Sea Scouts to Submit "Rolling Tide" to Guinness World Records

At the suggestion of an ardent fan of Sea Scout Ship 41, "Rolling Tide" is going to be submitted to the Guinness World Records organization.  We are going to research which category it might fall under and submit an application.

Above is a picture of  "Rolling Tide" heading home after the Great Lake Erie Boat Float competition in which it won Most Artistic Design Award.  Stay tuned for the next appearance of this unique Sea Scout vessel, the Bay Village Bicentennial Parade on October 10, 2010.

Rolling Tide Sea Trials a Big Success for Sea Scouts.

Image via Wikipedia

Labor Day saw the scouts busy putting the final touches to Rolling Tide. As you see below 25 feet lengths of Tide bottles were laid out and the vessel rolled over them as they were secured to the frame.

The launch of Rolling Tide occurred in front of a crowd of curious onlookers. Being Labor Day we had a large number of members atBay Boat Club all asking us what we were up to.  Everyone was most enthusiastic and wished us all the best. Good promotion opportunity for Sea Scouts.

Once in the water Rolling Tide performed above and beyond all expectations.  It floated well and could even be turned in the water by the operators.

We did find however that with only one operator, Rolling Tide went a lot faster,obviously the formula: buoyancy x rotational speed is inversely proportional to weight is in play here. Watch the video below to see a demonstration of just how fast the vessel can move.

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Sea Scouts Vessel "Rolling Tide"

The Sea Scout of Ship 41 moved the design of "Rolling Tide" from the drawing board to prototype.

The hamster wheel design for the Lake Erie Boat Float Competition was put to the test.  A rough mock up was fabricated out of discarded aluminum hoops and Tide bottles. As you see from the picture below it floated.

Not only did it float, it also had forward momentum as Nate, shown inside the wheel, acted as operator. Now it is on to building the boat with additional hoops and bottles. We anticipate having the need for three operators - training will start next week.

"Rolling Tide" as it is now known, will be the Sea Scouts main entrance in the Lake Erie Boat Float competition at Edgewater Park on September 11, 2010.  The event is to highlight the use of recyclable plastics.   

The Sea Scout entry will be made from Tide bottles which are made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and have a recycling number of 2.  

This material is readily accepted by recycling companies and all the bottles used in "Rolling Tide" will be recycled.

For Sea Scouts it is Not All Work and No Play.

Well, it did require some work.  Richard Gash, the Skipper, said the Sea Scouts spent 30 minutes cleaning up the corner of Sptizer Lakeside Marina that always collects the detritus that washes into the marina but then it was off tubing. With the temperature in the 90's and little wind what else are you going to do?

The 300 H.P. behind our 27' Trophy, "Irish Wake", had no problem pulling the boys.

Ohio Marinas Request Sea Scout Flotsam Scoop

The flotsam scoop, designed by Sea Scout Ship 41, is again in demand as  the boating season in Ohio heats up. The Ohio Sea Grant has ordered 20 scoops to be handed out as part of the Ohio Clean Marina program.  Over 50 flotsam scoops are in operation cleaning up Ohio's waterways.

Gabriel cleans up debris floating at Lorain Sailing & Yacht
Club as part of the Sea Scout service project.

Google SketchUp Flotsam Scoop

Having a little fun playing on the computer - here is our Interlux Waterfront Challenge project in 3D using Google SketchUP with the file converted by AVS Video Converter for publichation in the blog. You may also see the file in the SketchUp 3D Warehouse.

Ship 41 Interlux Challenge Flotsam Net

The next design to be tested involved a different concept. Several scouts had designs involving nets and the handbook for the Ohio Clean Marinas program recommends the use of swimming pool skimmers. However it is generally agreed that pool skimmers do not hold up to the wear and tear of marina use. A more robust design was needed, hence the "flotsam net".

The net, a mesh bag, one of several samples provided by Kandi Greer of the Volm Companies, was attached to an aluminum hoop by carabiners. The net worked very well and was the only tool that could be used, because of its light weight, from a 10' bulkhead. The problem was that the bag was not easily removed from the hoop once full. Gabriel suggested turning the bag upside down and tying a slip knot in the bottom of the bag to ease emptying it in trash bags. This helped in emptying the mesh bag but the original thought was to fill the bag then dispose of it. An easier way of attaching the bag to the hoop had to be designed - back to the drawing board. Stay tuned for "flotsam net 1.01".