History of the development of a pleasure boat. History of pre-war glider construction. Vintage yacht prototypes

Whether we like it or not, Russia is integrating into the common boat market. Good foreign boats are becoming more and more accessible to lovers of water recreation. They appeared in Russian waters back in the last century, although this happened much later than the appearance of the first foreign car, and the total number of such boats, in a rough estimate, does not exceed a couple of thousand. But the purchase of imported boats by our fellow citizens is only one aspect. There are also imported outboard and inboard engines, spare parts and accessories, which are often preferred to be installed on boats built here, and service. “The process has begun” and became the beginning of qualitative changes in the structure of the Russian fleet of sports and pleasure boats.

In the West, many people view Russia as a very promising market and, naturally, welcome joining the global industry called “boating”. Since this is happening, I would like to speak the same language with everyone, clearly understand things and phenomena, and correctly express thoughts, wishes and demands. And this is not always easy. An example of this is the term “boating” just used.

“Boating” is an English word, in Russian it is sometimes used in special articles to describe phenomena related to the world of boats. Boating is a leisure style, a way of life, and a branch of the economy. Boating has its own “national characteristics” (it would be more appropriate to talk about this in a separate article), and the statement that it is a new concept is akin to the famous “there is no sex in our country.” However, in the Russian language, despite the understandable root “bot” (type of vessel), there was no synonym for the word “boating”. That is, almost like an anecdote: there is a phenomenon, but there is no word! Agree, it’s easier to say “boating industry” than “the sphere of production, sale and use of goods and services related to sports and water recreation.” By the way, the already familiar word “yachting” is missing from Russian dictionaries. Even now, when these lines are being written, the computer is indignant and underlines it in red, ignoring the English “yachting”. Thank you, at least the “boat” perceives it. Speaking of the boat. The word “boat” (English “cutter”, German “kutter”, Dutch “kotter”, French “cotre”) was originally used to designate a type of sailing ship. Small in size, armed with a mast and oars (don’t be surprised, there were also rowing boats!), such boats were used mainly to service large ships. The term "boat", which has been in our vocabulary since time immemorial, is broader and often refers to the same objects.

Before me is Lev Uspensky’s book “A Word about Words.” Once upon a time I read these magnificent essays about the Russian language, about its history, beauty, richness and significance. Even 250 years ago, Lomonosov wrote about language, a correct and understandable language: “For scattered peoples to gather in a community, to create cities, to build temples and ships... how would it be possible to carry out things if they did not have ways of communicating their thoughts to each other?”

Language is a means of communication and, naturally, it changes over time and with changing circumstances. Thus, at the beginning of the 18th century, when Peter with an iron will tried to turn Russia into a maritime power, a maritime vocabulary arose, mostly borrowed from Dutch or English. Sometimes erroneously formed terms became firmly established. This is what happened with the market place, for example. The English command “Ring the bell!”, meaning “Ring the bell!”, turned into “Beat the Rynda!” (in pre-Petrine Moscow, bells were the name given to the royal bodyguards who stood at the throne with axes and halberds).

With the advent of boats from the West and East in Russia, many terms entered the language. “Day cruiser”, “runabout”, “walkaround”, “flybridge”, “cuddy cabin”... It’s not only the beginner who gets confused by the abundance of incomprehensible words in magazines, catalogs and conversations about boats. But let philologists judge the dominance of foreign words, and we will proceed from the fact that these words are useful and are already used, although not always correctly.

What class are you in?

Having agreed on special terms, let’s touch on the classification that is characteristic of any branch of knowledge and allows one to navigate the variety of objects and better understand their differences.

Vessels and ships have always been classified according to different criteria. At the same time, one can note the intersection of two approaches - functional (by purpose) and structural (by architecture, design, size). For example, galleys of the ancient period differed in the number of rows of oarsmen, and an increase in the number of rowers in order to increase power and speed (function) inevitably led to an increase in dimensions (structure). In the age of sailboats, the defining feature of belonging to a class was the type of sailing armament. In addition, a division was used according to characteristics of a different kind: cargo ships differed in carrying capacity (later - displacement), military ships - in the number of guns or functionality (battleships, frigates, corvettes, etc.). Here classification has made great strides; the importance of the tasks being solved and the regulated approach made it possible to build a strict ranking of types of warships. But experts are aware of the contradictions and inconsistencies between classes that occur even within the naval forces of one country, not to mention different ones.

Things are more complicated with the classification of small vessels. Here we need to talk about the classes of displacement, transitional and planing vessels. At the same time, it is advisable to divide ships according to purpose and architectural type. There are formulations like “25-foot sports boat class,” and most models are designated using a numerical index indicating the length in feet or meters. Of course, length cannot be the main criterion for class (compare a rowing boat and a catamaran), and there are different types of boats within the same length range. There are also so-called “small-town” classifications introduced by companies that use the model name in combination with the brand name to designate the type.

It is difficult to create a harmonious classification of boats, similar to those existing in zoology (class - order - family - genus - species) or chemistry (periodic table); it is represented as a 3-5 dimensional matrix. New boats are appearing at an enviable speed, and such a classification should be very flexible. In this article we will only try to better understand the existing variety of boats, the logic of the development of boating in its objective manifestation, and explain the most frequently used terms, correlating them with certain representatives of the extensive boat family. Terms related to jetskis, formula and offshore race cars, as well as sailing and sail-motor vessels are not considered.

In the beginning there was a word...

Boat manufacturers and their dealers use special terms of a general nature to solve marketing problems, i.e. not related to one or another type of boat, and are interpreted quite broadly.

Motor boat, power boat

“Motor boat” mainly refers to boats with outboard motors, while “power boat” refers to small vessels with more powerful stationary engines. We have a tradition of separating motorboats and speedboats depending on the type of power plant. If the vessel has an outboard engine, it is a motor boat; if the engine is stationary, it is a boat (it is understood that a boat is always larger than a motor boat). Such a division is not always justified - many boats with low-power stationary engines and boats with a pair of outboard engines on the transom with a power of over 300 hp run along our rivers.

Day cruiser

It is “daytime” because it is designed mainly for one-day trips. Cruiser (from the Dutch “kruiser”) is a word that in Russian is assigned to warships. From him came the English words “cruise”, a sea voyage, and “cruiser”, a ship that makes cruises, which have long since taken root in the Russian language. Consequently, a daycruiser is a boat for short sea trips, exercise, swimming, skiing, picnics, etc.

Overnighter and weekender

Terms that have a similarly broad meaning and are functional rather than defining the type of quality of the boat. If a light open boat and a sports and pleasure boat with a shelter deck can be called a daycruiser, then the terms “overnighter” or “weekender” are applicable to a cabin boat with a galley and latrine.

Sports and recreational boats (runabout)

Translated from English, “runabout” means “walking”. The most popular and numerous class for the most common type of boating - short (several hours) trips to the water area for swimming, riding on all sorts of means invented for this, picnic trips to picturesque places, etc. In Russia, boats of this class are usually called sports and pleasure boats or just for a walk. Based on their layout, runabouts can be divided into types.

Closed bow

We are interested in this type of pleasure boats, one of the options for the layout of small boats, dating back to the 50s. last century, is well known: just remember any of the Soviet “durals”. The Kazanka, created during that period, defined the archetype of the Soviet recreational boat. As the name implies, this is a type of boat with a decked bow, where a luggage locker is usually located.

Bowrider

The literal translation gives a little: “bow” - the bow of the boat, “rider” - the horse. A bowrider is a boat with a cockpit in the bow. This architecture is preferable for water areas with a warm climate; up to 80% of American recreational boats are bowriders.

Cuddy cabin

A boat with a small cabin or, if you prefer, a shelter cabin. "Cuddy" means "small cabin". Another meaning of this word is “closet” (it is interesting that in yachting argot it has a similar meaning to the gloomy “coffin”). In Russia, the ratio of runabouts and caddy cabs sold is reversed to the American one. The logic of this preference is simple: climatic conditions predetermine the presence of a heater rather than an air conditioner.

Hard top

The traditions of northern Europe have given rise to their own type of pleasure boats, which have a small, open deckhouse at the stern (“hard top” means “hard roof”). There is a V-shaped berth in the bow. The presence of a galley (stove and sink), which hardtops are often equipped with, significantly increases their autonomy. If necessary, a light awning can be erected over the cockpit.

Midcab (middle cabin)

A type of boat common in Scandinavia with a small pilothouse in the middle and, accordingly, bow and stern cockpits.

Deck boat

A type of deck boat derived from open pleasure boats. Essentially, these are bowriders with an extended bow cockpit; they accommodate more passengers, who have a couple of tables, sinks, ice boxes and other necessary accessories for a cocktail or even a barbecue.

Sports towing boats

Active forms of entertainment often become sports. In boating, this happened with water skiing, and later with wakeboarding. Having become professional sports over time, water skiing and wakeboarding required specialization from boats, and towing boats appeared. Their main difference from ordinary pleasure boats is the ability of a certain wave formation, due to the shape of the hull and alignment. Boats towing a skier should create low, flat waves; For a wake you need big and steep ones. Typically, these boats have inboard straight-shaft engines. This also includes another type - parachute towing vehicles.

High performance boats

Of all the possibilities and sensations that technology gives a person, there is little comparable to speed. Each of us, to one degree or another, has an obsession with the need for speed. To meet this need, a class of high-speed executive boats was created. They can be compared to muscle cars or sports cars, by analogy with which we will use the term “sport boat”. Here we will make a reservation: in English-language articles the phrase “sport boat” is more often used to refer to runabouts. By using the term “sportboat” for high-speed executive boats, we are taking a certain liberty. High performance boats differ from ordinary street boats in their larger size and power, allowing them to reach speeds in excess of 50 knots. In terms of design and technical characteristics, they are modeled on offshore (ocean) class racing boats. Often a sportboat is simply a “civilian” version of such a racing boat. The body is usually a caddy, occasionally a bowrider. The interior of high-speed boats is somewhat spartan and defined by its width. There are many catamarans in this class. Like bikers and auto-tuning and hot-rodding enthusiasts, sportsboat apologists have formed their own subculture with poker runs, magazines (for example, Powerboat and Hot Boat) and other attributes common to such communities. However, the latter is also typical for owners of boats of other classes.

Fishing boats

It is a rare man who is not interested in fishing and, when choosing this or that boat, involuntarily tries out how he will fish from it.

Boats for sport fishing comprise a huge variety of types and sizes of boats included in the class - from 8-foot perch boats to 80-foot ocean fishing yachts. Based on their design characteristics, the following main types of fishing boats can be distinguished.

Bass boat

Boat for catching American perch (bass). Bass fishing is an American phenomenon, an example of how a hobby can be turned into a national sport and an economic sector with an annual turnover of about $40 billion. As a rule, a bass boat has a low side, a spacious area in front (sometimes in the back), a pair of fishing chairs, one or two trolling electric motor. Cool places are not always nearby, so bassboats are equipped with powerful propulsion engines. By the way, the passion for speed also affected this type, giving rise to a kind of hybrid of a bass and sport boat.

Center console

Largemouth bass, a lake native, aren't the only coveted trophy; There are many other fish that require going out into calmer waters and using different gear to catch. To work with a fishing rod, a boat with minimal add-ons is desirable. The ideal is a platform, and a center console boat comes close to that ideal. As a variation of this type, we mention a dual console - a boat with two consoles along the sides. The layout of such boats resembles bowriders. In addition to these, a type of smaller universal boat with one side console has become widespread in Europe. The common feature of all these types, in addition to the steering console, is the absence of a cabin. The latter was considered by many potential buyers as a disadvantage, which gave rise to a kind of (and very successful) compromise - walkaround.

Walkaround

The term literally means "to go around" and defines the architectural type. The cabin is located in the forward half (from stem to amidships), mostly below deck, rising above it with a low island. This arrangement is very convenient in that it leaves quite wide passages to the bow, usually fenced with railings.

The pinnacle of fishing on board a boat can be called hunting for large sea fish - tuna, marlin, sailfish, sharks, etc., called “Big Game”. For the “big game” you need big boats - fishing motor yachts. Designed to go out into the ocean for more than a few days, they are equipped with “tuna rigs”, outriggers, “combat” fishing chairs; At the same time, they offer comfort, often at the level of luxury motor yachts.

Cruisers

A cruiser is usually called a boat whose length ranges from 22 to 33 feet (6.7–10 m), having one or one and a half (don’t be surprised!) cabins, an enclosed toilet and a galley block. Sometimes such boats are called “family cruisers.” Depending on architectural and planning solutions, cruisers can be divided into types.

Most cruisers are built in a traditional layout with a deckhouse with circular glazing. In automotive terminology, they are called "sedans".

Sedans, depending on the design of the cabin roof, are also divided into:

For many cruiser owners whose free time is relatively limited, speed is more important than capacity. A fairly popular type of boat was created for them - a sports cruiser. This is a boat that has a single-volume (without superstructures) hull, in which the salon, galley and toilet are located. The cockpit deck is raised, below it in the middle part there is a semi-cabin with a full-size double berth.

Express cruiser

Occupies an intermediate position between a sedan and a sports cruiser. Express cruiser - a boat with a superstructure that is less pronounced than that of a sedan, but not “recessed into the deck”, like that of a sport cruiser (historically, this type preceded the latter).

Touring boat

Another, predominantly European type of cruiser. A touring boat, or tour boat, is designed for long-distance travel in displacement mode and provides more or less comfortable conditions on board. Ideologically, tour boats are close relatives of larger yacht trawlers (see below).

Motor yachts

As you know, a yacht is not necessarily a boat with a sail: this is the name given to any recreational vessel that is not used for commercial purposes (though it is not clear what to do with pleasure submarines!) There is no clear boundary between cruisers and motor yachts, but motor yachts A yacht is usually called a vessel over 33 feet (10 m) in length. In terms of functionality and architectural and design solutions, motor yachts are in many ways similar to their smaller brothers (or sisters?) cruisers.

Sport yacht

High-speed (30–40 kts), armed with powerful engines, vessels created, as a rule, for short trips. Subject to the idea of ​​speed, they have a relatively small fuel tank capacity. Even with a relatively low weight and enviable speed, high specific fuel consumption limits the cruising range, and sports yachts travel from marina to marina. The hull is usually single-volume, with a light deckhouse or simply a hard roof over the cockpit. This type of motor yacht is a development of sports cruisers towards larger sizes and is sometimes close to high performance boats; Unlike the latter, sports yachts are more suitable for long stays on board.

Pilot house

The largest group among motor yachts are boats of traditional architecture with developed superstructures (we agreed to call this type a sedan). Since the size allows, most of these boats have a flybridge on the roof of the superstructure. The words "pilot house", found on some models, denote the wheelhouse; Sometimes this is the name given to the yacht control room (navigation bridge) separated from the salon. A separate pilothouse is an accessory of a fairly large vessel, so this term used in the names of models gives a certain weight (not always deservedly so).

Everyone has their own boating. Some use boats for short voyages on weekends, while others live there in the summer as if they were in the country. There are also those for whom boating is not just a way of life, but life itself. These people live on their boats constantly, plowing the seas and oceans, making thousands of miles of journeys. For such purposes, special vessels are needed. Trawler-type yachts were originally rebuilt from fishing vessels, which is why they got this name. Distinctive features of the type are the hull, designed for displacement navigation at speeds up to 10–12 knots, increased seaworthiness and autonomy. The interior spaces: cabins, salon and galley are designed for fewer people, but for a long journey.

Mega (Super) Yacht

Already from the name it follows that this means something exclusive, going beyond the ordinary (look at the photo at the beginning of the article). The sizes of such yachts start from 60 feet; You can talk about their equipment, decoration and capabilities for a long time and excitedly. There are shipyards that build such yachts in small series, fulfilling the orders of their very wealthy clients (custom). In general, megayachts are the subject of a separate study.

One of the water transports is a steam boat or steamship. A steam boat is a watercraft that operates using steam supplied under high pressure. The engine of a steamship has a piston or turbine system. Also included in the working mechanism are boilers containing liquid. Water is heated using fuel, such as coal or fuel oil. To remove the smoke generated by the engine, the steam boat is equipped with a pipe.

To set the steamship in motion, wheels were first used, like those of a water mill. People also tried to try oars, but the experiment failed. In the future, most often, a propeller is used, this is how a pleasure boat works.

Steamship shipbuilding dates back to the 16th century. The very first steam boat was launched on July 15, 1783 by the Marquis Claude Geoffroy d'Abban. It bore the proud name "Piroskaf".

At first, steam boats in Russia were named after the first boat and called it simply, piroskaf. A little later, when steamships began to be built in Russia, they began to be called steamboats, that is, “powered by steam.” This name came into use with the light hand of P.I. Ricord, who was a Russian naval officer.

Although the prerequisites for the invention of the steamboat were already in the 16th century. Even then, some semblance of a steam engine was invented. Even then, several devices were patented that performed very useful functions. Moreover, all these useful ideas came to the minds of quite a few famous scientists.

Since those times, everything has been invented and invented. The paddle wheels had the most incredible positions on boats. They were mounted on the sides behind the side, on the sides in the middle, and even one wheel in the middle.

The Charlotte Dantes is considered to be one of the brightest ships that left a mark in the history of shipbuilding. She was launched in 1788 by Patrick Miller and William Symington. This boat, in fact, had the appearance of a catamaran - a two-decker vessel connected to each other by a “bridge”.

Historians also make special mention of a boat called the Esperance. It was built and launched in 1869. It was built for H.W. Schneider, who was a major Scottish industrialist. He used it as transport. I crossed from one bank of the river to the other every day to go to work.

Another boat that historians are not silent about is the steamship “Dolly”, built in the same 1869. It was distinguished by the fact that it lay at the bottom of Lake Ellswater until 1962, until it was removed from there by scuba divers and restored by specialists. Then it was transferred to the ownership of the Steam Ship Museum.

A lot of time has passed from that moment to the present day. Steam boats have changed greatly. They became more powerful and began to develop higher speeds. And the capacity of modern ships is truly fantastic. Now the ships have already become multi-story, with many cabins for passengers. Modern steamships can safely be called cities afloat. These are entire entertainment complexes.

In the 40-60s of the 20th century, a model of a steamship was a very fashionable and coveted toy. It was made so realistically that even in it the fire of the boiler that heats the water was present and visible. Almost every Soviet boy, and many adult men too, longed to own such a specimen.

I believe many of you have been, and perhaps continue to be, interested in high-speed boat models, cord or radio-controlled. Such models come in non-edited, reded, three- and two-point types.

And although these models are very different from each other in appearance, the basis of their fast movement is the same - planing. All of them are models of planing ships. So how were such ships created? When did the first gliders appear, what were they like throughout their history, and what is the main secret of gliding?

Planing vessels can now be found on almost all rivers, reservoirs and seas. Seaplanes and hydrofoils are also planing vessels, since before taking off on the wings, they must plan during takeoff. But, despite all their diversity, gliders are still not as widespread as typical displacement vessels. So far, they still mainly serve as pleasure and tourist boats, crew and service boats, or are small transport and passenger ships, high-speed sports and military boats. All these are small ships, of light construction, with a displacement from hundreds of kilograms to 200 tons.

However, planing ships great future. After all, almost every year new, increasingly powerful and lightweight engines appear, which consume fuel very economically. Light, strong materials suitable for building the hull of a high-speed vessel are being created.

But no matter how large gliders become, the same force that supports modern ships will keep them on the surface of the waves. This force is called hydrodynamic lift. It is much more profitable than the one that Archimedes discovered and which supports ordinary, non-planing vessels. And that's why. The more the hull is immersed in water and the higher the speed, the greater the resistance that the vessel encounters while moving. The immersion of non-planing vessels, such as cargo ships or barges, depends on the “Archimedean” force. And since this force does not change when the speed changes and always remains the same in magnitude, then the immersion of such displacement vessels remains unchanged. The resistance of these ships increases very quickly with increasing speed. For example, if the speed doubles, the resistance will increase four times, if the speed triples, the resistance will increase nine times, and so on. What happens when the ship is supported not by “Archimedean” but by hydrodynamic lift? As the speed of the vessel increases, the hydrodynamic lift force does not remain constant, it grows and, therefore, tends to lift the vessel out of the water. Therefore, the higher the speed, the less the ship is loaded. This means that with increasing speed, the resistance with hydrodynamic lift will increase, not as quickly as with the “Archimedean” force. This is the advantage of using a hydrodynamic lift force compared to the “Archimedean” support force. True, the hydrodynamic lift force has disadvantages compared to the “Archimedean” one. Firstly, not with every bottom shape it becomes so large that it can lift the bottom above the surface of the water. Secondly, as soon as the ship stops, she disappears. But with an increase in speed, a vessel adapted for planing is wide, low deadrise, with sharp cheekbones and a blunt stern, thanks to the hydrodynamic lifting force, the resistance increases very slowly, and at some speeds sometimes even decreases. That is why planing has attracted the attention of shipbuilders. But hydrodynamic lift is also tempting because, by reducing the vessel’s draft, it allows it to navigate through very shallow water. Sometimes gliders, especially those with propellers, are the only means of communication along shallow rivers.

People began to use the “Archimedes” power of maintenance from time immemorial, much earlier than Archimedes studied it. Hydrodynamic lift is only 110 years old. Moreover, shipbuilders could not use hydrodynamic lifting force when it was first discovered due to the fact that in those days there were no light engines.

first gliders

This happened in 1872 in England. A modest, previously unknown pastor, named Remus, appeared at the Admiralty. He brought his design for a flat-bottomed ship with a displacement of 2,500 tons, which was supposed to sail much faster than all the ships of that time. This miracle ship was not supposed to float (pardon the pun), but to glide along the surface of the water, like, for example, a flat pebble thrown by a ricochet glides, or like a flat-bottomed boat being towed behind a high-speed ship. Remus' gliding ship model was tested. In the experimental pool, experiments showed that Remus was right when he believed that at high speed his ship would slide its bottom along the surface of the water and experience much less resistance than the resistance of ordinary ships. And yet, Remus’s idea could not be realized - in order to achieve the speed necessary for planing, the ship would need quite powerful steam engines and such huge steam boilers that it would sink under their weight.

The designer's mistake was that he considered the hydrodynamic lift force to be much greater and the drag to be less than they actually were. But even if he calculated this force correctly, build planing ship he couldn’t, in those years the powerful engines were still too heavy for this. Remus died without seeing his idea come to life.

And 13 years later, in 1881, an attempt to build a ship gliding on the water, independently of Remus, this time in France, was made by one of the pioneers of aviation, Russian by birth, emigrant Marquis de Lambert. Lambert's first vessel was very simple - four barrels connected by a common wooden frame. Under the barrels, across the vessel, inclined to the surface of the water, four boards were secured, on which, according to the inventor, the vessel should rest when moving through the water. What about the engine? None. The end fell from the vessel onto a winch installed on the opposite bank of the river. The experiment was successful and showed that the ship floats up, glides and at the same time encounters little resistance, but only at high towing speed.

Lambert conducted a second experiment with the same ship, but this time towed by a horse running along the shore; the inventor himself was sitting on barrels. Despite the complete success of this experiment, Lambert, fascinated by the idea of ​​hydrofoils, returned to gliders only 12 years later. Over the years, Lambert was the first to receive a patent for hydrofoils. In 1897, in England on the Thames, he tested his first self-propelled planing boat- two kayaks connected by four frames. Under the bottom of each kayak, four pairs of boards were fixed one after the other, the angle of inclination of which to the water level could be adjusted. This time, neither a winch nor a horse were needed - on a platform placed on top of the kayaks, there was a specially made ten-horsepower vertical two-cylinder steam engine. The weight of this car was only 16 kg, less than the weight of ten-horsepower modern outboard gasoline engines.

de Lambert's first self-propelled glider, built in 1897

To generate steam, there was a vertical steam boiler on the platform running on fuel oil. Its weight was about 15 kg, and the propeller was a water propeller with a diameter of 56 cm.

Lambert's experiments on the Thames gave excellent results: with a total displacement of 275 kg, the glider reached a speed of 38 km/h. Continuing to work on the creation of a glider, the designer built his first glider equipped with a gasoline engine in 1905 in France. It was a two-boat vessel 6 m long and 3 m wide; the bottom of each boat had 5 planing planes (5 steps each), and the engine was a 12-horsepower two-cylinder Dion engine. The motor drove one two-bladed propeller.

Weighing 300 kg, this glider reached a speed of 35 km/h. Lambert also later created gliders. One of his last cars was a single-hull single-gear glider built in 1931 with a 450 hp Renault engine. s., and with a capacity of 40 passengers, this ship reached a speed of 80 km/h.

The successes achieved by the first gliders and the rapid development of aircraft engines led to the fact that, following Lambert, a number of designers and companies appeared in the West at the beginning of this century, engaged in the creation of passenger gliders. Most hydroplanes were built to transport passengers and mail along shallow rivers, so propellers became widespread.

By 1930, there were already several regular water lines along which gliders sailed: in Europe - along the Danube, Elbe, Rhine, Seine, Rhone, and in America - along the rivers of Colombia and Argentina.

sports high-speed gliders

The high speeds developed by gliders could not help but attract the attention of water sportsmen. Following the first passenger gliders, racing boats began to appear, of various classes and designs, with stationary and outboard motors, with water and air propellers. The highest positions, the so-called absolute speed records, in other words, the highest speeds achieved on water, began to be occupied by gliders. Until 1939 these were single-reader gliders with water propellers, and later - three-point, with air-breathing engines.

From the very beginning to this day, only athletes from the USA and England compete for the possession of the absolute world speed record on water. This rivalry brought with it many new technical solutions and over the decades raised the absolute speed record from 32 to 444.6 km/h.

one of the legendary gliders of the Blue Bird series

The first record-breaking three-point glider of the “no restrictions” class was the English Blue Bird, built in 1939. The three-point hull was first proposed back in 1916, but in those years the speeds of gliders were still low and this idea was not developed. The three-point scheme was used only in 1936. The air-breathing engine was first installed in 1948 on the Blue Bird 2 glider. And in 1964, the Blue Bird 7 glider set a speed record of 444.6 km/h.

recreational tourist gliders

Almost from their birth, gliders have been widely used for river trips and tourism. The first gliders were built exclusively from wood and plywood. Now their bodies are also built from light alloys and plastics. The outboard and inboard engines used on gliders have become not only more powerful, but also more economical, lighter and more reliable. A very important mechanism, the power transmission, has been significantly improved.

diagram of the device of Z-shaped outboard power transmissions

1) rotary non-reclining;2) rotatable, non-folding, but can be moved horizontally to the side;

3) folding, fixed, with a steering wheel and a pulling propeller; 4) folding, rotating

The first gliders used only “direct” transmission, without reverse or gearbox. Now there are also dyeing transfers called V-shaped and Z-shaped. Z-shaped transmissions are sometimes called outboard power transmissions or columns. They are made swivel or tilt, like outboard motors. In the last few years, in addition to water and air propellers, water-jet propulsors of various designs have begun to be used on gliders.

Shortly before World War II, a Soviet scientist, academician V.L. Pozdyunin, discovered the phenomenon of supercavitation. Now at very high speed planing boats Supercavitating propellers began to be used with success. The advantage of these propellers is that, thanks to the very fast rotation and special profile of the blades, it is possible to neutralize cavitation (cavitation is the boiling of water and the formation of steam and gas bubbles on very fast moving propeller blades and hydrofoils). Finally, on high-speed gliders, semi-submerged propellers are sometimes used, lowered into the water by only 40 percent of their diameter. Such propellers are advantageous in that they allow the propeller shaft to be located in the ship's hull. This makes propeller shaft brackets unnecessary and allows the propeller axis to be set almost horizontally.

In Russia, speedboats were first seen in 1912 on Lake Votkinsk in St. Petersburg. The glider that sailed on Lake Votkinsk had a 35 hp engine. s., and the speed of the glider reached 40 km/h. The beginning of glider construction in the USSR is considered to be 1920, when TsAGI began building a wooden open passenger glider with a water propeller. Major engineers, the fathers of aviation N.G. Zhukovsky and A.N., took part in the design of this glider. Tupolev.

A four-seater glider, named ANT-1, was tested on the Moscow River in 1921. With a 160-horsepower engine, it reached speeds of up to 78 km/h. The second glider, built at TsAGI in 1923 and named ANT-2, or Osoaviakhim, was open, five-seater, with a 75-horsepower engine and propeller. He reached a speed of 60 km/h. The hull of this glider was built entirely from chain mail aluminum.

Since 1923, the construction of civilian, including sports, gliders in the USSR was carried out by all-Union public organizations: first the Society of Friends of the Air Fleet, then Avtodor, Osoaviakhim, Osvod, Dosflot and, of course, the voluntary society for the assistance of the army, aviation and navy (DOSAAF) .

Particularly great merit in the spread of speedboat construction in the Soviet Union belongs to the public organization Avtodor. During its existence, from 1929 to 1933, Avtodor built about 70 speedboats.

Soviet planing catamaran "Avtodor-10"

The first two gliders - "Avtodor-1" and "Avtodor-2" - were passenger, single-jet, with propellers. The Avtodor-1 glider was a six-seater with an imported 125 hp engine. With. and walked at a speed of 54 -57 km/h. "Avtodor-2" was a 25-seater, with a closed cabin, with a domestic 400-horsepower "M-5" aircraft engine. It reached speeds of up to 28 km/h. Both of these gliders were built from wood and plywood. Then Avtodor-3 appeared. This one was the first to go up and down the Dnieper rapids. Several of these gliders were built for Soviet border guards. One of Avtodor’s best gliders was the Avtodor-13 marine glider with a propeller. With a 350 hp engine. sec., with a total displacement of 2.8 tons, the boat moved at a speed of 83 km/h, and when overloaded to 3.25 tons, at a speed of 72 km/h.

river glider "OSGA-9"

Of the gliders built in those years by Soviet industry, the transport river gliders "OSGA" should be noted. Of these, the glider "OSGA-5" was the fastest. With a domestic M-11 engine with a power of 100 hp. With. with four passengers the ship reached speeds of up to 84 km/h. The largest vessel of this series, "OSGA-9", could accommodate 20 people, and with an M-17 engine with a power of 450 hp. With. walked at speeds of up to 70 km/h. All these gliders were built from wood and plywood, their internal equipment and decoration were very modest.

the largest Soviet planing sea catamaran "Express"

Of great interest is the Express glider, built in 1938-1939 by order of the People's Commissariat of Water. This four-screw glider consisted of two boats connected by a bridge on which the passenger compartment was located. Each boat was equipped with two GM-34 engines with a power of 750 hp. With. every. The boats housed passenger cabins for 125 people. With a displacement of 46 tons, the glider sailed at a cruising speed of 70 km/h, and its highest short-term speed at full displacement was 86 km/h. The Express glider served the Sochi-Sukhumi line.

In the post-war years, Soviet design bureaus designed and built a number of planing recreational and tourist and service and traveling small vessels. Of the large number of recreational and high-speed sports gliders built by different teams, the popular motor boat “Mir”, designed by the Central Laboratory of Marine Modeling DOSAAF in 1954, should be noted. This boat is designed for boating, sport fishing, hunting and tourism. It seats four people and has an LMR-6 engine with a power of only 6 hp. With. develops a speed of 18 km/h. In 1960, the DOSAAF Central Maritime Club designed and built a sports and tourist motor boat "Rubin", which is still popular among amateur fishermen and hunters.

The capacity of this boat is 4 people. With a 10 hp “Moscow” engine. With. the boat reaches a speed of 20-24 km/h with four passengers and 30-34 km/h with one person. The hull of both boats is made of wood and plywood.

The enormous speeds of gliders were achieved, of course, with the help of science and its theoretical scientists. Pastor Remus made a mistake tenfold in his calculations of hydrodynamic lift and drag, and could not even determine under what conditions his ship would plane. Now it is possible, without even resorting to testing models, not only to determine with great accuracy the future speed of a particular glider, but also to select the most favorable width and position of the center of gravity in order to achieve the highest speed. We owe this to the people of science, both Soviet and foreign.

There is no consensus among yachtsmen which country is the birthplace of sailing. Many people prefer England, despite the fact that the sailing fleet was developed in England, for the first time sailing competitions were held in a completely different country.

To document our statements, let's turn to the English dictionary of 1670. He generally defines a yacht as a Dutch pleasure craft. Based on this, we draw the conclusion that not only sports yachts, but all yachts were first made in Holland.

It was the Netherlands that reached its peak in the 17th century; a highly developed economy, connections with the whole world, a developed merchant fleet and an excellent shipbuilding base made this country one of the leading powers in the world. The ships of Dutch companies sailed all the world's oceans. But the merchant fleet was constantly under threat of attack by pirates. As one of the means of protection, a high-speed light vessel was created, which later became known as a yacht. It is not without reason that the word yacht is interpreted in many dictionaries as fast or hound. Thus, the first sailing yacht from Holland was not intended for pleasure and sports, its task was to pursue the enemy, its main characteristic was speed.

But the change in the situation at sea for the better and the geographical position of Holland created a favorable atmosphere for the use of yachts, first by the rich and wealthy Dutch, for recreation. Naturally, demand pushed shipbuilders to constantly improve yachts. Gradually, a sailing yacht turns from a means of luxurious pastime into a necessity, since Holland is a country completely entangled in waterways, a yacht for a Dutchman becomes a necessary means of transportation. Naturally, every yacht owner wanted to have the best yacht, and rivalry arose, which led to the organization of competitions among yachtsmen. At first these competitions were of a casual nature, which later turned into a constant desire for competition.

Dutch yacht builders have come a long evolutionary path. From the construction of the first pirate chasing yachts to the construction of modern yachts. There are currently five shipyards in Holland building sailing mega yachts.

But it cannot be said that Holland is a leader in yacht building; many countries have overtaken it in the development of yacht building. Although today it is difficult to determine the country leading in this direction. Here the struggle for leadership is taking place not at the level of states, but at individual shipyards. And if the name of a yacht from ..... appears, then it is most likely used as a commercial offer.

When developing new projects, the experience of all yacht builders is used. Constructors and designers from different countries are invited. What comes of this can be judged by new yacht projects, for example: Benetou sailing yachts. An even clearer example is with Polish yachts. Anyone familiar with Polish Cetin yachts could hardly imagine that today Polish sailing yachts would be on par with well-known yacht brands. And the Polish Delhia 26 was nominated for the “European Yacht of the Year 2012/2013” ​​in the category of best sailing yachts. Although it is very difficult to determine which yacht is better. It all depends on the selection criteria. If we take speed into account, the fastest yacht is the brainchild designed by Alan Thebault; it reaches a speed of more than sixty knots. Tom Perkinson's yacht is considered the most luxurious mega yacht. And this list in the best yacht category can be continued endlessly.

Despite the fact that Holland has lost its leading position in yacht building, their undoubted merit remains the discovery of sailing, both for recreation and sailing.

The pleasure boat (floating self-propelled dacha) from the “Ark” series consists of a waterproof pontoon-type hull with an inflatable side and a frame superstructure. The body is made of aluminum alloy, which is resistant to corrosion,

the side is made of durable polyvinyl chloride fabric. The shape of the vessel's hull is with sharp cheekbones.

The bottom deadrise is 21°. These characteristics, in combination with an outboard motor (power 170-250 hp), provide the boat with good seaworthiness and a planing speed of 45 km/h.

The small draft parameters of the vessel make it possible to navigate through shallow water on rivers and estuaries. The inflatable board, which is designed with compartments, increases the degree of stability and buoyancy. This is important for navigation safety in case of concentration of a large number of people on the upper deck and prevents burying in steep coastal waves.

The cockpit in the bow allows you to freely operate the mooring lines; it also houses a removable ladder for boarding/disembarking passengers and seats. The spacious cockpit, located at the stern of the vessel, is protected by a canopy.

The design of the frame superstructure has panoramic glazing and the possibility of redevelopment at the request of the customer. The driver's seat is located in the bow compartment of the frame superstructure, in the central compartment there is a bathroom, and in the aft compartment there is a galley.
The galley has a stove, refrigerator, sink, hot and cold water supply. The superstructure also has sliding panels for isolating compartments (3 on the Ark-950 and 2 on the Ark-820).

Pleasure boat Kovcheg - 820

For sunbathing and relaxation there is a platform on the upper deck. You can get to it via a ladder from two directions - from the aft cockpit or the superstructure.

On the cockpit at the stern of the boat there is space for mounting a motor with a hydraulic control type with a power of up to 250 hp. Low noise is ensured by reliable insulation of the superstructure structure.

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