Amphidrome boat

   A relative of mine is trying to restore an old (17th century!) boat used in our area which could sail either way...they simply used to change the rudder and put it at the other end to sail in a different direction (because they used to work in narrow canals) it's called ´amphidrone' in French and we need to know whatever it's called on English to exchange with various muséums around the world. Any idea what this would be called?

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Ian 23 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 13 Location: France Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian 23 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Amphidrome boat Posted: 28 Aug 13 at 3:41pm
	A relative of mine is trying to restore an old (17th century!) boat used in our area which could sail either way...they simply used to change the rudder and put it at the other end to sail in a different direction (because they used to work in narrow canals) it's called ´amphidrone' in French and we need to know whatever it's called on English to exchange with various muséums around the world. Any idea what this would be called?

JohnW Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Jul 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 552	Post Options Post Reply Quote JohnW Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Aug 13 at 3:50pm
	I think the nearest translation would be "double-ended boat"

Van Mentz Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 27 Aug 12 Location: West Wight Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Post Options Post Reply Quote Van Mentz Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Aug 13 at 7:51am
	Same name: amphidrome. From Greek - amphi - both, of both kinds, on both sides. And Greek - dromos - course (running).

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6660	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Aug 13 at 8:59am
	Yeah, I'm not aware of a specific tech term. Possibly amphidrome was made up by the designer.

RS400atC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011	Post Options Post Reply Quote RS400atC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Aug 13 at 9:49am
	I think there are proas in the pacific that work like this? Like a trimaran with an ama missing. I think the outrigger is a weight to windward rather than a float to leeward? But not sure about that the more I think about it. Never seen one in the solent, so may be a myth....

yellowwelly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003	Post Options Post Reply Quote yellowwelly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Aug 13 at 9:53am
	there are Proas which shunt rather than tack or gybe... maybe call it a 'shunter' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnkRpblVD6E Edited by yellowwelly - 29 Aug 13 at 9:54am

transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Aug 13 at 10:05am
	An interesting project that stirred a memory. Not sure if this will be helpful but it seems vaguely similar. In one of Patrick O'Brians novels there is a ship called the HMS Polychrest. It had a bow at either end, lifting keels and I'm sure it had the ability to sail in either direction. Patrick O'Brian usually used historical sources as the basis for his fictional ships. So I had a dig around, it transpires that the Polychrest was probably based on the real life "HMS Project". It had 2 sharp ends and a rudder at either end. It may give you something to google. Edited by transient - 29 Aug 13 at 10:09am

JohnW Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Jul 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 552	Post Options Post Reply Quote JohnW Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Aug 13 at 11:46am
	Most of us will have been on one or seen one as many ferries are double ended.

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 588	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 13 at 11:11am
	Changing the rudder to the other end - it's a Proa. Not an English word...but used in English descriptions of South Sea vessels.

Ian 23 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 13 Location: France Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian 23 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Sep 13 at 10:36pm
	Thank you all for your help on this! We're now getting somewhere with our exchanges with other countries. Y