Elenco Paddleboat - Manual (Page 8)

6
Paddle Propulsion Boat
In the fifteenth century, nautical expedition was the most expedient method of travel.
Leonardo Da Vinci perfected early versions of paddled propelled vessels and brought
forth improved plans. Leonardo’s paddleboat used large wheel-shaped paddles that
propelled it through water. In his design, sailors worked foot pedals to rotate the
paddles. To increase the power of the rowers, cog-wheels and gears were used to multiply
the number of revolutions of the paddles. It is important to remember that Da Vinci
was an astute observer of the natural world and when designing the hull he took
inspiration from the shape and movement of fish, thus modeling his paddleboat with
a tapered bow. This made maneuvering easier than it had been with square-hulled boats
that had previously been the norm. Da Vinci’s paddleboat was easier to navigate and
moved at a higher rate of speed than existing boats of his time.
Da Vinci, Circa 1490
Museo Nazionale Della Scienza E Della Tecnologia