me in the bow storage compartment turned guest room
I had a great idea the other day while on a hike up Big Mountain. It occurred to me that WiTHiN is easily big enough to hold TWO people - one could sit in the cockpit and pedal while the other relaxes in the cabin spotting traffic or sleeping. The duo could switch off every 4 hours or so. If the weather ever got bad enough to have to sit it out on sea anchor, then there is plenty of room in the bow storage compartment for a sleeping bunk. Jason Lewis's pedal boat Moksha was very similar to WiTHiN, but slightly larger. He went around the world in Moksha and much of the time there were 2 people in the boat sharing the pedalling duties.
it is even possible to do a 180 in there - a bit tight, but it can be done.
I'm not suggesting that Pedaltheocean become a two-man expedition to cross the Pacific, but I am thinking that this could be a really great way for me to gain experience with the help of someone else with experience and who knows his way around ocean human powering.
This is a view from the cockpit seat into the bow storage compartment. The round hatch in the bulkhead is about 6.5 feet away.
So, what I am thinking of doing is to plan a mini-expedition from Victoria BC (or somewhere in the Pacific North West), south down the west coast of the US to San Fransisco (or somewhere sufficiently far). This mini-pedaltheocean-expedition would be a 2-man effort. We could plan 2 to 3 day legs between safe harbors to wait-out any especially bad weather and sort of play it by ear as we make our way south. There are plenty of coastguard stations along the coast, and plenty of ports.
I think a 2 to 3 week trip like this is exactly what I need to find my sea legs and learn more about exactly what it is going to take to pedal my butt all the way across to Hawaii. I'm thinking sort of October'ish time-frame for this 'wet road trip'.
This is the rear sleeping cabin. The round storage hatch in the bulkhead
at the back is about 6.5 feet away
Ken and I had WiTHiN out on the driveway today, so I thought I would hop in to experience how 'roomy' the bow storage compartment is. We put a large hatch in the forward bulkhead to accommodate a person crawling in there, and there is more than enough room to stretch out and have a nap. For the ocean crossing, I will need to use this area to store my food and equipment, but for the 'wet road trip', I think we have plenty of room to store supplies elsewhere (far bow and far stern compartments, seat storage, nicks and crannies here and there) and reserve the bow compartment for a sleeping mat.
me facing forward looking through the hatch
There is also PLENTY of room in the sleeping cabin to either stretch out and sleep, or sit up and read, work on the computer or spot traffic out the portlights. When sitting up in the sleeping cabin, I could easily see 380 degrees around me (there will be a rear portlight window as well as two on each side. When facing forward, I can see through the glass hatch in the bulkhead). When my 'guest' is enjoying the ride back there, the hatch could be open for ventilation, communication and general socializing with the other passengers. (passenger).
me facing the stern looking through the rear portlight
Labels: boatbuilding
Hi Greg:
Looks like a fantastic machine. I would think your "mini expedition" down the west coast would be at least as difficult as a passage to Hawaii, owing to the beam seas you might encounter for much of the trip, unless you head well offshore as if you were sailing. Rolling sideways in swells is no fun!
3000 milies divided by 85 days at sea is 35.5 miles a day. Two people could definately do that in a day for a good insurance policy. I hope you get the best professional survivalist out there and hope she's a hot 36-24-32 blonde...lol
Greg - Where is the sign up sheet? I want to get my name on the list as a possible consideration for your mini expedition. Right now I don't really have a job, just got back from pulling the BOB trailer around Europe following the Tour de France. Still no girlfriend. So I have some time to kill.... Dennis
and if you ever get into an argument you can always say go to your room.
Hi Greg,
I don't wanna be neg; Great engineering das boat! - but for human factors... Your pedaling gears, seat and seating positions are right on! I am just still thinking about you making that 180 to get "home" for a lunch and nap, and then back. Try that while dry in your court-yard and post some photos to share - and reassure us too :) Actual photo posted is scaring me.
Two people aboard?... :/
Ergonomics: 3000miles cc 85 days inside; Will take good psychological training too.
As Bruce have said: A mini expedition will be nice way to feel what's awaiting ahead. And how it can be handled.
Then enlarge thay boat by 12inches.
Just kidding.
All the best!
Greg - Two people would be nice, but... that means your boat just got much heavier - the persons weight plus the extra water and food that must be carried... adding that much extra weight to the boat surely will change it's dynamics a lot. Sounds like much more fun though! I'd like to get in that second seat, except that my old joints probably wouldn't do you much good for a long distance trip! Have fun!
Greg, another thought - a two person trip in a boat is similar to a two person flight around the world. Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager did that in the Voyager - I heard them talk about their adventure, including some of the problems of having two people in such tight quarters for a long time - maybe good to find out what they experineced - good to know what problems to expect and try to deal with them before they happen. Have fun!
Your boat was designed for a particular displacement (weight) and won't perform to the design numbers as it gets heavier. That may not be a problem if you accept the lower performance.
Having two people on board with only one pedaling would never make sense if you had a choice. It's not the most realistic training either, since in the attempt you will try to pedal as much as you can, not 50/50. Also, 2 people can put out 100 watts for a lot longer than 1 person can put out 200. For speed you would want to both pedal most of the time, but always have at least one person putting out power.
For any trip you should try to balance the boat front to back. Imbalance increases drag and affects steering stability.
The goal of a training trip is to preview the real thing. The closer the better.
Peter Raymond