Project The Tank II (The Frog)

[Papee]

I went and picked up some more materials today. I decided to get some casters and make a buggy to wheel it around on. It sure does make things easier but now I have to remember when I lean on it it's going to move. I got the locking casters, I guess I could lock them.

I started the engine stand and seat rigging bit didn't get a whole lot done. I think I'm going to take a break tomorrow and take my boat out and see if I can still hook a fish.

[Papee]

Got a little work done this weekend and a lot of fishing/stick time. A short video, an update photo and some of my catches for today. All are pretty nice fish for this area and all over 15 inches.

[Papee]

The tubing for the drain came on the other day and the prop and hub came today. The prop looks a little different than my prop that was made originally. Mine is a little wider than this one but the same length and pitch. I'm curious to see the difference in the two designs. I'll be putting the drain in then finally making it to the river for the leak test and see how it sits on the water so I can determine the position of the rigging.

[Papee]

It's ready for the river test, hopefully I'll feel good enough tomorrow to go see if it holds water. I even put some measurement marks on it up to 4" to see how it floats.

[Papee]

I took it to the river today to test for leaks. I had three of them where I never expected, I got it home and fixed them and filled it with water and tested again, no leaks.

I was surprised how high it sits in the water, the back corner was not even in the water and my front mark was at about an inch. I'm very happy with it so far. Time to move forward.

[Papee]

I got all the cross bracing on the rigging, got the hoops bent and one on. I can't go any further till he gets the motor here. I can't use my measurements for that because his motor will mount different. I may put the other hoop on but that may have to wait. I am going to run the bottom leg of the cage along the gunnel then in to help sturdy up the sides more.

[Papee]

I'm waiting on him to get the motor to me so I started working on the cage. I just did the main hoops and I'm working on the rudder mounts now. I can work on this until I get the motor since it a separate piece from the stand for now. Once i get the motor I'll figure out where the rigging will sit and finsh connecting the cage to the rigging. I'll have to catch up on photos next time, I ran out of batteries for the camera.

[aewrigh]

Looking good....I'm going to have to pay attention how you do your rudder rigging.

[Papee]

I just use the stop sign style rudders, I put the pivot point in the front to make it easy. With these minis the thrust isn't as much as the big boats so I've been just using the old method. I also just use a nut and a bolt for the pivot. I haven't had any trouble with that setup either. I just make sure to grease them. I don't see any signs of wear on them and I use my boat a lot. If I were making airfoil type rudders I would move the pivot but for these cheap-n-easy rudders it's easier just to put the pivot on the leading edge.

[Papee]

It's been a while but I have been working on it as I can. My health is getting in the way again. They had me on the wrong dose of Warfarin and things got pretty bad. I'm still not out of the woods and still pretty weak but I still try to get up an around at least a little.

Any way, I was working on the rudder mounts and some tabs to bolt the cage to the seat rigging so I can bolt it to the rigging, this way I can take it off it two pieces if needed or just take the cage part off to work on the motor. Yesterday he brought the motor over and I got it stripped down and sat on the stand. My figures were pretty close and I don't have a bunch to do as far as motor mounts and this is what I am working on now. As soon as I feel a little better I have to make a run for materials to make the mounts. It should go pretty quick from here if I can get out there to work on it.

[Papee]

I got the cage done today and some work done on the engine making some block-off plates. I just put in the last parts order for the gauges, steering and throttle cables and some hardware. I have a few things to do while I wait for the parts to come in. I need to get the seating sockets in and make the framing for the dash next.

[Papee]

I got a bunch done today. I got the seat sockets in, front deck rail, dash panel framing, driver platform floor, and the rudders are done and ready to mount. I can't put them on until I get the boat out of the garage, I have to take the cage off to get it out.

I put on some stubbies for exhaust so I can start it up tomorrow to see how it runs. The guy my uncle got it from never had it running. I pulled the plugs and it does have spark so it should start without problems. I don't have the starter setup done so I'll be rope starting it. It pulls hard but it can be done, imagine starting a VW aircooled with a rope.


The steering and throttle cables should be here the beginning of next week so I should be ready for it's test run some time at the end of next week. Then it's time to tear it all apart for paint. I'll be working on building the dash tomorrow.

Some update photos.

[Papee]

I'm almost ready to stick it in the water and test. I got the cables in yesterday but I forgot to order the pivots for the steering cable ends. Looks like the test will be next week then I'll pull the motor and put it away for the winter. It's getting too cold up here to do any painting in an unheated garage so I'll just put it on the back burner until spring then take it back apart for paint and finish. I still have a few things to do before I put it away, I need to make the headers and put some protection on the cage.

I did start the gauge panel today, I just have one more piece to put in at the top. I did the one piece since the photos were taken.

[Papee]

I got the dash done and I'm working on the headers now. I forgot to order the pivot ends for the steering cable. I should be able to take it out for a test ride about the middle of the week if the weather holds.

[Papee]

It's ready for the test run as soon as we have a half decent day out. I still have a few things to do but it's time to see what we have. All I have to do is make some collectors for the headers and redo the cage screen, I tried some thick galvanized wire but it's not stiff enough to hold it's shape so it will have to come off. I also have to put the flex tubing on for the exhaust. That will be done after the test then I'm pretty much done until spring when I can tear it back down, paint, wire, and reassemble it.

I'll get some better photos when I get it out of the garage and on the trailer.

[Papee]

I got it out of the garage and back together. Now If the weather cooperates I'll get it out on the water tomorrow. I think I have everything adjusted pretty close.

[Papee]

Here's a video of it running for the first time, It's still a little rough but I'll adjust on it when I'm on the water. I couldn't go any harder on the gas because it was pushing my Polaris UTV.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogVlAaGVv_4&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">

[Papee]

Not a good day to test. The wind was blowing at 20-27 MPH gusts at times and about 15MPH constant. I also should have listened to myself and hooked up a choke cable. I tried to do a video but it was impossible to hold the choke, try to steer and hold the camera. I didn't have my extra hand on today. When I put down the camera it actually ran very well if I held the choke. I'm going to hold off tearing it down and put a choke cable on it, maybe we'll have a better day to test in the next few days. It even started with a few snow flurries when I was taking the boat out.

All in all, I'm very happy with what I was able to see by the short test I did. It got on top of the water very fast and planed with very little throttle.

[buster]

Papee,
It looks real good, and I think you will have a great performer also. I really like the way it sits so high on the water. I wish I would have built my boat like that, I think it would have made a world of difference.

Good job,
Dave

[Papee]

It does sit high Dave. It really needs the rest of the weight in it, as it is it's a little too high. Once I get the battery and a full tank of gas in it I think it will be just right. I was very surprised at just how little throttle it takes to get it on plane. These hulls aren't for everyone though, they are a bit harder to drive but the performance is well worth it. I've never driven a chined boat other than a bow rider so I don't know the real difference between an airboat running either hull.

I also preach that it only takes so much surface area to float these lighter power plants, anything over that is just more drag when on plane. This theory is only for a boat that will stay in the water and not see much dry. You just have to decide what you want, a boat that preforms very well on water or a boat that preforms so so on water and so so on land. In my opinion mini's are more of a water boat, trying to make them work well on dry takes away from the water performance of these boats. Again, this is just my opinion.