trying to knock anybody's effort here, simply asking a question.

Perhaps the boat will fly like an eagle, and thereby vindicate the design team. So far it has managed to eat its own props, and run into a dock. These are not the hallmarks of the early tests of the Switzer Wing, the Miss US, The Apache Heritage, Gancia de Gancia, or even the original (and amazing) Popeye's four engine superboat; hence my suggestion that they seek outside help with this complex project, (and perhaps they already have done just that).

I sincerely hope it makes it to the top. Big Al's legacy deserves that.

T2x
 
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Wow, sounds like a huge investment for what. But if i had Copeland money, i might do the same. Not there yet, but soon
Dr. G
 
Whats with the three pipes coming out the bottom of the boat above the drives? What are they for?
 

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