AquaScooter
An aqua scooter or water sledge is a means of transport for individuals in the water. In contrast to the diving scooter , water sleds are primarily used as a means of transport for swimmers on the water surface; however, there are also water sleds that can also be used underwater. A distinction is made between non-powered and self-propelled water sleds.
Aqua scooter
development
The inventor of the aqua scooter is Bernd Böttger from the former GDR. At the age of 27 he built a forerunner and tried to use this swimming aid to flee from Boltenhagen across the Baltic Sea from the GDR in 1967 . This plan was betrayed to the State Security in advance by a friend of Böttger's. On the evening of the intended escape, GDR border guards expected him on the beach and arrested him. The scooter was confiscated.
After eight months in prison, he built himself a new aqua scooter in 1968, which was improved in some details and also quieter, and made a second, this time successful, escape attempt. His invention was then further developed to readiness for series production in cooperation with the Pinneberger Ilo-Motorenwerke and sold for years. After the insolvency of the Pinneberger Ilo-Motorenwerke, Arkos continues to build the Aqua-Scooter in Italy and markets it worldwide. Aqua-Scooter is a protected brand name and is only available with a two-horsepower combustion engine.
Bernd Böttger died on August 27, 1972 under unknown circumstances during a dive.
drive
A small two-stroke engine with 50 cm³ and two HP drives the propeller . It develops a thrust of 25 kg and thus a speed of around ten km / h. The motor and the drive are completely submerged. Engine noises cannot be heard from a few meters away. Air is supplied via a snorkel , which also limits the diving depth (120 cm). A water separator (possibly with a non-return valve ) protects against accidentally sucking in water . The combustion exhaust gases are discharged into the fairway at the bottom. The fairway is also used for cooling. Longer operation (> 3 min) outside of the water leads to overheating. The tank on the aqua scooter is divided into two parts. In the front half there is the air tank with water separator and the connection for the snorkel. The aqua scooter floats on the surface of the water through this air tank. In the rear half is the gasoline tank with a capacity of two liters of gasoline mixture for around two hours of operation at full throttle. If the Aqua-Scooter is released during operation, it drives in a circle at idle and comes back to the user with minimal flow. Operation is permitted in Germany without a license wherever motor boats are allowed to drive. The models AS 400, AS 450 and AS 500 have a contact ignition. The AS 600 model has an electronic ignition.
Seabob
The Seabob comes from the Stuttgart company Cayago and was presented at the Boot trade fair in 2005 . According to the company, it is the fastest water sled in the world. It can be used both above water and under water to a depth of 40 m. It is powered by an electric jet, which in turn is powered by lithium-ion batteries. It is therefore emission-free and almost noiseless in operation. It is the successor to the Delfjet by the inventor Jürgen Grimmeisen. A big brother named Magnum has been specially developed for professional diving with higher performance and additional technical features. All products were developed in collaboration with the Stuttgart design office Schweizer Design Consulting and designed there. They have received numerous design awards (red dot, Good Design, Focus Silver and nominations for the Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany).
The Baader water sledge
The Baader water sledge was invented by Joseph von Baader in 1810 . This is a type of pedal boat . The water sledge was recreated in 2005 by Piotr Ramczykowski at the Munich University of Applied Sciences .
Water slide without drive
Non-powered water sleds are used, among other things, as swimming aids and for recreational enjoyment.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Photo gallery. Mirror online
- ↑ The Baader water sledge . In: Annals of Physics . Volume 38, Number 2, 1811. pp. 234-235.