Well it seems nothing is safe from Chinese stealing other people's ideas and patents (& that includes our own Flow Hive Bee Hive system)
I'm sure Hobie can't be too happy with this U-Boat:
https://m.alibaba.com/product/606602681 ... ifications
Chinese Crooks Again
- Seasherpa
- PHD in Yakology.
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- Joined: 28 Sep 2012, 10:31
- kayak: Lots of composite ones
- Real Name: Eoin (Owen)
- Location: Seaford
- Contact:
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
The mirage drive had been around sine '97/'98 Rich, US patents run for between 14 and 20 years so even if they were concerned about IP over there, the early patents would be running out now.
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- Square eyes
- Posts: 784
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Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Where can I get my chobie?
- mingle
- PHD in Yakology.
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- Real Name: Martha Farqhuarson
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
What goes around comes around, I guess. Westerners have 'appropriated' plenty of things from the Chinese over the centuries...
- Yako
- Lord of the fish
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Re: Chinese Crooks Again
I get that but they claim reverse?Seasherpa wrote:The mirage drive had been around sine '97/'98 Rich, US patents run for between 14 and 20 years so even if they were concerned about IP over there, the early patents would be running out now.
Wouldn't Hobie have a patent on that???
I guess if build quality is as good as Hobie, Stealth, Jackson, Viking etc then maybe the competition should be welcomed.
One thing I would gladly support in every way possible is some level rating system of Seaworthiness for all kayaks being sold in Australia. For example where an eBay 2.7 Pool toy can be used etc.
John 3.16/17
- 4liters
- PHD in Yakology.
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Re: Chinese Crooks Again
'Luxury U-Boat'
clearly not students of history
clearly not students of history
- bunyip
- Square eyes
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- kayak: Prowler 13 and Cole 23 floating bordello
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- Location: Lang Lang
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Maybe you need to double up to fit in one like the early Japanese cars which seemed to be for people 3'9" tall.
A friend of mine is a plastics engineer and he is aware that the Chinese skimp a bit on UV inhibitors so what arrives here does not last as long as it could, that was a generalisation not just watercraft.
A friend of mine is a plastics engineer and he is aware that the Chinese skimp a bit on UV inhibitors so what arrives here does not last as long as it could, that was a generalisation not just watercraft.
- shane
- Vyak Addict
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- kayak: Hobie AI, PA14, Quest and an ebay tandem
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- Location: Moonee Ponds
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
By the look of it I'd say they've actually improved on the design of the mirage drive. The use of a direct gear arrangement between the pedals and the cranks eliminates the cables and should make for a much more robust drive. (cables are a major weak point - I broke one yesterday just doing a very mild 'surf' launch). If they sold the drive separately I'd be interested in playing around with a hybrid setup.
0408 565 763
- Steve_R
- Square eyes
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- kayak: Hurricane Skimmer
- Real Name: Stephen
- Location: Berowra Heights (sigh!)
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
You could always try contacting the manufacturer
https://u-boat.en.alibaba.com/
They also do an AI knock-off
https://u-boat.en.alibaba.com/product/6 ... 2c54Mbdonf
https://u-boat.en.alibaba.com/
They also do an AI knock-off
https://u-boat.en.alibaba.com/product/6 ... 2c54Mbdonf
Last edited by Steve_R on 18 Sep 2017, 10:41, edited 1 time in total.
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