…..who may read this forum from time to time, so I can't give their identity away!

This build is going to be a challenge for me, not so much from the building side, but more from the engineering point of view, so I 've enlisted the help of my good friend Lynn. She is a bit of a bush mechanic, full size boat builder, and r/c aeroplane nut (she's currently teaching me to fly, good fun!).

Anyway, we have a decent sized speedboat planned. I found my last few models a bit fiddly, so going to a 5 footer this time round. I want it to be fast, so it'll have a petrol engine. Lynn has provided the engine. She has quite a collection, from 25cc to 500cc, both 2 and 4 strokes. I was keen on a four stroke, but the 500 cc was out of the question, and the 3hp too heavy and bulky. in the end we narrowed it down to a choice of two 50cc 2 strokes, a 30 year old ducatti, or a 10 year old Chinese one of unknown make. The Chinese one was smaller and lighter so that what it shall be.

She will be a classic '40s style.

Drawings and photo's coming soon

Regards

Amy jane

Hello Gentlemen.

Bob, I got an email from Lynn, this morning, saying "I told you so"!, once she had read your post. The problem is me I'm afraid, I despise weedeater engines! Lynn says that her one is perfectly reliable, but I just don't like the sound of them, or their finicky pumper carbs, no need for it on a boat, any way! (Put in down to me being a young blond woman!)

Ashley, the motor I settled on is from a burnt out generator, and yes, fan cooled. It's very quiet and reliable, a bit of a lugger, so with direct drive and a coarse prop, it (hopefully) shouldn't need to scream it's lungs out.

of course, all opinions are most welcome, either you agree with me or not!

Amy jane

This is the power plant.

I spent a bit of time in the design office today, which for me means a block of wood, a sharp hatchet, chisel and rasp! Pretty happy with the design at this stage, but I will leave it kicking around for a couple of days, just to be sure.

The next stage will be to lift off patterns for the ply sides and bottom, (yes, it is do-able in sheet ply) and then put it to the saw for the sections.

Mean while, Lynn is setting up the engine, drive shaft etc, (and no doubt muttering about me making her life difficult!) and will email photos in due course. (boat building by corospondance, she lives about 40 miles away!)

Hello all,

I Think a double scale Ellie would be quite something, and would certainly attract quite a following. I'm not familiar with a fullsize broads cruiser, How scale would she be at 30 knots? (perhaps with a slowmo top?)

Aestus57, A cooling jacket would certainly make the engine more compact, it's quite a bulky unit what with the fan shrouding and all. I think cooling will be adequate though, the generator never overheated in still air, and with proper ducting there should be plenty of air flow. (we'll leave the fan and shrouding on of course!).

Ashley I appreciate your concern about by rear end, but my years are not advanced enough for sagging to be problem!

As for the boat, yes she is double ended. This was once fashionable in full sized runnabouts and seemed to work ok, Hopefully I've designed the stern full enough! The proof of the pudding shall be in the eating, but I cannae eat it till I've made it!

I realise that I'm making things more difficult than they need be, but like I say, a challenge!

That would be quite something Bob, thanks but I think we shall proceed with our plan, for better or worse!

Ashley, for your viewing pleasure, here are a couple of shapely rear ends, feel free to compare them to mine!

Aestus 57, we would be interested in a some more details of your boats , if you would be so kind, (length, weight engine size etc)

I say, Bob how did you get that photo that size? That's clever.

Lynn has been hard at work and emailed through her first lot of photos. She decided that she would set the engine and shaft all up on a length of 8"x 2", which I could then shape to suit the hull.

The muffler removed, the alternator housing cut down to lower the engine a bit, and a pattern made for the prop tube angle. (I'm still trying to convince her to join the forum and put her own posts up).

Skeg cut out, and split. the bore was then chiseled in.

The 8×2 was also split, and chiseled.

The after end was carved to shape, the fore left unfinished, so the whole thing could be clamped in the vise, for the rest of the work.

all glued up.

Amy jane & Lynn

You're too kind Ashley.

The way I see it, it's all about getting the fore body (of the boat that is!) to match the after body. Fine stern-fine bow and vice versa. That combined with a moderate beam, and along with a long straight run. Not creating a great wedge of water for the boat to try and climb up over in the first place, greatly reduces the tendancy for the stern to squat.

You are right, the building is the easy part!

The Mercedes is Lynn's, so yes! (I drive a sad old Honda) Lynn and her partner have 5 cars between them, 3 of them hers! (Cars are cheap here)