Effect of Position of Boat on Current Meter Reading in Measuring Stream Velocity

The paper describes the effect of a model boat on the velocity field around it in a flowing stream as measured by a pitot tube in the laboratory. The theoretical discussion of the problem as well as the experimental set-up) has been presented in detail. The results indicate that the velocity is affected on all sides and upstream of the bow to some distance beyond ivhich the normal velocity remains undisturbed. The maximum variation in velocity was about 6 per cent in the present case. The effect is also carried to a depth of about three times the draft of the boat. It is felt that using a current meter at a distance of about twice the beam width along the beam will cause little error in the measurement of stream velocity.