Could a fan in front of a sailboat improve sailing?

[redwoodforest]

I own the patent to a device that is materially infringed by SailFan(tm), all those that have posted on this thread and are encouraging use of SailFan(tm) are hereby served notice for contributory infringement. If anyone wants to buy my wonderful, magical, mystical, amazing, energy-efficient device, please let me know

[CanDrac]

Most sailboats already have one such fan. It's just that it's better to put it underwater and facing aft. We like to call it propeller!

[mgmhead]

I think if you placed the fan at the stern, positioned below the water line, it would provide the best possible propulsion.

[mgmhead]

Sorry aobut that CanDrac, ya beat me...but we had a similar thought.

[Boasun]

Well if you buy the fan from Acme Fan Co. that wylie E. Coyote deals with you may get a fan that would work... But then I would be watching out for anvils or boulders that may be falling toward your boat...

[klausn]

I attended an auction of marine equipment about 6 months ago and bought a strange looking device consisting of multiple heavy walled stainless tubes supporting multiple fans with stainless blades. It seemed new with no visible signs of wear! One of the substantial brackets was stamped with "BS.(TM)"
Until today, when I chanced upon this thread, I had no idea I had bought a SailFan (tm)
I am willing to sell it for whatever I can get!!
Happy New Year.

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by klausn

I attended an auction of marine equipment about 6 months ago and bought a strange looking device consisting of multiple heavy walled stainless tubes supporting multiple fans with stainless blades. It seemed new with no visible signs of wear! One of the substantial brackets was stamped with "BS.(TM)"
Until today, when I chanced upon this thread, I had no idea I had bought a SailFan (tm)
I am willing to sell it for whatever I can get!!
Happy New Year.

That must be one of the unauthorized, patent-pending-infringing, pirated versions. They sometimes come up on the black markets. They do not work as advertised.

You'll have to wait patiently for the authentic versions to come out on the market. The latest information has them arriving April 1.

P.S. Welcome to Sailnet!

[rgscpat]

If you put a fan in front of a sailboat, wouldn't he or she be in danger of drowning or being run over by the celebrity owner's paid crew or guests? It seems the fan would be in grave danger of being longitudinally keelhauled, that is along the long axis of the boat, especially with an old-timey full keel design.

This of course doesn't apply to catamarans, since the fan, if wearing a life jacket, would simply likely bob along between the hulls and under the bridgedeck (the frame between the hulls ) of the famous person's boat, assuming normal clearances, and the fan could wave at the celebrity and crew as he drifted out under the stern.

That is, unless the fan had the misfortune to be caught by a wave and slammed up against the underside of the bridgedeck/frame.

In that case, the fan's journey under the frame to make a small wave up to fame's bridge would be shortly abridged by a large wave under fame's frame.

The moral of course is to never swim under a bridge over troubled waters.

[Danny33]

They work very well when placed on the bow. It took two fans ,one at three foot and one at seven to give me hull speed at slack tide.
I run DC motors with wind and solar generater systems .it takes eight gel batteries to power most of the day and some into the night.
system has worked well for three years now and thinking of the three fan up grade soon . Hope this helps out .

[CapTim]

... wow ...