Airboat solves weed problem?

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17 June 2009 at 15:56 #6573
kgurd
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@kgurd
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17 June 2009 at 15:56 #21498
kgurd
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@kgurd
My local pond has become increasingly weedy
over the last couple of years, fouling the odd prop and overheating the
electrics. So that I could guarantee some boating no matter the conditions I
decided to build an airboat, nothing too sophisticated, just balsa and tissue.
Overall length is 26 inches and powered by a standard 550 motor turning an
8×3.6 prop. Power is provided by a 7.2 volt battery pack which allows the prop
to turn a some 8000rpm giving a good turn of speed. I’ve included a short build
pictorial in my albums.
17 June 2009 at 18:54 #21501
ashley needham
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@ashleyneedham69188
K, very nice, and I like the photos. i like the driver in his cockpit, nice to see a driver on an airboat. How did you skin your balsa frame? You have acheieved a very nice smooth finish on it. Ashley
18 June 2009 at 08:43 #21516
kgurd
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@kgurd
Hi Ashley, the driver was from an old r/c toy
car. I used one coat of 50/50 dope and thinners on the balsa then sanded the
fuzz away. Then two coats of the same onto the tissue sanding between each
coat, one coat of red primer then finishing off with two coats of car spray
paint. It’s the same routine I’ve applied to all my balsa model boats; it’s
very easy to sand too much destroying the previous coats of dope. Occasionally
after the second layer of dope I add a coat of red primer. This can highlight
any blemishes that were missed with the clear dope
19 June 2009 at 06:54 #21532
ashley needham
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@ashleyneedham69188
Super. Again, a driver makes all the difference. An airboat is another one of those things for which a person is required. Nice striking colour scheme as well. Ashley
11 September 2009 at 14:35 #23123
LARRY WHETTON
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@larrywhetton68737
GREAT IWANT TO BUILD ONE GOT ANY PLANS MY POND IS LIKE SWAMP FROM LARRY
11 September 2009 at 15:15 #23124
Paul Freshney
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@paulfreshney24971
September 2007 MB had a plan for a skimmer in it by Glynn Guest.. It was a double page spread, so therefore can be seen in the digital archive available to magazine subscribers on this website. There have been a number of excellent articles in MB since then by Brian Johnson who has developed that original design and there are also some in house for future publication.

Hope this helps.

Paul Freshney

Editor
12 September 2009 at 15:54 #23139
Len Ochiltree
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@lenochiltree67043
Posted by LARRY WHETTON boatman73 on 11/09/2009 14:35:25:

GREAT IWANT TO BUILD ONE GOT ANY PLANS MY POND IS LIKE SWAMP FROM LARRY

HI Larry,it aint rocket science I have built 2 scratchbuilt ones.

I didnt have a plan, I just built them around the Driver, I would however advise you to put a wire gaurd around the Prop.

Len.
15 September 2009 at 09:52 #23164
kgurd
Participant
@kgurd
Here is another of my Airboats, this one is only 19 inches long and powered by a jp480 motor spinning a 6X4 prop at 7000rpm, drawing 4amps on a 7.2v battery pack. This one is understandably slower than the black F1 at the beginning of this post but never the less performs very well. I’ve included some pics. Unfortunately there are no plans as both were basically two flat rectangles with rectangular bulkheads using stringers then sheeted with Balsa. The real trick is to keep everything square and pinned to a board. If anyone reading this has an Airboat why not post a pic with motor/prop details.
16 September 2009 at 11:46 #23172
Len Ochiltree
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@lenochiltree67043
Mr Editor,

Your Avatar photo doesnt show up nor several photos of members boats, is there a fault ??.

Len.
2 April 2010 at 20:22 #26242
LARRY WHETTON
Participant
@larrywhetton68737
Edited By LARRY WHETTON boatman73 on 02/04/2010 20:24:00
28 May 2010 at 14:10 #26979
James Thomas
Participant
@jamesthomas81838
Nice models. I built one, my brother now has it. I am not too sure about all those exposed props! I put a thin Plywooh shroud around my prop, 2 inches wide and with 3mm clearance to the prop tips. safety and improved the thrust from the propellor. This has a name but I have frogotton it! A something Ring I believe. has anyone put a Ducted Fan in an airboat? They are dirt cheap now, about 10 Euros from Conrad, for Brushed or Brushless 400 size motors.
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