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Scientific Research & Testing |
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We have extensively tank tested many different designs. We are testing the hull of “Best Friend” here. |
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Butch Bouvier checks a hull for list during a cargo shift. Stability testing is all important for river craft. |
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Here we are loading and draft testing two different hull designs for “Best Friend”. From left to right: Mike Butler Frank Koeppe Vicki Koeppe |  |
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Draft levels are carefully checked. |
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Final design for “Best Friend” |
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| We performed these tests on the
Lewis and Clark boat hulls and determined that they almost certainly a
flat bottomed design. The round bottom “Richard Boss” design was
tested and was found to be unsatisfactory as a river craft design. It
would draw to much water (almost three feet empty) and was unstable in
a high mast cordell situation.
Those tests we conducted for a History Channel special as a “Modern Marvels segment” called “The Technology of the Lewis and Clark expedition”. It is currently airing. |
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L&C Replicas
- A.C. Butch Bouvier -
Boatwright |