Wheelsea
An Overview ~ by Mark
Roehrig
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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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