HYDRO LANCE CORPORATION
Common Questions and Answers
 How Does The Hydro Lance Work?
  
Above: HARTH Construction Ship              HARTH Fast Mega-Yachts                HARTH Fast Pleasure Yachts

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1.  What keeps it up, or how does it float?
 
Hydro-Lance (HARTH Technology) is industry new, but it is still a basic displacement hull.  It does not use horsepower to lift, or to raise it above the waves.  It does not have gyros , shifting ballast, or trim tabs, to make it ride level or to  remain straight, smooth and true, even in high sea states.  Buoyancy holds it up at any speed, and the well understood physics of hydro-static pressure, keeps the hull straight and true. If the power is lost in seas, or in rough water, the Hydro-Lance design is formulated for stability, with a geometry that assures dynamic wave averaging to each hull and results with structural stress forces at near zero.  Invention is often the unexpected.
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2. What kind of engine does it use?
 
Hydro-Lance can utilize any, or multiple, types of propulsion.  Because of the small cross-section in its rails (hulls), smaller boats will have their engines built in or under the main deck, in the root section of the two rear or front legs.  Power plants may be located in the hulls of larger ships, which will have a larger hull cross-section, or within the main deck.
 
For slow harbor speeds, propulsion can be hydraulic, electric or directly driven through 360 degree water jets, allowing for maneuvering in any direction, including sideways and 'cater pillaring' in its own length.  High-speeds in open-ocean may be handled by aircraft propeller ducted air drive, jet drive in the hull, direct turbine thrust, electric drive, or by a pair of directly driven cavitation screws. Engines can be gasoline, diesel, piston, rotary, closed cycle systems, or by gas turbines, whichever offers the best efficiency, performance and a cost-effective trade-off, for the owner/operator.
 
3.         How fast will it go?  Graph
 
Speed is a function of horsepower vs. drag.  Horsepower is a function of platform size, range desired, hull drag, and structural ability to deal with rough water slamming.  Hydro-Lance reduces frontal wave-making drag up to 93% compared to the conventional.  The HARTH hull drills through the wave, so that the rails (hulls) always ride in a flat, horizontal position with no slamming.  The vessel's geometry averages the ocean surface contours, reducing overall structural stress at all speeds to near zero forces.  Graph

Hydro-Lance recognizes that sea water is nearly 800 times more dense than air.  It is fundamental that boats should be more streamlined than airplanes, given that air weights 2.2 pounds per cubic yard, vs. over 1,700 pounds for water.  In order to achieve 60-80 MPH (Hydro Lance economic cruising speeds , when measured against a modern 15-20 Knott traditional displacement mono-hull of equal weight), the Hydro-Lance, or HARTH technology, became a "no compromise" and "no foolishness" design...a technology developed from physical studies of speed and the varied ocean surface observations, analyses and profiles.  High seas and waves become a function of speed capabilities.
 
No one yet knows, the hulls upper HARTH limits of speed in high seas, except that it is well over 160 Knots.  With specific designs for higher speeds, theoretical bow wake resistance can be eliminated, or pushed out to well over 200 Knots.  Larger vessels offer high speeds, and range potential, because of their economies of scale and higher force sea-state capabilities.  The inventor believes that with certain modifications in basic design, speeds in excess of 200 MPH, in relatively high seas, can be economically maintained for trans-ocean runs. Operations in the Northern Seas would utilize designs of  larger HARTH vessels with higher amounts of prime power installed.  After all, even with the significant overall 83% hull drag reduction, speed remains a function of Horse Power vs. total drag including both the house and hulls.
 
4.          How about beam seas?  (Graph) Beaufort #11 Sea State
 
All vessels are at their worst in beam seas, high winds and waves.  Some craft such as catamarans are even susceptible to roll-over (axial rotation) when placed on the slope of a large wave. Hydro-Lance is designed to eliminate this problem, with  specialized geometry.  Any new vessels are designed  with specifically rated maximum sea-state operational parameters.  You may compare yachts, trawler and a Blue-Water vessel.
 
Careful study of the Hydro-Lance proportions will reveal, that in proportion to its weight and size, it has a very large and stable base.  Short wave lengths contain the most energy,  yet the Hydro-Lance, when cruising in the maximum specified sea-state rating, will never produce more than one or two degrees of roll. Even while standing dead in the water, without speed or power, roll does not exceed five degrees.  Obviously the Captain can eliminate even the minimal / maximum five (5) degree  roll by starting the engines, gain some speed, and steer onto a heading a few degrees away from full beam conditions.  Conclusion:  Hydro-Lance handles very well in beam sea headings, quartering seas, following seas or at any heading.  Axial rotation is not a concern because of the geometry and hull design.  The  reserve buoyancy in each hull (rail), is sufficient to carry the vessel's loaded weight, even if the hull becomes flooded.  Other proprietary means are employed, to eliminate any and all roll for larger open-ocean class vessels.
 
5.       What about draft?
 
Because of the design specialized geometry that is utilized in the Hydro-Lance design, draft is kept to a minimum.  These vessels measure draft in inches, or a few feet, and not the typical 40-100 feet.  A smaller 100 ton vessel, for example, might have a draft of 18-22 inches,  making it possible to cross over reefs at high-tide, or pass through shoal waters, that only very small boats might otherwise venture.  This feature makes Hydro-Lance design a good candidate for cruise ships,  tankers, LNG and bulk cargo design, where shallow-draft may be essential for entry into shallow harbors or unimproved beaches, thus providing for expanded markets.  The HARTH technology  includes, many other proprietary hull application advantages, formulations and safety features.
 
6.          What about safety?
 
First, the ship's stability assures greater ocean transport safety...and comfort.  No pitch, roll, yaw. sway or heave in high force sea states (Visit Ocean Force Sea States).  This stability design also produces far lower stress on the hulls as compared to conventional designs.  The hull's design averages ocean waves to a near zero influence on the hulls and structure, thus mitigates hog or sag.  These factors equal far greater vessel safety in ocean going high force sea-states, than any conventional or specialty ship on the ocean today.  Because conventional ships do not average these forces, their structures suffer from hog and sag (Video) which is a leading cause of sinking ships. 

The long rails, naturally make newcomers nervous about everything, from hitting semi-submerged logs, or flotsam and jetsam, to hitting whales.  Others ask what happens if you hit a rock wall, or lose a rail on one side; will the upper body float long enough, to get rescued?
 
These types of questions are reminiscent of those faced by the first airplane.  "If those long things you call wings should happen to come off the airplane, what happens then?"  Fortunately, Hydro-Lance is not as vulnerable as it may appear.  For example, flooded buoyancy is assured, by having a ship's reserve displacement as foam back-filled hull sections - in each hull or rail with the same for the  legs and the house. Even the components will float. The speed assures the ship's ability to easily outrun hurricanes or dangerous storms of any kind. The hull design, allows for the over-ride of logs and debris, and satellite linked electronics assure precise navigation ...  there is so much more ...
 
The extreme shallow draft, and the bow  design, are more likely to ride up and over low floating objects, at or below the water line.  Floating objects are also going to be pushed down, as well as Hydro-Lance being lifted.  The likelihood of center-punching a whale is very remote, since whales hear things (sub-surface signal horns incorporated) at long distances.  Those creatures, dropping a few feet below the surface, will then avoid any collision of the ship with these 'intelligent' creatures.  Hydro-Lance does not have exposed propellers, keels, rudder or fins below the hull bottom, which more often destroys or chops up marine animals currently.
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The long tapered bow-points pass over kelp and floating nets, etc.  Even here, design provisions are incorporated, to help cut away such occurrence.  What happens if you hit a sailboat, or power vessel, while traveling even 60-80 Knots?  Have you ever seen the picture of the straw driven through a tree, fence post  or telephone pole, during a tornado or hurricane?  Arrows, harpoons, spears, etc. are stronger along their length with velocity as are the HARTH hulls.  A close examination of Hydro-Lance's front legs may reveal their cutting slope, where they fasten to the hull.  We're hoping that pilot competence, long range radar, GPS, and the new starlight night vision equipment ,will prevent the test of such collisions.
 
7.         What keeps the rails running straight?
 
Almost everyone worries about the rails going their own separate ways.  I believe a simple comparison would be water skies, ice skates, snow skies, etc.  How strong are your ankles compared to your body weight?  The plain facts are that, the water itself demands that the rails travel in a path of least resistance.  As a matter of interest, it takes more energy to turn the hulls, than it does to make them go straight.   When standing still, wave action might create minor pressures to create lateral forces, and movement.  This is normal  (See 12 minute video). Under way, these forces work back-and-forth to cancel each other. At high-speed, the water has only enough time, to move a very short distance, until the rail feels pressures of it going the other way.  The higher the speed of Hydro-Lance, the closer these forces equate to zero.  Remember, just 60 MPH is 88 feet per second.  To understand the subtleness of the Hydro-Lance design, you must do a velocity time vector analysis of waves.  Amazing, isn't it?   Time profiles, dwell, water forces and surface physics are important to the understanding of HARTH for averaging wave forces. 
 
8.         Where do you park it?
 
Any place in sheltered or unsheltered water.  You don't need a snug harbor when your boat remains flat and stable when parked in a high-surf.  In the real world, this is a stable platform at sea, making the technology a candidate for a stable floating ocean piers and platforms as well.  In fact, separately, the Company has such designs, for stable floating piers, docks, cities and platforms. When the hulls are beached at the bow, even with large waves rolling in, it remains stable without hull chaffing.  The unexpected is invention.

Consider that conventional vessels are built for the convenience of harbors, while the Hydro Lance is designed and build to first accommodate the physics of the ocean environments.  When airplanes were finally accepted as viable, old airplane dirt-landing strips, were rebuilt as airports and then further expanded, again and again.   Hydro Lance can accommodate open beaches and shallow waters, and can accommodate some existing port facilities, however there will be modifications made, for this high speed transport capability.  Just like the introduction of airplanes, economic benefits and time savings will demand it.
 
It's true that the relatively large footprint of the Hydro Lance, for its weight and house size, does not conform with traditional ships.  Hydro-Lance is a complete opposite (invention); designed on the basis of ocean physics.  It performs well at sea, but does not fit in the compact boat slips.  On the other hand, traditional boats berth well, but do very poorly at sea.  At least there is now an intelligent option on what purpose that we design for, build and buy, or what and how we can justify the capitalization for a new boat or ship - or a fleet. 
 
9.          How expensive is it?
 
Hydro-Lance should not cost much more than ordinary vessels once they are repeatedly produced.  Hydro-Lance has approximately 30 percent more surface area, which means more skin and ribs, etc.  But measured against weight, it has double the living or cargo area. A relatively small Hydro-Lance will offer more space, clear-span space, safety and luxury than a traditional boat twice its weight.  The twin-hull geometry, reduced hull cross-section, bow point, reduced drag and elevated house is the synergistic difference for comfort, speed and greater safety.
 
10.       How about fuel consumption?    See Ferry Study Economy Summary
 
Because Hydro-Lance is over 80 percent efficient in the amount of water disturbed per mile, with fuel consumption and horsepower being kept at a minimum.  Compared to a standard mono-hull displacement vessel, or even a catamaran, tri-maran, SWATH, SLICE, Hydrofoil, Hovercraft or Planning Hull, the Hydro-Lance will either double or multiply  your speed, for the same fuel and horsepower per ton/passenger mile consumption.  Alternately, going only somewhat faster than that of the 'conventional' vessel, operational fuel consumption is reduced by approximately seven times per ton or passenger mile, when compared to these other vessels (many existing hull shapes may resemble large plows pushing through water).  Marine architecture today, may revel in a "breakthrough accomplishment" for achieving just one or two percent improvement in reducing hull drag.  In other words, redesigning the same old bucket, keeps getting the same results; a bigger bucket, slimmer bucket, planning bucket, or smaller bucket, but still a tub.  Tubs and bucket hulls all behave and obey to the wave contours of the ocean - as they must slow way down in elevated sea-states for punishment avoidance. There is a much better way; The Hydro Lance HARTH technology is the unexpected answer, and is ready now.
 
11.       What about heave?
 
Heave is negligible or non-existent.   Within any total wave length, there is 50% of rising water, and 50% of falling water.  The forces of heave become averaged to zero (See 12 minute Video). It's important to observe and understand the vertical rise and falling speed of the water, energy movement, hull dynamics, and the variables in different forces of sea states. The development of the HARTH technology was based on an extensive study of ocean physics. Hydro Lance design averages these forces to approximate zero and prevents the unwanted pitch, roll, heave, yaw or sway.  This is a significant gain for ocean safety, speed and comfort of surface ocean transport.
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Waves pass over each hull, as a normal function.   As speed increases, the frequency of waves encountered increases, and effectively becomes calm water with relationship to these specially designed hulls.   Even HARTH pontoons on retired aircraft can transform old 'airliners' to super fast ferries, or be modified for flight and mounted to larger aircraft for ocean landings and take-offs.
 
12.         What about turning at high-speed?
 
Turning a Hydro-Lance may be as fast, as any large ship in the water.  The new methods used are proprietary and are part of the overall Patents, Patent Applications, and Copyright processes.  Many new practical inventions and innovations had to be developed to make Hydro-Lance a total working system.  Features such as low-energy wetted-surface drag reduction, variable displacement, high/low decks, elimination of rudders & keels, descending tail gates - ramps - platforms, walk-ashore rails and people-moving mechanisms which may eliminate most shore boat transfer problems. Enhancing fast-loading & unloading systems, overhead traveling cranes, lowering deck platforms, port infrastructures together with other unique features were designed to make Hydro-Lance a true contender for global marine improvement - for both light or heavy tonnage ocean transport.

13.        What about Aircraft Flight Pontoons?

Special modifications of the proprietary HARTH hulls may allow mounting of these fast hulls to large aircraft, including large jet aircraft, for landings and take-offs with more safety and comfort in ocean environments.  The stability of the HARTH pontoon system provides for these landings or take-offs through a Force 6 Sea-State Beaufort ...

   Above: HARTH Aircraft Flight Pontoons        HARTH Matched-Speed Aircraft Carrier       HARTH Super-Fast Patrol Boats

 
14.     ..  Still have a question?            ...    'More about The Technology

15.          Early Test Demonstration?   ...    Hydro Lance 12 Minute Video

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16..........How Do You Reach Us?       .....    CONTACTING OUR STAFF

17.         What about the Company?    ...   About History and the Company

18.         HARTH Industry Participation ... HARTH License, Manufacture & Investors

19.         The HARTH and HARSH Technologies are owned in whole by the Hydro Lance Corporation

 

   Above: HARTH Fast Manta Series        Live Stock Fast Transport           New Life & Markets for Retired Airliners

 New Markets for Ocean Transport

And Very Much More  ...

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for additional information ...

SITE & HARTH APPLICATIONS DIRECTORY

RETIRED AIRLINERS FAST FERRY CONVERSIONS

HARTH LUXURY PLEASURE CRAFT

Super-Fast Patrol Boats

License or Investment Interest

EMPLOYMENT: Resumes Now Being Accepted

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Copyright 2010-1998, Hydro Lance Corporation , All Rights Reserved: Copyright, Patents, Intellectual Property and Technology contained on this page, and throughout this web site, are the sole property of the Hydro Lance Corporation and the Inventor; Robert T. Price. Reproductions to any part of this web site, or any use of the H.A.R.T.H. technology is strictly forbidden, unless  under specific license agreement with the Hydro Lance Corporation, or specific written and signed permission is provided by an Officer of the Hydro Lance Corporation. Technology descriptive content Copyrighted@2009-1986

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