Project: Geo Metro boat tail prototype - 15% MPG improvement @ 90 kph / 56 mph

[MetroMPG]

Interesting tid bits:

This week I've had inquiries about the boat tail from the Discovery Channel (Canada) and .... Boating World Magazine (!).

I told Discovery they'd have to wait until I made version two when the weather improves. I sent Boating World some photos, at their request.

[Christ]

Boat tailing world??

[Frank Lee]

There truly is a magazine for every niche now.

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by archcritick

This looks like it has problems for any car that will be a) driven in traffic or b) parked in a parking space.

I have close to 100,000 miles of driving with a boattail on my car and it hasn't caused any problems with driving in traffic or with parking.

[NeilBlanchard]

Discovering Boat Tailing?

[MetroMPG]

I also sent them a link to Phil's *actual* boat tail!

(top...)

[Bajascoob]

I don't know if it was covered in this thread but DZUS yes DZUS fasteners are used a lot on race cars and airplanes. Also I would wire a trailer light plug to connect the aux lights, which could be LED trailer lights, and maybe a switch to bypass the oem lights to conserve alternator pull.

[Frank Lee]

[Nerys]

The kid is ready for his downhill runs with a built in boat tail! how cute!

[jimepting]

Metro,

I'm wondering if you considered a formal diffuser for the underside. Racing cars use some pretty elaborate diffusers consisting of multiple fins and such. A diffuser made of say 1" fins, expanding to 4" or so in the upsweep area would be interesting to try, and not difficult to construct.

Of course, the problems with racecar aerodynamics are probably different substantially from the problems encountered with 50-60mph street cruisers.

Watched you final U-tube video. Awesome!

Just asking.