Nautical Research Journal Conclusions
T roughout the build I attempted to maintain a consistent level of detail. I also hoped to maintain the authenticity of the vessel. Clearly, scratch builders need to do a good deal of research on their subject before setting out on any construction. Unlike with my dredger model in Nautical Research Journal 70:3 (Autumn 2025) that was based on an ANCRE monograph with research done by G. Delacroix, here everything was truly from scratch as no plans were available.
26. Cockpit completed.
Fortunately, a good deal of photographic evidence was available together with a handful of necessary dimensions. Reliance on
photographs and
contemporary drawings or artwork when studying a long-ago subject can be quite challenging; here the No. 18 Hydroplane was only in existence for a short time thus increasing the reliability of such information.
It should be noted that subtle changes were made within the timespan that photographs of the boat were taken. For example, prior to the engine being fi tted, the hydroplane was tested by being towed by another motorboat. At this time, there was a small fi n attached to the rear hydrofoil. T ere is video of the hydroplane at Santos-Dumont’s workshop, as well as of one of these trials, that can be viewed online at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twwzfncoqFg (starting at 53:30). Aſt er the engine was attached, the fi n was removed. Also, the cockpit was moved further aſt ; most likely to help balance the hydroplane.
As mentioned earlier, how the hydroplane was steered is unknown—perhaps it was done by shiſt ing weight of the pilot. Nor is it known how the engine was started—the V8 engine on the 14-bis aircraſt was started using a standalone crank system, one that seems impractical to attach to a boat. One way or another it was started, and it has been recorded that the hydroplane achieved speeds nearing 50
19
27. Rigging of pontoons, nacelles, and engine pylon.
28. Rigging of rear hydrofoil structure. kilometers per hour.
T e Santos-Dumont No. 18 Hydroplane was unable to achieve the speed necessary to win the bet the craſt
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