I was doing a bit of light reading of the Intertec Publishing Outboard Motor Service Manual (5th edition Vol 1, 1970 edition) as one might do on a quiet Sunday evening even if one had never owned an outboard motor- and hope to never do so... I chanced upon this ducted propeller outboard motor built in Evansville, Indiana from 1961 to 1965. Definitely the outboard of the future- and perhaps its time still hasn't arrived. Powered by a Clinton powerhead, perhaps the shape of the ducting wasn't efficient enough to compete with straight propeller-driven motors, nothing a little computer modelling and simulation couldn't fix, but it does seem to be a good idea. Photos here, wonder if the name was pronounced Midget- or Mid-Jet?
I remember using an exceedingly feeble British Seagull outboard based on the same principle
ReplyDeletein the 70s. The idea has been toyed with repeatedly, as shown here:
https://www.alamyimages.fr/bateau-a-jet-d-eau-teste-sur-la-tamise-m-r-m-parkinson-avec-son-moteur-a-jet-d-eau-un-bateau-propulse-par-un-jet-d-eau-a-ete-teste-sur-la-tamise-a-kew-londres-le-bateau-dont-le-moteur-est-monte-hors-bord-est-l-invention-d-un-ancien-ingenieur-rolls-royce-m-r-m-parkinson-il-devrait-vendre-sur-le-marche-interieur-pour-42-des-projets-sont-en-cours-pour-un-grand-commerce-d-exportation-17-juin-1946-image463574839.html?imageid=9EE65FBF-E86E-4E3C-A32B-3C38D3973792&p=1872582&pn=1&searchId=e3f898c7d0e5c167ad9c4a91b904b8ac&searchtype=0
Schnacke was powered by a V51 Tecumseh. Later model, mid 1980's, were powered by a 4 HP 2 stroke Briggs and Stratton.
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