As part of the developing storyline of DSNG CHRONICLES Book 6 [Available Now, here at Amazon.com], I had to do some research on Personal Water Crafts. And it led me to some interesting discoveries. There are a bunch of aquatic gizmos that the US Navy SEALs utilize as mechanical propellants to thrust themselves forward while underwater. Of course I don't have access to the classified files that grace the desk of Mr. Ray Mabus [the man currently holding the office of the Secretary of the Navy, since 2008], but at least I have my imagination, which gives me a keen idea of what sort of Pumpjet-equipped gadgets are utilized by the aquatic Special Forces tactical units.
Maybus may have not sanctioned the systematic contrivance of the multimillion-dollar M80 Stiletto prototype stealth ship for the Navy in 2006, but I'm sure he knows exactly what sort of Pumpjet was applied to its propulsion system, since it can ride above the high waves or even upon shallow waters:
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The M80 Stiletto is 88 feet long and 40 feet across the beam. It weighs 45 tons and carries 2,000 sq. ft. of cargo, but the carbon-fiber M80 Stiletto draws only 3 feet of water, making it uniquely suited for naval missions in shallow water. The Italian word "Stiletto" actually means sharp blade/dagger; and this is part of the chiseled design theme of the stealth ship. The M80 achieves its remarkable sea draft with a specially sculpted hull that lets air and water flow underneath to reduce wind resistance and generate lift - thanks to its customized Pumpjet engines.
Now for a definition that I will use throughout this article:
The Pumpjet [or Waterjet] is a dynamic marine-capable system that utilizes customized rotor technology to create a jet of water for propulsion. The more powerful the Pumpjet, the faster the amphibious craft. And some of these aquatic gizmos are designed to travel beneath the waves at substantially low levels where the water pressure would be too great for a standard swimmer to survive. These expensive marine engines are applied in Jet Skis and other compact Personal Water Crafts [PWCs].
And Pumpjets are so powerful that they are applied as the propulsion system for compact aquatic missiles, commonly called torpedos - which can travel up to 100km/h. One of the fastest torpedo brands is the VA-111 Shkva which is a Russian weapon; and it can travel beneath the waves at a high velocity up to 370 km/h [approximately 230 miles per hour, faster than a Corvette sports car at top speed].
[Above: the Kilo-II Class Pumpjet submarine propeller]
Since they vary tremendously in size and proportional output, Pumpjets [which are basically aquatic turbines] can be used for powering small fishing boats, or even giant submarines.
Now lets focus on the gizmos like Personal Water Crafts that can currently be purchased by those with lots of extra disposable income.
The Jet Ski is actually a brand-name for PWCs manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The Jet Skis are designed as vessels with Pumpjets that you have to stand / squat upon, when ridding. they cost between $6,000 to $12,000.
And the Wave Runners [created by Yamaha and costing about $8,000 to $15,000] are PWCs powered by Pumpjets that you have to sit upon when ridding. Most people don't know about this slight difference, so when you run Google Searches for Jet Skis you will often see a bunch of WaveRunners in the mix.
Back in 2007, an Italian PWC company called HSR Bernelli launched "Torpedo-powered" Jet Skis, which actually have seats like the Waverunners. And these sleek sea-monsters give an output of about 342 horsepower. This is definitely a beach-side toy for the rich & famous, since they cost about $30,000 each. Check them out:
And now, I give you the cream of the crop, produced by an American firm called Innerspace back in 2010. This small company takes the concept of wave ridding to a whole new level, and they've created a series of seacrafts that ride above and beneath the waves with incredible ease.
Introducing the Seabreacher, an advanced series of PWCs that are powered by custom Pumpjets:
Even though it looks like "an expensive Jaws movie prop" or something out of a James Bond flick, this thing is real... its so real that it costs between $60,000 and $90,000 for a customized model. The Youtube video below shows a test-drive for the sleek conceptual sea craft.
There are some aquatic vehicles like this in DSNG CHRONICLES Book 6. And they've been given a "sci fi twist" thus making them more futuristic. Stay tuned, more articles and cool art are on the way...
More about the DSNG sci fi series: http://dsngsfm.blogspot.com/p/dsng-blog-articles.html
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