Wheelsea - An Overview ~ by Mark Roehrig

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Wheelsea
An Overview ~ by Mark Roehrig

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What is the purpose? To build and captain an amphibious live a board world cruising vessel, an to fulfill the goal of circumnavigating the globe.

How will this be accomplished? For over twenty years I pondered the thought of having a new life, one that would be as adventurous as any ever lived. My first notion was to sail around the world, but I’m far too much of a mechanic and motor head to rely solely on wind. A world cruising Trawler would cost over $300,000, which is out of my budget. The reason I really left the boat idea behind was the entire trip is done by water, I like land travel as well.

The best of both worlds… Wheelsea is an amphibious craft, with a 2000 nautical mile range, best of all it drives on land as well. An the best part I’ll be traveling the entire world in my home, no hotel and airfare needed, plus the freedom to explore at will, oceans and continents.

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How is Wheelsea constructed and how can an amphibious vehicle safely navigate an ocean? Wheelsea is not only capable but when completed will be one of the safest vessels on the sea, let me explain. When a boat or ship encounters rough seas she has but one purpose, to stay afloat and get through the storm. Wouldn’t it much more prudent if the displacement could be diminished to sink the vessel deeper in the water, thereby exposing much less of the hull to the elements, decreasing the threat of rollover, which is the primary cause of sinking. For each cubic foot of air there is 64.5 lbs of support, with Wheelsea there are 6 displacements tanks mounted below the water line, each tank holds 200 gallons of water when full, this equal 9,500 pounds of weight, or does it? What does water in water weigh? That’s right, nothing, but what if the vessel was to capsize, you’d have 9,500 pounds of ballast weight to drop you back upright in the sea. Not that I’m expecting Wheelsea to ever capsize, you see when the tanks our full the air in each has be eliminated so you will loose 336 cubic foot of air which equates to 10,836 pounds of lift support lost, meaning the vessel’s hull will sink some 2 feet lower in the water, when seas are again smooth the water is pumped out and the hull is partiality lifted again out the water to make up for lost time.
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You see the advantage of variable displacement is two fold; adding water in rough seas eliminates buoyancy and allows for additional ballast weight should the vessel ever capsize, on the other hand, adding air increases buoyancy and allow the hull to rise out of the water for far less hull drag, increasing fuel performance, range and speed.

How is Wheelsea propelled? The weakest link in any boat is thru hull shafts and fittings, Wheelsea, has none of these, she is powered hydraulically on water as well as land, utilizing hydraulic motors on the prop and the rear differential, leaving no thru hull shafts to be concerned with.

Wheelsea is a school bus with 3 hulls, the interior of the bus, the outside reinforced steel and a 1/8 inch steel plate as an added hull around the entire bus. The floor is steel plate, topped with 5/8 plywood and a rubber floor (all factory) with an added ¾ inch marine plywood floor on top of all of this. The windows are ¾ inch lexan with button down hatches against neoprene rubber seals. The bow is tubular structured and also covered with 1/8 inch plate steel, the entire forward bow is built in two water tight compartments, one filled with dense foam and the other welded shut except for top access doors.

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The engine…will be a true marine diesel power plant, 350hp turbo, and supplied with a 500-gallon fuel tank measuring and astounding 16 feet long, 28 inches wide and 22 inches deep, mounted below the water line

Every comfort amenity will be added including beds, galley, head, air conditioning, chart table, open air rear salon, an a 18 foot top sundeck with fold down railings for land travel. Interior space is eminence compared to world cruising sailboats, almost 290 sq. feet of floor space and another 144 sq feet of sundeck.

We (my wife and myself) are looking for the right person(s) to make this journey, either partial or fully. If you’d like an interview call me at 502 432 5188; this is by far the event of a lifetime for the right person, you must be a real dreamer and adventurer. If you’re ready come aboard. We set sail in early 2005. The journey should last about 7 years, again you don’t have to obligate yourself to the full endeavor, and you can meet us half way or start out with us, whatever fits your lifestyle.

To contact Mark Click Here
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