This is a hard post to write. I am exhausted following the trials of the last few days (weeks, months, etc.) but I will try to keep clear. Those of you who enjoy my digressions will be disappointed and those of you who want me to get to the point will rejoice.
I didn't compete in the race. The 2012 MR 340 went on, and I was unable to join in.
The inevitable question will be, "Why?"
Oddly, it wasn't because I wasn't ready. I was as prepared. I had my supplies, a crew, a boat, and I wanted to be out there. Mentally I can power through anything, and physically I can defy logic. Also, the boat was operating as built. All the parts worked and it was assembled in time- a little later than start, but well within the time I would need to keep in the race. But there is a flip-side to that: the boat was built incorrectly.
In a strange turn of events, I overbuilt the hull. It had too much displacement, which meant that it was unstable and that the prop and rudder were not riding in the water the way I wanted. I said the boat was operating as built, but not as intended. In a nutshell, I couldn't get it to propel fast enough, and even if I had moved, I couldn't steer. After the last boats left the point, I tried to get it going, but I could do nothing to make it ride lower (though I theorized that if I had added ballast in the form of a big hunk of rock/concrete to the back and front, I could get it to ride lower... which is probably true but also insane). I pronounced the test a failure and we disassembled and went home.
I'm disappointed in myself for this. Many people were behind me on this project and dedicated their time and effort into making it happen. I did not treat this self-sacrifice with the proper gravity, and I let them down. Everyone has been polite about it and they may even be sincere in saying they don't mind, but I mind. I must apologize and take full responsibility for all of this.
However, I have not given up on the goal. I am not sure I know exactly what the next steps are (aside from getting a good night of sleep and drinking some rum), but I can tell you that this is not the end. What I have made is a boat. It isn't a very good boat, but it is a boat. And from this I have taken a great deal of knowledge. It's been educational both in the sense of mechanics and hydrodynamics, but also into myself and where I fail. This is the sort of moment which should be spent in self-reflection, in an honest assessment of what happened and how to overcome the problems. The last nine hours, my mind has been grinding and processing the information. There are solutions, and I will find them. What has been done will inform the next steps, and the machine which follows will improve.
In the end, I haven't failed as much as helped to define a path. And with the continued support of my friends, I will move forward. This is one part of a larger story.
The target remains.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
riverside
Sorry about that last digression, my mind gets weird when I get tired. You won't get to see this unless you are on the river tomorrow.
Speaking of on the river, Fenrir sleeps at Kaw point. It went together and there were difficulties and missing parts, but my cousin David and Rachael along with my mom helped me through. You can't replace great people. And that brings me to the tandem pedal division.
Across the lot where I was assembling Fenrir, the Hydro Junkies were assembling and fabricating their boat. I have to send a big shout to a team that is as driven as me and shares my loose attitude toward planning. We are not lazy, we are just very optimistic.
I don't mean that as an insult: these guys are top notch. If I didn't have a crew, I would still be there helping them out. They lent tools and advice and looked for supplies for me. They complimented my blog (always a plus) and tried to steal my mom. Camaraderie is the perfect word.
Well, it is after midnight and I will want to try and start on time tomorrow. That means bed for me and a silence on this end of the blog. To follow the progress, go here and get the full instructions. Tomorrow is coming fast.
Let's have a race.
Speaking of on the river, Fenrir sleeps at Kaw point. It went together and there were difficulties and missing parts, but my cousin David and Rachael along with my mom helped me through. You can't replace great people. And that brings me to the tandem pedal division.
Across the lot where I was assembling Fenrir, the Hydro Junkies were assembling and fabricating their boat. I have to send a big shout to a team that is as driven as me and shares my loose attitude toward planning. We are not lazy, we are just very optimistic.
I don't mean that as an insult: these guys are top notch. If I didn't have a crew, I would still be there helping them out. They lent tools and advice and looked for supplies for me. They complimented my blog (always a plus) and tried to steal my mom. Camaraderie is the perfect word.
Well, it is after midnight and I will want to try and start on time tomorrow. That means bed for me and a silence on this end of the blog. To follow the progress, go here and get the full instructions. Tomorrow is coming fast.
Let's have a race.
333
It's early or late and the boat is as far along as I can take it.
By the clock we are only a day from race day.... in twenty four hours we will find out what I have been up to. Let me be clear:
This is an attempt to build a boat which will outrun any paddler over long distance. What will be put in the water is a prototype- more accurately a proof of concept model -of what I will build over time. I am attempting to test my theories on hull, flywheel and variable pitch propellors. My minimum standard is to set the record for a pedal powered boat which is a little over seventy-four hours. I will be attempting to beat the overall record (below thirty-six hours). What transpires is the clear result of myself as an athlete and that of a watercraft which has been built to that purpose.
A lot of people have supported me in this effort, and I am afraid that I may let them down. It is not the fear that I cannot perform, but rather that I have not prepared to the degree that I should have. I can only let the race decide. Knowing this, and knowing me, you can be sure that if I can keep going, I will. There is not an obstacle made which I will not attack if I gave my word. A lack of preparation does not validate failure.
We proceed onward, and failure- like success- informs the future.
The target remains.
A digression:
In these hours before the race I find myself preoccupied with matters of the heart. It's strange, I know, but I cannot help but feel that if she were here, I would be more calm. It makes me realize how much the presence of another can affect us, and brings to mind the realities of life. Before me lies the task and I am bound by my word, but the anxiety of such a feat would fade with the right words, the softest breath upon my tired form. I would ride, bearing her colors, to win the day or fall in the glory of Valhalla. There can be glory in defeat, but we must fight with a worthy purpose and know, in the end, that we had no more left to give.
A love for what we do as much as who we do it for.
By the clock we are only a day from race day.... in twenty four hours we will find out what I have been up to. Let me be clear:
This is an attempt to build a boat which will outrun any paddler over long distance. What will be put in the water is a prototype- more accurately a proof of concept model -of what I will build over time. I am attempting to test my theories on hull, flywheel and variable pitch propellors. My minimum standard is to set the record for a pedal powered boat which is a little over seventy-four hours. I will be attempting to beat the overall record (below thirty-six hours). What transpires is the clear result of myself as an athlete and that of a watercraft which has been built to that purpose.
A lot of people have supported me in this effort, and I am afraid that I may let them down. It is not the fear that I cannot perform, but rather that I have not prepared to the degree that I should have. I can only let the race decide. Knowing this, and knowing me, you can be sure that if I can keep going, I will. There is not an obstacle made which I will not attack if I gave my word. A lack of preparation does not validate failure.
We proceed onward, and failure- like success- informs the future.
The target remains.
A digression:
In these hours before the race I find myself preoccupied with matters of the heart. It's strange, I know, but I cannot help but feel that if she were here, I would be more calm. It makes me realize how much the presence of another can affect us, and brings to mind the realities of life. Before me lies the task and I am bound by my word, but the anxiety of such a feat would fade with the right words, the softest breath upon my tired form. I would ride, bearing her colors, to win the day or fall in the glory of Valhalla. There can be glory in defeat, but we must fight with a worthy purpose and know, in the end, that we had no more left to give.
A love for what we do as much as who we do it for.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Han and his wookie
My favorite quote from Han Solo is said to Luke, "She may not look like much, kid, but she's got it where it counts." Ignoring how many times I have used this to describe a girlfriend, I have to apply it to Fenrir.
With a long day yesterday, Mom and I got the hull finished and fitted with all the components and everything in place. Today I need only worry about controls and the outriggers (don't hold your breath on a test run). I should be able to sit on it and make everything move by the time I sleep tonight... or tomorrow. I don't know. I figure ten hours to Kansas City, so I could stay up all night and sleep while Mom drives and we would get there in time.... Going to play it by ear. Another good Han Solo quote (this one to C3PO), "Never tell me the odds."
So, here are some images of what we were doing yesterday.
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| checking the placement of the components |
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| rough cut openings |
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| a rough set up with parts in place |
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| about eleven thirty last night. carbon on, time to clean up and get some sleep |
Friday, July 27, 2012
Minus Three
It's been a while since my last post, or at least my last post of note. Tonight is not a big difference.
I'm pretty exhausted from working and then working on this project. But, the pieces are coming together, and I may be done tomorrow (aside from a few bits that need to dry and maybe the odd rework of a detail). I have to give special thanks to Dave for taking over the flywheel part of this project.
The Iron Goat made a pretty nice thing, but it will not be heavy enough to drive the prop. That left me in a spot and I was going to omit that part until Dave attacked it with his experience. He has a particular gift for cutting through to the heart of a thing and solving the problem with what seems like no effort. The flywheel now is a 25lb weight which has been fitted to the mid-shaft in the gear box. The details of it are really something. Today we balanced it with a method Dave devised and it seems to be rolling pretty true.
In addition to that I got the input shaft(s) put together and did some of the final prep to finish the whole thing. It is going to be a monumental push, but it is going to get there. I could test it Sunday, but I can't count on that until we get there. For now, I am satisfied with progress.
Hope you are all well and getting ready to see what happens in three days.
The pressure builds, the target remains.
I'm pretty exhausted from working and then working on this project. But, the pieces are coming together, and I may be done tomorrow (aside from a few bits that need to dry and maybe the odd rework of a detail). I have to give special thanks to Dave for taking over the flywheel part of this project.
The Iron Goat made a pretty nice thing, but it will not be heavy enough to drive the prop. That left me in a spot and I was going to omit that part until Dave attacked it with his experience. He has a particular gift for cutting through to the heart of a thing and solving the problem with what seems like no effort. The flywheel now is a 25lb weight which has been fitted to the mid-shaft in the gear box. The details of it are really something. Today we balanced it with a method Dave devised and it seems to be rolling pretty true.
In addition to that I got the input shaft(s) put together and did some of the final prep to finish the whole thing. It is going to be a monumental push, but it is going to get there. I could test it Sunday, but I can't count on that until we get there. For now, I am satisfied with progress.
Hope you are all well and getting ready to see what happens in three days.
The pressure builds, the target remains.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
monday looms
I need to sleep, but to keep everything rolling, I wanted to share a bit of thinking that was passed to me when I first started as an industrial design student:
Better done than perfect.
I would add a qualifier: Sometimes it's better to be done than perfect.
Something to muse on as I go forward. Compromises are made as the ideal is made to fit the realities of life. It reminds me of another saying by the same instructor: work expands to fill the time alloted.
I amend this to: Work expands and contracts to fill the time alloted.
Anyway, I have an early day, so goodnight.
The target remains...
Better done than perfect.
I would add a qualifier: Sometimes it's better to be done than perfect.
Something to muse on as I go forward. Compromises are made as the ideal is made to fit the realities of life. It reminds me of another saying by the same instructor: work expands to fill the time alloted.
I amend this to: Work expands and contracts to fill the time alloted.
Anyway, I have an early day, so goodnight.
The target remains...
Like sand through the hourglass....
Literally waiting for the glue to dry over here. It's 100F and it will still take a while.
Good news?
When the glue is dry, some last minute shaping and then the skin of carbon. Also, while I wait, I can work on the prop blades (now also drying) and the outriggers.... also drying. Guess I will clean up since Mom will be here and the house has gone from hovel to hell-hole over the last two weeks of building.
Is the suspense killing you? Am I going to make it? Will it actually work? Have I - the Great American Badass Bates- finally met with a challenge which I cannot complete?
Stay tuned.
(and, no, I don't call myself that... though, if you wanted to, I wouldn't stop you)
Good news?
When the glue is dry, some last minute shaping and then the skin of carbon. Also, while I wait, I can work on the prop blades (now also drying) and the outriggers.... also drying. Guess I will clean up since Mom will be here and the house has gone from hovel to hell-hole over the last two weeks of building.
Is the suspense killing you? Am I going to make it? Will it actually work? Have I - the Great American Badass Bates- finally met with a challenge which I cannot complete?
Stay tuned.
(and, no, I don't call myself that... though, if you wanted to, I wouldn't stop you)
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