I was just looking at a Video on a prop style hydro generator and how they only work above a certain boat speed
To me a simple paddle wheel may give a better forced rotation at a lower speed as it would have far more wetted area than a simple propeller




If you added a floating axis point to the paddle wheel it would stay at a constant depth

So if you added that to a dam hydro outlet you could also add more power from the same water after the normal hydro power generation
So in a way Western port and also the port Philip bay rip could generate power by using a paddle wheel
Or any river flow could also with out any restrictions in its flow place it on a river bend where the water will be fast and slow pick the fast side

and ors
so a magnifying glass could also power a steam engine
So in a way you could have free energy day and night
If you added a sea water( or Fresh water) pump, pumping up a gradient (water battery( using a hydro power generator) via the paddle wheel using a tide or a river bend

Id say a simple car alternator running of a V Belt from a paddle wheel would work a treat off the back of a boat
Just add the width and depth to the paddle wheel blade plus the right v belt pulley diameters

Plus you can buy variable speed pulley's

so in a way these old girls they use to measure water when irrigating could have generated water power

make some thing like this and add a couple of 200 amp hour alternators thats 400 amps to a boat while sailing or motoring

sterling-power.com/products/high-power-performance-alternators






I think the above would generate more power at a much lower hull speed even 400 amps at 4 knots with out loosing my hull speed



Also you could add a drum to the centre and wash your clothes while sailing in sea water
and even if it used the same mounting concept at the watt and sea with a float to keep the paddle wheel at the correct level it would work well.
even if you were anchored in a tidal stream it would generator power

HG, please, for the sake of all our sanity refocus on Driftwood and complete the job.

You are reminding me of a character in John Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row" who had a boat but kept rebuilding it to make it perfect but actually had a fear of the sea.

I am a bit of a perfectionist too but I truly want to do some enjoyable sailing before I do the long walk off the short plank.

You keep adding things that you perceive as essential for Driftwood that you don't really NEED.

Once I have Second Wind seaworthy with regulatory requirements, I am going sailing. The bling can be added along the way.

The idea of yacht ownership I believe is to impress yourself, not anybody else.

Select to expand quote

cisco said..
HG, please, for the sake of all our sanity refocus on Driftwood and complete the job.

You are reminding me of a character in John Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row" who had a boat but kept rebuilding it to make it perfect but actually had a fear of the sea.

I am a bit of a perfectionist too but I truly want to do some enjoyable sailing before I do the long walk off the short plank.

You keep adding things that you perceive as essential for Driftwood that you don't really NEED.

Once I have Second Wind seaworthy with regulatory requirements, I am going sailing. The bling can be added along the way.

The idea of yacht ownership I believe is to impress yourself, not anybody else.

she's no snow queen Cisco she's rough looking just like me

I suspect she is a bit prettier than thee.