SRM-1 Hovercraft . The name SRM-1 (or Stark Raving Mad One) is intended to refer back to SRN-1 which was the first passenger carrying hovercraft built; it is also meant as an oblique reference to an earlier scale model built by Christopher Cockerell. The SRM-1 shares with Cockrells earlier model (referred to as the RAM effect model) the feature of having forward facing fans that channel air under the craft. Whereas Cockrell's model had no skirt or seal under the craft to contain cushion air, the SRM-1 uses a novel system of rigid panels to form a collapsible box type seal.
MechMate CNC Router. I built this router from plans drawn by Gerald D in South Africa and offered for free on the internet. There are now 87 documented builds like mine (mine is build #48) in the Mech-Mate forums. To view details of the build logs on the MM forum you must register your email address. The table is built from ordinary lengths of angle iron, C channel, with some laser cut and bent parts, and some sophisticated electronics made simple by the clear and detailed information available on the website. Every bit of steel and other parts for the MM was conveyed in my small car and then loaded to a 14 foot runabout for shipment to the Island.
Sliding Seat Dory. This boat is my primary transport between Dangar Island and the mainland. The Dangar Dory is based on a Herschoff design modified over the years. I built my dory by using a borrowed dory as a male mould. I used woven fiberglass, some carbon fiber and epoxy resin. The gunwales are Merbou, the seats are Plywood carved using the Mech-Mate. The Sliding Seat and Crocker oars gives the Dory great speed and power. Absolutely beautiful boat to row and it can carry a ton of stuff.
Fresh Air Engine
The Fresh Air Engine (FAE) is a design for an engine that runs on fresh air (i.e. compressed air) and is intended for use in motor vehicles. This engine has potentially the lowest greenhouse emissions of any engine design.
The FAE is different from most designs in that the engine doubles as an air compressor when the vehicle is braking. This regenerative braking capability not only recovers otherwise wasted kinetic energy, it also generates heat into the storage tank and is a vital step in solving the thermodynamic problems that trouble other designs. The unique one stroke brake cycle of the FAE (where both the up and down-stroke of the piston are productive) offers twice the retardation force than any other pneumatic regenerative braking system.
The FAE has less than 5% of the CO2 emissions (and 0% of NO and other pollutants) per kilometre of a petrol engine; some calculations to support this claim are shown in the following pages. The CO2 emissions from the FAE over a full life cycle may be less than that of electric cars, due to the very short lifespan of batteries compared to that of a compressed air tank.
Holmes Motor Cruiser
Built by the Holmes Brothers (of some local fame for involvement in the shark arm murder mystery of the 1930's), this cruiser has undergone a major overhaul in recent times. The Kauri planked hull is fully sheathed in fiberglass and epoxy (the major part of this was completed by the previous owner, the engine has been overhauled, all rotten timber in the coach house has been removed and replaced, an efficient and self sustaining (solar powered) electrical system has been installed, and work is underway to build interior furniture to make this into a pleasant harbor boat.
