Hi-ya G-Wizard
Thank you for the posts and videos on your AI excursions , you have really covered a lot of interesting concerns in a very short time.
I was wondering , since you did not hit anything , if the higher speeds possible with with the A.I , in conjunction with the larger surface area of the turbo fins and longer masts might be putting more torque on these drive parts than the engineers planned for using pedal power only?
While using the turbo fins under pedal power alone, perhaps the lower speeds do not stress the sprockets nearly as much as the higher speeds of the AI under sail which average two times more and change. Wouldn't the constant higher speeds add more torque and leverage up the fin mast to the sprocket area? Similar perhaps to the difference between sticking your hand out the car window at 40 mph then again at 85 mph, one can really feel the difference of the large force at the higher speeds.
Most people seem to know when they hit something hard enough to bend a mast and or break a sprocket,it would almost stop the boat in its tracks I think!
I also read post's where some concerns were made that the Turbo fins were getting ripped up and showed higher wear rather easily compared to the standard fins so it seems they would probably show significant marks if run aground with enough force to damage the mast and sprocket. Therefore if you did not hit anything what else could explain the damage..assuming proper turbo fin installation?
Just my two cents and an unproven wild guess, not worth a whole lot but I thought I would toss it out there. Thanks again for all your informative posts
- Kepnutz-