Hello!

I developed and patented, in 1997, a personal aquatic vehicle, that can easily become a multi-user boat. It competes directly with kayaks, canoes, skiffs and indirectly with jetskis, pedal boats and any other vehicle of same size. Due to its maneuverability, it creates new concepts of watercrafts competitions. It is the most portable of all small aquatic vehicles.
Bic sport made a kayak (yakka) with the same concept and design, but it didn´t reach the real revolutionary essence of my vehicle. Yakka even won the Paddler´s Pick for innovation award from Paddler Magazine - January/February 2006!
The royalties rights of my patent are limited to Brazil, where I haven´t been able to produce it due to lack of money and support, because in this country it is easier to break the inventor and take away his patent.
Anyone interested in producing the concept of my patent outside Brazil is welcome to do so.
This forun is intended to debate my invention and, maybe, encourage its production.
If anyone is interested in dominating the Brazilian market, please contact.
Additional information (prototype photos, movie clip, market, etc.) about the project can be seen at:

www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe

Cesar Valle
Brazil

sorry but im not very clear as to what your product is. maybe a photo?

Hi,

There are several photos and also a movie clip of a prototype of the boat on the following address:

www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe

Any other doubt or problems, feel free to contact.

César

Sorry to be blunt but i hate it. it looks dangerous and a pain to keep the two pieces together

you may have noticed this site is about white water kayaks so ur cantraption would be a silly fing to ask us about howeva im sure u could sell it to beach goers

[quote:034afa90f9="jackb"]you may have noticed this site is about white water kayaks so ur cantraption would be a silly fing to ask us about howeva im sure u could sell it to beach goers[/quote:034afa90f9]
That's not true. If you look in the Playak links section, you'll see it's full of links about regatta, sea kayaking etc. We even have a whole section for C1, so there is definitely room for everybody here, not just for whitewater kayakers.

I think the idea is nice, but I'd have to see it in action really. It's not quite clear to me what the goal of that vehicle would be...

ditto. im not really sure how it is superior to other models. May be if i saw it in real life. im sorry but i dont reaally see the advantage to having a two peice boat. i think im missing something....

not to be mean, but that thing looks like a P.O.S

Hi,

I see that what I created is causing some conflict, so lets clear things up:
The vehicle I proposed is appropriate for any type of water, because it can either be a kayak, a canoe, a skiff, a "pedalyak"and a aquatic kart. What establishes what type of vehicle it will be is:
1. the shape of it,
2. the stiffness of the material it is made of and
3. the amount of beams connecting the modules, according to the use of it.
A great advantage of this vehicle, in any type of water, is that it can have a pivoting front module, which assures tremendous maneuverability. The fact of having at least two buoyant modules instead of single hull guarantees more safety. The portability of this vehicle is another plus, it is much easier to be transported and stored.
The paddler´s fall in the movie clip was on purpose, it meant to show how easy it is to get back to the boat in case of an accident. The tortion of the back module when the paddler was getting on the boat after the fall was because the beam got loose - the whole boat was a prototype and one of the things I was testing was a low-resistant beam attachment to reach the appropriate standard.
Things are difficult to be developed in the country I live in, it´s too expensive for me to develop all the models. That´s why I came to this forum. I want to clear any doubt about this vehicle, because I know it is much easier to produce it, even prototypes, in first world countries.
Thanks for your time.

César

yes but if u droped down a waterfall on it u would lose the front and it would be crap for playboating also jeroen i for c1 was playboating and ur rite there are those links sorry

Hi JackB,
What you´re saying can only be proved using the vehicle in a waterfall.
If you think it might lose the front, then it would be better to use a non pivoting front. Since there is a space between the modules, the drag of this watercraft is smaller, so it is, without a shadow of a doubt, much more maneuverable.
I´m here in this forum to stimulate the production of the boat to test it.
If I had one to send you, I would invite you to test it, because I believe you as a test driver would help a lot to improve the project.

Cesar

Well done on thinking outside of the box. This is the single hardest thing to do, followed closely by ignoring the silly coments from people who's ability to think different is infinately small.

You have an idea, not a finished product... somthing people often forget.

What are the applications to whitewater? No idea to be honest, and its a sure thing that to apply this idea to a workable model will be both complex and expensive, but that's how new ideas go from concept to working.

I encourage you to keep thinking and keep pushing, and don;t be disuaded by the people telling you your idea sucks.... its better than any idea they have had.

Corran

Hi, Corran!
Thanks for your comments.
I never tested this boat in whitewater, because the prototypes that I tested were done with styrofoam, this material is to fragile to test in whitewater.
I never paddled in whitewater, but I understand the fluid mechanics, so I can say the drag of this vehicle is much smaller than any other, because of the space between the modules. This eases the possibility to make any side (lateral) maneuver.
In freestyle, the possibilites are even better.
If the front module is pivoting, slalom is also eased.
The production cost isn´t high, it can be made in rotomolding.
I work with mockup, and it is ease for me to make the molds, but I don´t money.
If you wish or knows someone that might want to produce this boat in your region, I´ll give all the necessary know-how.
If I ever get to produce this vehicle, I´ll tell you.
Thanks again!

César

From the pictures on the site I take that its an idea taken and adapted from a normal sit-on-top?

It could be good for on the beach in the summer or on a small lake or flat river somewhere. But I cannot see how it'd work on anything moving as you would just fall out... Also, The gap between the front and back, Any sort of drop and it wouldnt be the safest of things as there must be something holding the two pieces together, but it isnt that large or strong? A bounce of a rock would probably break it off aswell surely?

Although, Like Corran pointed out, I think its good that you are thinking of new ideas and are trying to move things forward!

Danny T

yea it is great to think outside the box but let me ask you this. would you paddle it in class 5 no class 3? what happens when someone goes into a hole with it on. and my last question goes what happens when you take it down a class three hole. is there any way to roll it?

[quote:5f3fe6ecbf="kayaker0678"]would you paddle it in class 5 no class 3? what happens when someone goes into a hole with it on. and my last question goes what happens when you take it down a class three hole. is there any way to roll it?[/quote:5f3fe6ecbf]

I don't see the point. I would not paddle in class II even the BIC boat, which is a normal production product, and looks like they "borrowed" the idea from vapera's project.
What happen if you go into an hole with a commercial hot dog or a sit on top? I think lot of fun or serious injury, depending on the hole.
I think vapera had a good idea and it is just a prototype, he's looking for someone able to improve it (and sorry but I'm not the one you're looking for).
But with the right materials and the right structure I don't see this solution worst than an hot dog or a sit on top.

ciao

I cansee it being well used as a holiday going boat at the beach with a small break. But I cannot see it in a river situation... Because of the falling off issue and the snappage issue...

Hi,

First of all, I would like to apologise to everybody, because I didn´t notice before it was necessary a better view of the project. So I added a link to diverse models in 3d.
You can either go straight to the page on
www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe/models.htm

Or revisit the site and check the link diverse models
www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe

Second, but not less important, thanks to those that are encouraging me in this forum

Now, with a better view, the explainig:
The beam(s) that conect the parts, not only can be made of titanium, it(they) can have dampers too. In that model, the resistance can be much better than any seen vehicle, what makes the difference is the production cost, the purpose and the configuration (the amount of beam, the shape, etc).
In a roll, the drag of the legs of the paddler reduce the freedom, however like in bicycles and motorbikes where the moviment of the legs determine a behaviour (for instance, in motobike races the pilot opens his legs to the side to increase the drag and ease the curve), it would be possible to develop new maneuvers, just testing to know!
To secure the paddler to the vehicle, a seat belt could be used, like some sit-on-top.
Before taking it down a class three, four or five hole, I suggest to start in a class one or two.

César

ahhh ok. Much better photos!!! I like the boat alot better. Looks good. Still a little iffy because i am still scared of the possiblity getting hurt through the openings. but it looks better much better

hey i think your ideas are quite good and could be a success if adapted and improved. i just wish i had the means and the money to help you along. I also think its great that it is causing so many different arguments, to show diversity in our kayaking world
People keep talking of safety issues and dangers in the design, but don't we all take a risk every time we go down a river, or even every time we cross a road!? we could sit on our arses, rolled up in bubble wrap all our lives, or we can go out and have fun, which usualy involves some sort of risk.
keep up the work and ideas, hope you get there!

This forum is being very usefull for the improvement of the project, thank you all!
I´m already developing a whitewater model (in 3d). As soon as I added it to the page, I ´ll inform.
I believe the best way to to hold the kayaker on this vehicle is with a seat belt and a ski-like footrest, as suggested by a member of unsponsored forum, or probably the same system used in cataraft.
I intend to reach a model for whitewater with great safety and that makes the kayaker´s legs work in the moviments of this modality.

César

It could be marketed like a duckie or inflatable kayak. Good for beginners or people interested in whitewater without such an investment in time and money. Seems like a good idea if it was portable. Unfortunatly, you would have to find a new niche for it. make it somehow better than a duckie.

Advantages to a duckie:
-good river running
-good turnning
-nice outfitting if it has thigh straps
-portability
-weight
-stability

disadvantages
-hinging effect in big waves
-lack of speed or stiffnes to punch holes
-lack of stiffnes to surf on river waves.
-no play ability

If you could develop a vessel that could retain most of the advantages of a duckie but improve on the speed and stiffness to improve whitewater fun and safety you could have an extremely markatable product. Unfortunatly, obvious trade-offs of having a stiifer vessel would be sacraficing transporting abilities. Materials like foam would be inadequate for whitewater situations because rocks would dent it. Make sure that when you design this product that you are not just re-inventing a sit-on-top kayak.

Hi,

Sorry for the delay.
I developed a whitewater model. It can be seen at

www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe/models.htm

And now, would you guys dare to face a class 3 or higher hole with it?

César

[quote:8bdcd0b659="vapera"]And now, would you guys dare to face a class 3 or higher hole with it?[/quote:8bdcd0b659]

Not as it is at the moment but it does look like you have been putting some thought into it.

At the moment the ends look a little bit pointy and therefor easy to pin (try rounding them off a bit). Also as it is never really going to compete with the latest playboats (they progress too quickly) I would be temped to make it a bit more river runnery and as such I should have thought that the top should be a bit more rounded to help resurfacing. I would also look at the nose of various creek boats for ideas on rocker / slight upturn of the nose to help with boofing and resurfacing.

Sort these issues out and I would be game to give it a go. I am sceptical as to whether I would replace any of my current kayaks with one but I would certainly try one out if you ever get them intp production.

Denzil

I think that the bar that runs horizontaly would hurt my thighs. Looks more like a SOT now. Entrampment would be a problem if you put your feet into the holes at the end of the boat.

Hi,

I´ve replace on my site the whitewater model, following Denzil´s suggestions.
Since most people in this forum approached the whitewater issue, I tried to show that the vehicle I invented con also be used that way, but I would like to ask those that are taking part in this forum not to forget the main reason that made me post here: any person who wants to develop this vehicle should do that, because there is a company alleging to be the owner of such invention, and that´s not true.
I repeat, outside Brazil, any person or company can produce this vehicle, there is no "patent pending" or any other "invention" of it in any other part of the world, because this patent is mine - for almost 10 years now. Any "designer" that says he invented this vehicle is deshonest and lying!
So I only wanted this vehicle to be divulged, because I believe that due to fact that it can also be made of EPS (styrofoam) and because it is portable, this vehicle will allow any person to enjoy the pleasure of paddling.
I hope someone can produce it in industrial scale and also wishes the Brazilian market, because if this happens the deshonests that are trying to break me here will have their proper treatment.
Any doubts, feel free to ask
The improved whitewater model can be seen at
www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe/models.htm

César

Hi,

As I mentioned in my first post that the business policy in the country I live (Brazil) is to break an inventor, I would like to mention just one of the most recent sabotage I´m going through, because it is related to the means we are using, the internet. Until a few days ago, the Portuguese version ( www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamop ) of the site I indicated above, showed up in the first page of www.google.com.br if someone searched words like: caiaque (kayak) pop, veículo aquático (aquatic vehicle), canoa caiaque (canoe kayak), vapera br, bic yakka, etc. Now, this address simply vanished from google.com.br. Even if I type words in Portuguese (like veículo aquático modular (modular aquatic vehicle)), only the url of the English version of my site shows up (www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe ).
I´m a paddler (not a whitewater one, but I can easily paddle 30 miles in open water) and I developed a patent to ease paddlers´ life and also as way to allow me a full-time dedication to paddling (with the royalties I would get from it) , but companies that belong and are managed by people that have no feeling for paddling are copying and sabotaging my project.
So, I kindly ask all paddlers to please spread this information through as many places as possible, because it is the only way to disturb those that are trying to sabotage paddlers in general. If someone has any other idea, I would appreciate to know about.
To keep up the line, I´ve added new models on April 19th ( www.vapera.pop.com.br/proj/vamoe/models.htm )
Thanks for your time once more.
César

personally i think that you should be aiming for the tourist kind of market. like another type of pedalo for hire that type of thing, because i think tht it would be near impossible to convince most kayakers out of a closed cockpit into a sit on, especially for whitewater

I think you got a lot of work and planning....if you think that those models will ever do the success...

Hi,

I would like to inform that my page in portuguese is again being listed on google (www.google.com.br).
I want to thank Jeroen and all users of this forum.

César