Ben’s skimmer

[Graham StanleyParticipant @grahamstanley58253]

As a lifelong modeller, specialising mostly in aeroplanes, but always having a passion for boats, it didn’t take much to make me try something on the water.

Inspired by Glynn Guest’s design in the September edition of Model Boats, I decided to take his aeroplane concepts just a little further.

Reading his critique of the prototype, I made the hull a little wider, and added three rudders rather than one.  I also used the lightweight foam used a great deal on indoor models for the majority of the construction.  Adding an Astro 010 brushless motor and 27mHz radio donated by the Chairman of the Coventry Boat Club, Rod Goodman, who also provided the magazine article in the first place, provided a very nippy model using bits that happened to by in my workshop.  Power is from a 2 cell Lithium Polymer battery pack, again borrowed from my aircraft collection.  The resulting model is quite light, which enables it’s rather good acceleration.

So far it has not been decorated or finished with a pilot, but that will follow in due course.

My version is called Ben’s Skimmer, as I made it with my 10 year old, Ben!

Ben and his older brother Joe can be seen testing the model at our local pool, on Youtube.

Click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aArgdFwVz3o to see the short video Joe made.  If that doesn’t work, search for Ben’s Skimmer on Youtube, and it will be top of the list.

If you would like further details feel free to ask.

Best regards,

Graham Stanley,

Coventry

[Phill ParslowParticipant @phillparslow33932]

Nice to see someone else join the airboat fraternity have also built the skimer but in its original guise how quick was yours goin flat out i canget about 10mph on a 400 and 15-16mph on a 480 not bad at all just wondered if you get very puzzled looks when going down to your local pond i had 10 – 15 walkers stop and quiz me on its first outing

 Regards

Phill

[Graham StanleyParticipant @grahamstanley58253]

Hi Phill

Thanks for the comments.

Estimate about 16mph.  

Sadly can’t recheck just now as it’s not seaworthy at the moment.  It went flat out into a wall in our indoor pool due to a radio glitch.

[Adrian SpencerParticipant @adrianspencer49589]

ouch! 16mph into a wall with a model has to be pretty destructive.

 how much damage did you actually do to the model.

cheers

adie

[Graham StanleyParticipant @grahamstanley58253]

The front 1/3 of the hull is a bit crumpled.  It hadn’t quite got up to full speed.   Leaks in one or two corners.

Graham & Ben

[Graham StanleyParticipant @grahamstanley58253]

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