Paul. Merry xmas and all that.

Weed free propulsion..that rules out props and paddlers, so this only realistically leaves an airboat, something I suspect may not be that practical. Sails I suppose?? perhaps not.

Weed free propulsion may be difficult with the weight requirement…

There are a number of designs for bait boats out there and I suggest you don't look at ANY of them so you are starting with a fresh sheet of paper, or screen in your case.

It is a requirement to simply dump the bait in one place or have it on a conveyor belt and drive slowly in circles distributing the bait? If you had a (for instance) conical hopper, a belt could be positioned in the bottom lifting out feed continuously at the press of a button. OR have spring loaded hoppers on a latch, long rod securing them shut, gets drawn slowly one way to release the hoppers in turn.

Stealth. A measure of stealth would be good so as not to disturb the fish, perhaps a large (when viewed from underneath) swan silhouette would suffice, possibly even using swan type feet for propulsion?? Easy to arrange ..feet "paddles" on a cam…after all..don't see many swans weeded up !! Duck, or Canadian goose I suppose given the dimension restriction.

What about the large Archimedes screw arrangement I have seen…like large floatation cylinders either side with a screw thread ridge along them, the screw themselves along though the water and apparently work well in snow and mud. Possibly they might be more weed resistant.

Actually, those EDF units are very feisty and might indeed do for propulsion. Two at the rear, would be very manoeuvrable, create no water disturbance, easy to fit..come ready made, would be weed free. Bottom of the boat could be flat for reduced underwater obstacle adhesion. OR a cat of some sort?

Not sure that I can see a situation where the bait boat would need to be self righting? unless bumped by a hungry carp or travelling at a very high speed. Floats on swing out arms, locked in place at 45 degrees from the vertical might suffice to stop capsize in the first place.

Ashley.

Everyone has had problems on our pond with weed, a waterjet is just as prone, and fitting a grill over the intake does no good as that just get clogged a s well!

We have not tried paddlers in the weed mind you ?

Ashley

Paul……You've got me hooked!

I 'm thinking that a Tea Tray shape, with beveled edges all round and skim over the weedy water?

For motive power……Hovercraft type pods on either side, which can also act as steerage too

The bait boxes would be a nice fit in the middle

Sounds OK to me, matey?

Bob

I like the idea of a wide, deep and narrow hulled catamaran, with an air drive my self… not self righting I realise, But nigh on impossible to capsize in the first place!

Bob. I like that idea however I think that you would have trouble getting rid of the cut weed.

A paddle seems to be the thing though for weed duties.

A cat hull..would this be larger than the equivalent monohull , given the dimension restrictions?

A sidewall hovercraft (like a cat with just a skirt front and rear, to offload some of the weight) would also be good in the weed but still the propulsion issue remains. A paddle sidewall hovercraft would certainly be novel!! OR..a couple of swivelling EDF units, 75mm or so, for propulsion, and bleed a portion of air off them for lift…..

Amy. A river in her back garden (we don't have yards here) !! heaven.

Ashley

And the "operate in Sargasso sea" requirement??

Ashkey

Well done, Larry

This fits the bill admirably…..Job done and dusted!

A possible solution, Paul?

Bob

Unfortunately I have experience of prop driven craft, 6 to be precise and the wind is definitely an issue, as is noise. However a couple of 75mm ducted fans at each rear corner might be a possibility..plenty of go, excellent dynamic positioning capability if the units swivelled right around. Air boats are normally light and shallow and so this is always an issue weather wise, but the boat you are considering is a NORMAL boat and so the weather would not affect it so much.

Weed free of course.

Possibly a couple of foam cylinders hanging on the bulwarks (like a RIB) would prevent capsize, by adding weight free buoyancy to prevent the boat going right over.

OR how about a sidewall hovercraft style design. Weight offloaded by air in the centre section of the cat hull..

Ashley