Boggers rotax rig

[Duane Scarborough]

Bogger,

You're doing some nice work there. I like it.

Thanks,

Duane

[Bogger2]

Thanks Everyone for the compliments. I still have a lot of work to do yet. like final positioning of things. Once I am happy with it, I will disassemble for paint.

Sand man, I'll keep the photo's a commin.

Air head, the captains seat swivels to the stick side a little and the starboard side almost 180 degrease. Which makes it nice to reach the choke on the carb. I am going to make a gage cluster out of an aluminum pan here real soon, I might mount it to the side of the seat so I can keep an eye on it as I swivel. My Switch assy. is mounted in the front of my seat between my legs I'll send a photo but its not fully assembled yet.

Pape, will see how the twist throttle works when I get to go fishing. I dont think it will be a problem though because when I will be fishing I won't be going faster than an idel. Will see. It works good right now as I have been water testing it.

Flat head,The steering is very smooth with the hiem joints. It was a bit more work to weld them up, but well worth it. I think Chuck can get the Heim joints.If not I will post where latter. Mine are 3/8 shaft and hole. I used all right hand thread so there is no chance for them to unwind unless you take them apart and turn them a half a turn or so.

Duane, I;m glad to see your stroking along with your Boat. I can't wait to here the results of your side by side's performance. As you can see I don't keep with the norm either. Notice all my pipes are slanted to what i think gives it a faster look. It took quite some time to fit them all together neatly.
Anything to be different.

Thanks all, keep a building!
Bogger

[Bogger2]

Here is a couple of pic's of the motor mount and steering.
Bogger

[Bogger2]

Here are a few of the up dates I have thrown on. I'm not sure which ones are temporary and which ones I will enhance and keep. The front rail has some tabs that I can attach a small grass rake for when I know I'm going to be in the cat tails. my next post will be some fun water shots. I can now see this boat will always be under construction.
Bogger

The front rail is no fitting I will send another post

[Bogger2]

Here's the front rail.
Bogger

[Bogger2]

Here is a shot from gator season, a 6 and 7 footer. A little canal we tried out. And a lake close to home.
I will try to get some better day light pic's posted soon. I would like to do a video But I'm not sure how to post it yet.
Bogger

[Duane Scarborough]

Bogger,

I picked up a couple of nice ideas, except for the Gators. I don't want Gators on my boat.

Really, you've done good. I like it.

Duane

[buster]

Bogger,

Hey, those hood ornaments (gators) would be a real attention getter up here in Minnesota

Your build is coming along great. I wish I could have started with one of those hulls!

Keep up the good work,
Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Bogger,

Hey, those hood ornaments (gators) would be a real attention getter up here in Minnesota

Your build is coming along great. I wish I could have started with one of those hulls!

Keep up the good work,
Dave

Buster,

If you'd started with one of these hulls then we wouldn't have a restored Aircat in our ranks. You've done good with that, and should be proud of what you've done.

Bogger,

I went back and looked at the original photos. I thought that you had a grass rake when you started. Your new front rail is more like what I think I'll want, but maybe with a step thru opening in the front. How tall is it ?

I'm also interested in the throttle assembly that you're using. I'll probably stick with the foot throttle, but would like to check out your idea. Can you provide info on who makes it / where you got it?

Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

That's true, you may not have a restored aircat in our ranks, but I would have had a finished boat to use this (very short) summer, instead of a project to work on. Oh well, that's life

It's all good,
Dave

[Bogger2]

Duane, I did have a grass rake on the front but the guy who made it, put the fastening points way to far in the middle of the front deck. Used to much floor space.
My new front rail assy. is 24 inch's high and almost as wide the boat. I will post a couple more pics. of my progress soon. I didn't want it to high to block my passengers view but high enough to lean my legs against it while fishing and catching criters. I'm a Florida cracker you Know!
It is made out of 3/4 inch conduit . I figured I would sacrifice a little weight for the strength to hold me in, and to hold my detachable grass rake on.. It's still under construction.

You guys like the hood orniments. They taste great.

Any of you guys up to speed on loading video shots? I would like to put on some live action. Where's or who's the guro?

Thanks Bogger?

[Bogger2]

The twist grip throttle is a universal 1/4 turn twist grip from a local motor cycle shop. I had to special order a 10' cable to make things work. Thats all going to change in the future though, because I'm putting on duale carbs as soon as I can come up with the extra bucks. I welded a piece of motor cycle handle bar to 3/4 inch conduit. and ran it back. then I had to bend a piece of steal rod to hold the cable from flapping around over top of the motor. It actually works quite well. I figure most the time you are hanging on to the stearing rod any ways.
Bogger.

[Bogger2]

Buster,
Your boat is sweet. I hope it perform's to your expectaions.
We always wish for some thing we don't have. But that doesn't nessisaraly mean the grasss is greener. There can always be a next one!

My gear box has a leak too. I just haven't got arond to fixing it yet. Just adding oil as nessisary.

What do you call your Boat?

Mine is going to be called "Fog Fart, for the tight ass high pitch wine my two stoke motor makes.
Thanks bogger.

[buster]

Bogger,

You are right, I seem to keep coming up with more projects. You probably saw the Tomcat I hope to finish up this winter for my buddy. After that, we'll see.

I will eventually get mine tweaked etc. and it should work the way I want it to. I just call it "Aircat 084" That will suffice unless I think of a better name.

Thanks, Dave

[Bogger2]

Made up a new control console this weekend. Here's some pics. If you happen to notice the temp/ tach gauge is up side down that is for a reason. I have to look down between my legs to see it. The story of my life. LOL.
I am almost ready to break her down for final paint and wiring. I just have to finish the grass rake assy.
Bogger

[Bogger2]

Hey Chuck,
I got a technical question for ya. If you review my photos you can see I have a cage with expanded metal, behind the motor. Would I gain any more performance or better air flow, if I redeisgned the cage to go over the motor and forward at an angle like most air boat's are???
Would there be cleaner air in front of the prop with the cage farther forward?
I was thinking of using 1X2 fence type material, Or what ever is recomended. But if the performance gain is not that much, I don't want to go through the time and expence of redesigning my cage set up. Besides that I have the muffler comming out at 90 degrees from the motor and it would create several design challanges making it stick through the fencing material. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Thanks Bogger

[chuckitt]

Hey Bogger, The pancake cage is OK but i don't like the expanded flattened metal used for wire. It is heavy and causes more wind drag. I also would not use the small fence wire, it breaks easy due to vibration and it also causes more wind drag. We use 1/8 th inch ss rod X 12 ft long and weld it on in a 4 x 4 inch pattern. It is easy to weld by spotting it with the mig. Look in the gallery at Ron and Robins 084 and see how we done it. We don't have any problems with it breaking.
Thanks, Chuck

[Bogger2]

Chuck,
Thanks for the info. Now all I have to do is find a local supplyer for the rod. I won't be using stainless though. The rest of the boat is regular steel. I personaly like the look of the cone shaped cage anyways. And less drag will be a bonus.
Thanks, Bogger

[airhead]

Hey Bogger,

Check with a building material place. The wire used to hang dropped ceiling might be what you are looking for. That's what i am considering.

Jim

[buster]

Bogger,

I checked with the local metal and welding supply for the 1/8" SS rods, and when they told me the price, I bought 1/8" gas welding rods instead. They work good if you're going to paint them. They only come in the 36" length, but I found that length was very conveinent.

I really think ceiling suspension wire may be a bit light if you are going to do a 4 x 4 pattern though, at least the size I'm familiar with. JMO

BTW, if you need to bend up some prop cage hoops, be sure to read page 5 and 6 of Duanes topic "SIDE BY SIDE MINI PRO 116" first. It may save you some time! Also, according to Chuck, 1/2" emt is heavy enough, I found that out after I built mine with 3/4".

Good luck, Dave