Hey all, new to the forum and to boat building. I just finished modifying to a great extent a PowerWheels Dodge Viper for my small grandson and was looking for a new project.
I saw youtube videos of a father in Australia who designed a very small, weedeater motor powered speedboat for his 4 year old grandson and thought what the heck, that would work.
So as I was sitting in a hotel room on the beach in Santa Monica last November, I designed a 6.5 ft foam, wood and fiberglass mini cigarette boat powered by a Zenoah 320 4.5 hp RC boat motor coupled to a 3D printed 70mm jet drive.
The first picture is the pile of foam and wood I started with.
These next two photos are after cutting the sections of foam out with a hot wire and glueing them together.
Yes I know using this type of foam isnt the best for structural integrity and in hindsight, should have made the boat out of wood entirely. But after 3 layers of epoxy and fiberglass boat cloth and a whole bunch of epoxy thickened fillets in the joints, the boats looks pretty rigid for its use in a very calm pond or lake setting. Besides the kid is only so small for so long.
I'm just about done with the boat so I can post a few pictures a day until I catch up with the actual progress.
Tiny Speedboat Build
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
That is a great project! Grand dad..............lean, mean, spoiling machine That is the best thing about grand kids, at least that is what I am told. Please post as you can and show the process to us.
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
In order to move the CG a little toward center in the boat, I wanted to move the engine and jet drive a bit forward.
So I made a spacer for the water outlet out of pine which will be fully encapsulated with epoxy resin.
Attaching outside battens to the boat
So I made a spacer for the water outlet out of pine which will be fully encapsulated with epoxy resin.
Attaching outside battens to the boat
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
Enjoying seeing this
- cape man
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
Too cool!!
The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before - Neil Gaiman
Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
I think these are great and look like fun. Most of the ones I’ve seen seem to be a tighter fit than I’d be comfortable with from a safety standpoint. Make sure you leave plenty of unobstructed space to slide out in the event of capsize.
Jbo
Jbo
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
Thanks for the comments. Yes leaving plenty of space to get out but the boat is pretty wide compared to the length so it should be fairly stable
I skinned the hull with foam sheets using clamps, screw blocks and marine adhesive. Filled in the keel voids with expanding foam Used epoxy body filler to fill in the seams and filled the bow section with contoured pieces of the foam
I skinned the hull with foam sheets using clamps, screw blocks and marine adhesive. Filled in the keel voids with expanding foam Used epoxy body filler to fill in the seams and filled the bow section with contoured pieces of the foam
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
To get the proper shape of the bow, I used thinner strips of foam glued vertically.
In places I couldn't clamp or use screw blocks, I used sharpened wooden sticks to keep the foam in place while the glue dried.
After all was dried, I used a knife to trim away the excess.
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
I glued thin plywood to the foam battens for a bit more protection
I made a trailer out of PVC pipe and wheels from Harbor Freight Dry fitting the decking before cutting out the engine and cockpoit openings
I made a trailer out of PVC pipe and wheels from Harbor Freight Dry fitting the decking before cutting out the engine and cockpoit openings
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Re: Tiny Speedboat Build
Very nice!
You sure grandpa or dad aren't going to feel they need to try it first and swamp it before the little guy gets a chance in it?........
Can't wait to watch the rest of your progress!!!
You sure grandpa or dad aren't going to feel they need to try it first and swamp it before the little guy gets a chance in it?........
Can't wait to watch the rest of your progress!!!
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