Pedalo : Description, Use, Designs Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pedalo

Small pedal powered recreational boat

Boats in Japan celebrating spring with a swan pedalo accidentally running into a row boat, 2022

A pedalo (British English), pedal boat (U.S. English), or paddle boat (U.S., Canadian, and Australian English) is a human-powered watercraft propelled by the action of pedals turning a paddle wheel.

Description

A pedalo is a human-powered watercraft propelled by the turning of a paddle wheel. The wheel is turned by people operating the pedals of the craft. The paddle wheel of a pedalo is a smaller version of that used by a paddle steamer.

Use

Pedalos, being particularly suited to calm waters, are often hired out for use on ponds and small lakes in urban parks, as well as in beaches when the weather allows.

Designs

The earliest record of a pedalo is perhaps Leonardo da Vinci's diagram of a craft driven by two pedals.^[1]^[2]

Typically, a two-seat pedalo has two sets of pedals side-by-side, designed to be used together. Some models, however, have three pedals on each side, to allow a person boating alone to pedal from a centrally seated position.

References

^ Dumpleton, Bernard (2002). Story of the Paddle Steamer. Intellect Books. ISBN 978-1-84150-801-6.
^ "Paddle Boat". Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit: the Models. Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago). 2006. Archived from the original on 13 November 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.

External links

Media related to Pedaloes at Wikimedia Commons

Human-powered transport

Land

Pedal power	29er Bicycle (outline) Bicycle trailer BMX bike Boneshaker Cargo bike City bicycle Cold-weather biking Cruiser bicycle Cycle rickshaw Cyclo-cross bicycle Downhill bike Enduro Fatbike Flat bar road bike Folding bicycle Go-kart Glossary of cycling Hybrid bicycle Motorized bicycle Mountain bike Mountain biking 27.5 Downhill Singletrack Party bike Penny-farthing Porteur bicycle Prone bicycle Quadracycle Recumbent bicycle Road bicycle Roadster Safety bicycle Sociable Small-wheel bicycle Tandem bicycle Touring bicycle Track bicycle Trailer bike Tricycle Unicycle Utility bicycle Velocar Velocipede Velomobile Wheelie bike
Electric motor assist	Electric bicycle Pedelec Motorized bicycle Motorized scooter
Treadle power	Treadle bicycle
Other foot power	Balance bike Dandy horse Kick scooter Kickbike
Hand power	Handcar Handcycle Hobcart Invalid carriage Wheelchair
Row action	Rowing cycle
Board	Brakeboard Caster board Freeboard Freeskates Longboard Skateboard Snakeboard Street luge
Pushed/pulled	Baby transport Baggage cart Bath chair Cart Flatbed trolley Hand truck Pulled rickshaw Shopping cart Stairclimber Stretcher Toy wagon Wheelbarrow
Carried	Litter/sedan chair Scoop stretcher
Weight shifting	Trikke Pogo stick
Snow and ice	Cold-weather biking (ice cycle) Kicksled Sled Snowboard
Gravity	Gravity racer

Water

Hand power	Canoe Kayak Paddleboarding Rowing (fixed seat) Punt
Hand and foot power	Rowing (sliding seat) Rowing (sliding rigger)
Foot power	Hydrocycle Hydrofoil Pedalo

Amphibious

Amphibious cycle

Air

Non-vehicular Transport

Foot power	Inline skating skates Roller skating skates Running Stair climbing Walking Stair climbing
Snow and ice	Crampons Ice skates Ski Alpine touring skis Cross-country skis Telemark skis Snowshoes