Dauntless

American Enterprise

This thought is being generated from trying to decide what should be the water borne operations platform for the Roboboat project. I have been wishy-washy on my decision on how big and fancy the boat needs to be. The robot competition boats for autonomous operation built by students are almost always ugly looking floating boxes. No classic marine hull designs at all. Many look like pontoon houseboat platforms.

My intention from the start was realistic boat hull design. To that desire, my urge at this writing is to skip the ugly test platform stage I have briefly considered (the pointy box) and go back to my large hull original conception.

• I want to get there (real hull design) anyway.
• Saves the cost and time of “ugly duck hull”, as a “just get it on the water”, intermediate stage.
• Kit boat saves all marine design work. Just build it. This takes hull design and performance out of the variable list.
• The onboard electronics are very small so require little space. Access for experiments and alterations will not be an issue using a large hull.
• Most experiments will be in software control functions.
• Did I say reduces overall development costs?
• Standard boat design has retained value if controls project is ever abandoned or sold as finished design.
• Larger, heavier model boat projects perform much better in a wider range of water conditions than small, light, non marine designs.

So with all that considered, I have two prospect boat designs in mind. Both are made by Dumas. My top of the list is the Dauntless Kit #1211. Also considered is the American Enterprise Kit #1213. Both use the same running hardware, but I am considering sourcing the electric motors from other than Dumas.

The Dauntless is about 2.5 inches shorter than the 52 inch American Enterprise but is two inches wider in beam at 14 inches. It is also more expensive than the American Enterprise. However, the Dauntless looks a lot roomier due to its much larger freeboard.

Yet, the American Enterprise is sexier and faster looking. I’d take either but which one first? Ha!

This means I will soon be putting a face on this project. I’ll let you know when I decide.