Tiny Speedboat Build

Boats up to 15' for oars, power or sail. Please include the boat type in your question.
Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

My grandson very excited to get in the water
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Seems very stable. I rocked it pretty aggressively it righted itself immediately.
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I think the bow is a little lower than the stern but the jet pump outlet is at the perfect level.
No leaks, so that is good.
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Not sure if I will have to add some aft ballast when the boat is under power. Thats the next test.
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OrangeQuest
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by OrangeQuest »

If you don't add ballast to the aft area, it will plow when he lets off the throttle and steer left or right. It will act like the stern is lifted by a wave and turn sharply and uncontrollable.
"that it isn't just an ordinary sort of boat. Sometimes it's a Boat, and sometimes it's more of an Accident. It all depends." "Depends on what?" "On whether I'm on the top of it or underneath it."
A. A. Milne

Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

Thanks for the input.

I’m going to test with two 5 lbs hand weights as far aft as possible and go from there.

Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

Attached the steering cable to the RC boat push/pull rod.
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The Steering bar gives full travel left and right, but I need to add some static stops to keep the kid from moving the bar too far.
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Probably going to cut the steering bar down by about 1.5 inches each side to shorten the throw.
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cape man
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by cape man »

What's left? Fire that baby up!
The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before - Neil Gaiman

Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

Today I hooked up all the water cooling plumbing and drilled the holes for the inlets and exhaust.

Still need to install the gas tank and lines and kill switch.

Had to completley redesign the throttle. The cheap Chinese knock off twist grip snapped in half the first time I used it.

So bought a large steel lawnmower type hand throttle and made a housing for it for the right side of the cockpit. The epoxy is drying on the wood as I type.

Then paint royal blue and route the throttle line through the bulkhead.

Cut the handlebar control down by 1.5 inches on each side to reduce the throw necessary for full nozzle deflection.

Gots to work til the 7th, then off until the 30th. Flying to Cabo, yeah its rough.

It will be done before 30 June!

Matt Gent
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Matt Gent »

This is awesome!

Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

You guys are too kind.

Just a grandpa spoiling his only grandson.

Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

Back from a trip for a couple of days then back out again for a while.
Drilled the hole in the transom for the water cooling inlet
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And attached the supply line
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Hooked up all the cooling supply and exhaust lines
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Jetdriver69
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build

Post by Jetdriver69 »

Put the boat back in the pool with the kid onboard and 16 lbs of aft ballast.

Yes that makes a lot of difference in how the boat sits in the water.

I think im going to use exercise ankle weights that would be easily removed once the kid gets heavier.

When you add the 6 lbs for fuel and tank, it should be about right

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