Invidious comparisons

[Lopez Mike]

A regular question from passengers is "How fast will it go?" If I give them the answer in in statute miles per hour they pause and are obviously thinking, "Not so fast."

If I give them the answer in nautical miles per hour their thinking is most likely running in at least two ways. One, is, "What the hell is a knot and why isn't it 'knots per hour'. And the other is, again, "Not so fast."

I suggest the following option as it should largely short circuit such thinking. I am resolved to give out the speed in Furlongs per Fortnight. First of all, especially here in the states, few people have any idea how far a furlong is and the same thing is true of a fortnight.

The exact conversion is one knot equals 3093.2363 . . . furlongs per fortnight or f.p.f. This means that when everything on my boat is being pushed to the limit at 6.5 kts. I and proceeding at just over 20,000 f.p.f. All very impressive!

It is had been suggested by some of my more practically minded associates that the numbers are a bit large and that one might move the decimal point over three places and have k.f.p.f. That way I will be making my big stern wave at 20 k.f.p.f.

Frankly I prefer the larger number as it is the rare specimen who can recover from the shock of such an obscure rating in time to come up with the usual low comment about water skiing.

Comments and suggested improvements are welcome.

[fredrosse]

When asked about steamboat speed, I usually reply "about as fast as small sailboats in ordinary wind conditions" While this actually covers quite a range of speeds, it seems to give the person asking the question a good perspective on things.

Although I do get my steamer up to about 70 to 80 MPH every time I have an outing.

[DetroiTug]

Quote: "Although I do get my steamer up to about 70 to 80 MPH every time I have an outing."

Then you get off at the next exit and head for the boat ramp har har..

-Ron

[cyberbadger]

I like furlongs per fortnight.

The steamboating addage I tell others is - "It's not about miles per hour, it's smiles per mile!"

So far I have nothing but positive reactions from others with this tack.

There are faster steamboats and slower steamboats, and every skipper I'd imagine likes to improve their top or cruising speed - but really that's not why we go on the water.....

-CB

[Lopez Mike]

As per standard launch etiquette, I never race unless there is another steam boat within sight.

[dampfspieler]

Hello Mike,

what about "sufficient for the purpose" like Rolls Royce if there is the question "What is the power of the engine?" or "hullspeed - faster is impossible" and then let them calculate it.

Best Dietrich

[Lopez Mike]

Dietrich,

I think most of these people would not be able to do even such a simple calculation. They would think a square root was an odd looking vegetable.

Mike

[marinesteam]

Somewhere long ago, on this list, the units "smiles/hour' was mentioned. I'm sure it would be a big enough number to be impressive to those who ask.


Ken

[TriangleTom]

I suggest the following option as it should largely short circuit such thinking. I am resolved to give out the speed in Furlongs per Fortnight. First of all, especially here in the states, few people have any idea how far a furlong is and the same thing is true of a fortnight.

Comments and suggested improvements are welcome.

That sounds fantastic, but you also have to give your fuel consumption in rods per hogshead.

[Lopez Mike]

Wup! Back to my calculator to figure that one out.

Is that a wine hogshead or a beer hogshead. They are different. And the numbers get really big! 320 rods to the mile and 63 or 64 gallons to the hogshead. One would probably have to move the decimal place over six places.

I still like mine as it rolls off the tongue better. "Furlongs per Fortnight."

There was a thread on here a year or two ago where we were comparing fuels and it was illuminating to use gallons of wood to facilitate calculations. The volume of fuel is often a limiting factor on small launches.