A thunk about fan boats

[IronWing]

Fan boat (if the pic shows up):

A fan boat's speed is ultimately limited by the thrust supplied by the fan which is limited by the air speed of the air exiting the fan.

So, I was thinking about how sail boats can move faster than the wind by tacking. Could a fan boat be built that turned the fan 90° to the keel with the air being blown into a sail and thereby propelling the boat at a speed faster than the outflow speed of the fan?

 

[mmntech]

I think that would defy the laws of physics good sir.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Did John Connor just feed you some McD's?

 

[John Connor]

Perhaps you should get one of those scientific supply magazines and buy like 15 weather balloons, tie them all together and attach the fan from one of those boats.

 

[John Connor]

Did John Connor just feed you some McD's?

HA! ^_^

 

[IronWing]

I think that would defy the laws of physics good sir.

The thrust from the fan mount acting on the boat would at 90° to the direction of travel while the thrust from the sail would be at some angle to the direction of travel so the forward thrust would be constant regardless of boat speed.

Maybe add a snorkel to pull air into the fan from a different orientation.

Maybe even position the intake on the opposite side of the sail to create a low pressure zone there and increase the thrust of the sail.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

Didn't Mythbusters cover this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXMTzMQWjo

 

[IronWing]

Didn't Mythbusters cover this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXMTzMQWjo

That's not the same setup. Mythbusters just built a thrust reverser.

 

[sdifox]

why not just drive a propeller?

 

[disappoint]

How come your drawing doesn't include someone fishing from the vessel so you can picture trolling while being trolled?

We heard you like trolling so we trolled you with a pic of someone trolling.

 

[Jeff7]

I think that would defy the laws of physics good sir.

Not unless he puts a magnet in front of it, and then mounts another one to the boat.

 

[Markbnj]

Did John Connor just feed you some McD's?

/winnar