As some of you know we own a pontoon house boat on our lagoon. It was designed and built by the previous owner of our estate. He is an engineer not a boat designer. It was designed to be built at minimum cost using old oil drums. We have recently spent a considerable sum of money replacing all the drums with new galvanized ones and replacing all the decking and seating.
The next project is to streamline both bow and stern. The plan was to put a canoe type clamp on extension to the bow similar to the one fitted to the green wreck of a thing up river (see below) but not open at the bottom. For the stern an angled plate to deflect the water off the extended second barrel. This idea is from a friend who can weld not anyone of any nautical experience.
Undried Plum has suggested the following, supported by Ian:
It must be kept in mind that this is sitting in croc infested water and can't be brought ashore in the current location on the jetty. We have limited resources. We have available a fully equipped workshop with welding gear. We have oil drums to cut up and use plus various bits of metal.Wouldn't it be better to fit the fairings to the after end instead of the bow? That's where the drag is greatest.
For the bow, I'd fit semi-fairings, just under the waterline, in a similar manner to a bulbous bow which massively reduces generation of bow wave by pushing a pressure wave ahead of the bow.
UP, Ian, anyone, appealing for ideas. How do we manufacture and fit the suggested. What design would those and the stern fairings be and how would they fit?
Various photos below.
A 14 km sunset booze cruise on the lagoon for the ultimate design