Efficiency
Even we were
surprised at the efficiency
of the MirageDrive. In a
test to compare the
efficiency of the
MirageDrive, we measured the
heart rates of several
kayakers at varying speeds
in several paddled kayak
models. In every case, the
heart rate-or effort
expended to maintain a
particular speed-was three
to ten percent less for
pedaling versus paddling.
Translation? The MirageDrive
converts the effort of the
human body into forward
thrust more efficiently than
a paddle! Allow us to
explain.
The MirageDrive creates less
turbulence in water. This
becomes apparent when you
compare the wake of a Hobie
Mirage to the wake of a
paddled kayak. With each
stroke of the paddle, you'll
see two vortices, or
whirlpools, on the surface
of the water. These vortices
are connected underwater,
and there is considerable
energy in these rotating
masses of water. There are
vortices in the wake of the
MirageDrive, but since the
MirageDrive acts on a much
larger volume of water, they
are much smaller and
therefore contain less
energy. To create forward
thrust on the water, a boat
must move water backward. It
can either move a little
water quickly, or a lot of
water slowly. The key to
efficiency is to move a lot
of water slowly with the
least amount of turbulence.
The volume of water that the
MirageDrive acts upon is
approximately proportionate
to the area that the fins
sweep in one cycle, or about
226 square inches. The
volume of water that a
paddle acts upon depends on
the type of stroke. A basic
stroke would act upon a
volume of water
proportionate to the area of
the paddle, or about 90
square inches. This is just
a fraction of the area "swept
out" by the MirageDrive,
which explains the
difference in efficiency.
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