Freelance
TravellerGenichi-class Personal Watercraft
This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue.
| CraftID: | Genichi-class Personal Watercraft, TL7, Cr46,312 |
| Hull: | 1/1, Disp=0.25, Conf=4 Planing, Armour=1C, Loaded=0.9538 tons, Unloaded=0.71992 tons |
| Power: | 1/2, Gas Turbine=0.2924 Mw, Duration=12 hrs |
| Loco: | 1/2, Waterjet=1 ton, Top=46 kph, Cruise=34.5 kph |
| Comm: | Radio=Regional (500 km) |
| Sensors: | Headlight |
| Off: | Hardpoints=1 |
| Def: | DefDM=+2 |
| Control: | Electronic×1, |
| Accom: | Crew=1 (Operator), Seats=None×1.75* |
| Other: | Fuel=0.2339 kl, Cargo=0 kl**, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=Faint |
| Comment: | Cost in Quantity=Cr 37,050 |
* There are three seating positions provided although they are very close together and if the operator was to wear a back-pack no other passengers could be accommodated.
** While there is 69 litres of free space in the vehicle design this is filled with buoyancy foam to keep the vessel upright on the water and right it in the event of a capsize.
The Genichi-class Personal Watercraft is built by Hess Motors of Udesh and is designed for recreational use on water. The planing hull allows this vehicle to skim across the top of the water. Sea conditions dictate the safe speed of the vessel.
Designer’s Notes
My first go at the Wet Navy design rules in Challenge 53 and 54. This isn’t really a Jet Ski because it uses a water jet and a gas turbine, however it looks just like one!
The top speed is a little low (25 knots) when compared with the real thing (60 knots), however, it’s reasonably in the ballpark. Upping the design speed really increases the power needed to move the craft, and as gas turbines have the best power-to-weight ratio it won’t get any better than that presented above.
I took a liberty on the crew positions due to the way the people sit on a Jet Ski, and filled the cargo compartment with foam. If the craft was more than 1 ton it would sink, however, it’s not too bad a representation of reality, so I’m going with it.