摘要 |
A vessel for carrying an RV (recreational vehicle) through the water, thereby effectively converting the RV to a houseboat. The barge-like vessel includes ramps for loading and unloading an RV at a boat ramp. The barge is powered by the drive wheels of the RV, wherein the drive wheels are each resting on two rotatable cylinders similar to a dynamometer cradle. The wheels spin the cylinders which in turn rotate the propellers so that the speed is controlled by the speed at which the drive wheels turn. Direction is controlled by a knob on a fly-by-wire type device which in turn controls the rudder. An alternative directional control includes two turntables onto which the front wheels rest. One of the turntables is mechanically connected to the rudder so that the steering wheel controls the rudder. Ballast tanks are provided at each side of the front and back of the barge to keep the barge level. |