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World Human Powered Boat Record Broken

Posted by timothy on from the yeah-but-steve-roberts'-has-a-keyboard dept.

NtwoO writes "Tech junky Greg Kolodziejzyk broke the 24 hour world human powered boat record in his preparation to pedal across the Atlantic. Greg has a history of cool projects with impressive outcomes. His previous endeavor was a bicycle that was used to break the 24 hour cycling record for fully faired bicycles. Greg goes through a thorough design process when building his projects."

30 comments

  1. I guess the real question is... by zappepcs · · Score: 1

    Can he break those pedaling records with only one testicle?

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    1. Re:I guess the real question is... by Spazztastic · · Score: 1

      Yes, it makes him aerodynamic. - Robin Williams

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    2. Re:I guess the real question is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So in this case, he'd have less drag?

    3. Re:I guess the real question is... by duckInferno · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd imagine the loss of a testicle would make you more prone to drag.

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  2. What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Seriously, the article doesn't say.

    1. Re:What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Human Powered Boat World Record

    2. Re:What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Glad I am not the only one that thought it should read "Human Powered Boat World Record"

    3. Re:What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Either way, 'world' modifies 'record'.

    4. Re:What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      "World (Human Powered Boat) Record Broken", "Human Powered Boat World Record Broken" or the slightly longer "World Record Broken for Human Powered Boat".

      AwkwardTitle would be a suitable tag - not strictly incorrect, just a bit much to get your head around.

      On the content of the post: According to this site, the shortest distance across the Atlantic is between Senegal and Brazil at 2,575 km. If he could keep up his rate of 245.16 km / 24 hours, he'd get across that distance in around 250 hours, or around 10.5 days. But he has to sleep sometime, unless stimulants aren't banned in such time trials, and even then, 10 days is a long haul for some serious physical work.

    5. Re:What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by Vectronic · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but... that still leaves "Human Powered Boat World"... a boat world sounds pretty cool...

      "X breaks World Record for Human Powered Boat"

      Closer, but what world record? and is the Human Powered Boat really a worthy prize?

      "X breaks [human] World [speed/distance]Record for Human Powered Boat in X boat"

      I give up...

    6. Re:What's a 'World Human Powered Boat' by richmaine · · Score: 1

      Well, if you are going to go there, I suppose one might mention that "human-powered" should be hyphenated when used as an adjective. Without the hyphen, I'm afraid that it would be a powered boat that was also human. Shades of Asimov. :-)

  3. Judging from the pictures by antifoidulus · · Score: 1

    How would that thing handle waves? It seems like it wouldn't last quite so long in waters that aren't as calm as they are in Catfish Lake Montana. But then again, he does use a mac, so maybe the power of Steve Jobs can sustain him on his epic quest. Steve should at least provide some iPods for entertainment....

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  4. How far would he have gone... by Thelasko · · Score: 1

    if he had used a hydrofoil instead of a traditional boat design?

    I'm not sure this is a technical innovation. I think he broke the record because he's just in really great shape.

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    1. Re:How far would he have gone... by snowraver1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Probably not far. The point of a hydrofoil is to lift the boat off the water, thus reducing drag. For a canoe (which is bacially the shape of this) drag is not nearly the same as a motor boat moving at high speeds. It would take more energy to support the boat in the air, then would be gained from the lesser friction.

      That's assuming that he could even get the boat off the water, which whould likely be impossible with only one human power.

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    2. Re:How far would he have gone... by WormholeFiend · · Score: 1

      That's assuming that he could even get the boat off the water, which whould likely be impossible with only one human power.

      the problem with assumptions is that they make an ass out of u and mptions

      yes, one HP is enough to lift a HPH

    3. Re:How far would he have gone... by Thelasko · · Score: 2, Interesting

      the problem with assumptions is that they make an ass out of u and mptions

      My school even built some solar powered hydrofoils for competition. They were quite successful.

      Looks like the GP and at least one mod have some reading to do.

      --
      One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
    4. Re:How far would he have gone... by 800DeadCCs · · Score: 1

      The one at the bottom of the page where it's pedaled looks a bit more like a real boat, looks like it would float if you stopped.
      The pogo ones sink if you stop.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyak
      Looks nice, but I'd like to see a pedal one with a couple of outriggers (because the one linked would be hell on the upper body).

    5. Re:How far would he have gone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hmmm:

      http://www.foilkayak.com/

      and the power available from your arms is significantly less than from your legs...

    6. Re:How far would he have gone... by hywel_ap_ieuan · · Score: 1

      For a canoe (which is bacially the shape of this) ...

      Just a pedant point, but the shape he used for the still-water record is more like a racing shell. Much smaller profile than a canoe - you practically sit on top of it rather than inside.

    7. Re:How far would he have gone... by Trackster · · Score: 1

      Actually, one person can keep his hydrofoil out of the water.

  5. Oh really... by snl2587 · · Score: 1

    Greg goes through a thorough design process when building his projects.

    Unless you're building something from a kit, who doesn't?

    1. Re:Oh really... by Normal+Dan · · Score: 1

      I don't.

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    2. Re:Oh really... by camperdave · · Score: 1

      I'm more of a "slap some duct tape on it and see if it works" kind of person rather than a thorough design process kind of person.

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  6. Re:Judging from the pictures by Thelasko · · Score: 2, Informative

    How would that thing handle waves? It seems like it wouldn't last quite so long in waters that aren't as calm as they are in Catfish Lake Montana.

    That boat was purpose built for Catfish Lake. He has another one for the Atlantic.

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    One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
  7. I set the world motorboat record last Saturday... by nadamucho · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was at the Spearmint Rhino...brbrbrbrbrbrbrbr

  8. Impressive.. can you answer something then.. by vimm · · Score: 0

    Where do people get the money to spend all their time training / building pedal-powered boats?

    1. Re:Impressive.. can you answer something then.. by SBacks · · Score: 1

      Where do people get the money to spend all their time training / building pedal-powered boats?

      Ummm.... he's been featured on /.

      That will open up all sorts of opportunities to cash in on his fame.

    2. Re:Impressive.. can you answer something then.. by fbjon · · Score: 1

      Where do people get the money to spend all their time training / building pedal-powered boats?

      You get a decently paying job, work a bit, then quit to work on something fun.

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  9. Re:I set the world motorboat record last Saturday. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope you tipped her well.