Monday, May 28, 2007

Jet-Ski

Jet-Ski is the brand name of personal watercraft (PWC) affected by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd... The name, however, has become a widespread trademark for any type of personal watercraft. Jet Ski (or Jet Ski) can also specially refer to versions of PWCs with pivoting handle poles known as "stand-ups".
Jet Ski becomes leading colloquial term for stand-ups because, in 1973, Kawasaki was in charge for a limited production of stand-up models as intended by the recognized inventor of jet skis, Clayton Jacobsen II. In 1976, Kawasaki then began mass manufacture of the JS400-A. JS400s came with 400 cc two-stroke engines and hulls based upon the previous incomplete release models. It became the harbinger of the achievement Jet-Skis would see in the market up through the 1990s.
In 1986 Kawasaki broadened the world of Jet Skis by introduce a two person representation with lean-in "sport" style handling and a 650cc engine, dubbed the X-2. Then in 1989, they innovate their first two traveler "sit-down" model, the Tandem Sport (TS) with a step-through seating area.
In 2003, Kawasaki famous the Jet Ski brand by release a special 30th anniversary edition of its current stand-up model, the SX-R, which has seen a renewal of interest in stand-up jet skiing. The X-2 has also been efficient, based on the SX-R platform and re-released in Japan. Kawasaki continues to produce three models of sit-downs, as well as many four-stroke models.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Hydroplane

A hydroplane (or hydro, or thunderbolt) is a very specific type of motorboat used completely for racing.
One of the unique things about these boats is that they only use the water they're on for propulsion and steering (not for flotation)—when going at full speed they are primarily detained aloft by a principle of fluid dynamics known as "planning", with only a tiny portion of their hull actually touching the water.
The basic hull design of most hydroplanes has remained comparatively unchanged since the 1950s: two sponsors in front, one on either side of the bow; behind the wide bow, is a narrower, mostly rectangular section housing the driver, engine, and steering equipment. The aft part of the vessel is supported, in the water, by the lower half of the propeller, which is intended to operate semi-submerged at all times. The goal is to stay as little of the boat in contact with the water as possible, as water is much denser than air, and so exerts more drag on the vehicle than air does. Basically the boat 'flies' over the surface of the water rather than actually traveling through it.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Gondola

It is a customary Venetian rowing boat. Gondolas were for centuries the chief resources of transportation within Venice and still have a role in public transport, serving as traghetti (ferries) over major canals.
The gondola is propelled by an oarsman (the gondolier) who stands opposite the bow and pushes, rather than pulls, a single oar. Contrary to accepted belief the gondola is never poled, the waters of Venice being too deep for that. A gondola for passengers may have a small open cabin, for their defense next to sun or rain. A sumptuary law of Venice essential that gondolas should be decorated black, and they are frequently so painted now.
It is predictable that there were several thousand gondolas during the 18th century. There are a few hundred nowadays, most of which are for hire by tourists, while a few serve as traghetti or are in confidential ownership and use.