weed-wacker boat

[T3guy]

does anyone have plans to build a boat out of a weed-wacker engine? i got the boat. the engine, the radio, reciever, and a few servos. i have never had a boat, but got the boat and engine for free so i want to try. so if anyone has one that they can post pics of it would help, or better if you have plans, or detailed drawings so i can go from there. thanx in advance for any replies.
email me at DAHUI@EXECPC.COM
-andy:D

[lovinnitro]

OK,
If you have Zero experience I would buy a book on gas boats and start checking a few out. If you have everything you need and are going from the beginning I don't kow of a book that says "this goes here and here etc." I was a complete newb to boats abd basicaly just did alot of studying and asking questions here and on www.jimsrcboatdock.com on the home page they have a forums link go to it and ask away most the people there are pretty helpful. Also I would find a local boat club in your area to find actual physical experience. If anyone else is like me I'd be like "alrighty then, lets put this bad boy together for ya shall we" and possibly even give you some hands on as to what goes where and also just as important why.

I'll take some closeups today of my boat and post them for you so you can get an idea of where things go.

Later on
Steve

[Doubledog]

Send it to me and I'll make out a money order or paypal to you.;)

Could you give better spec's about everything?
Name of gear-- type
engine--size--- clutch etcc.
radio box-- do you have?
Manf of boat---model etc..

I see you're a member but don't know you around these parts. Welcome either way and hope you stick with us for general conversation.

Photo's are good too.:D

[T3guy]

lovinnitro-
i am looking to buy a book somewhere, but havent found one yet. i race cars, and i have a good idea of how all the elecronics hook up, and i know how i am going to hook a servo up to the engine to give it throttle. i am confused on the whole prop-from-engine idea. and steering is confusing me as i think of it more. the boat doesnt have any mounts or anything, so its all gonna be from scratch. i am sure some pics will help me out.
thanx


doubledog-
are you talkin about lovinnitro's boat?

[Doubledog]

Your boat
:)

[T3guy]

ummm....i dunno about any one the gear/clutch stuff. all i got is a boat that floats, and a weed-wacker.
i can prolly get pics of the boat if you really wanted to see it.
-andy

[Doubledog]

Post them here would be good. You'll get several opinions on things and decide for yourself what route to take.

There are a LOT of folks browsing with some real experience.

POST them but be cool about it. Take 'em from all angles, inside, engine all around, running gear laid out, etc... just like you'd hope folks would do about something in your expertice.

Dang, got me excited!

[T3guy]

well we dont have a digi so i gotta wait till my uncle comes over somtime till i can take some pics. i will get some as soon as i can tho.

[lovinnitro]

Hey Andy,
Don't sweat the connection stuf. I let it throw me for a loop till I saw what was being talked about an dwent Ohhhhhhhhhhh.....
I've got to pull the boat apart to do some cleaning and add an autobailer so I'll take some close up of it all. In your weedacker engine. Homlite, what brand? they usually have a clutch set up. There is a 1/4" flex shaft with a square end that goes into the motor. The flex cable will run through a stuffing tube out the transom (or bottom depending on what your building) into a drive. the drive is turned by the flex cable soldered to a ferrule at that end attached to the drive.

www.shark-racing.com is a good site as well to read and learn.

If you know this I apoligize but I was a complete newb and really got alot out of pictures and the such

raining like mad here today so i'll shoot some pics for you tomorrow ok.

Later
Steve

[T3guy]

steve-
yup the engine is a homelite. thanx for the info i know almost nothing about how all this stuff works. what all do i have to do to the engine so it will work right? i am gonna check out that site now......
-andy
hey bye the way where are ya located? its rainin here in neenah,** too...:mad:

[lovinnitro]

I,m in Tampa, FL my friend. Sunshine state my butt:D
Is the motor straight off of a weedwacker or is it a homie already set for boat use? Air or water cooled? First things first I'd build a makeshift motor stand out of some wood, easy to do, and make sure that bad boy runs. Imagine spending the time to mount and get the CG straight to find out you need another motor. Preventitve strike man if anything is wrong with the motor plus you'll feel better. Trust me :D
read about center of gravity on your boat. idealy you want it to balance with all gear in it (gas tank, radio, batteries, etc.) when it is held by finger finger tips at the point the spark plug is located on the motor. (picture a srtaight line from one side of the boat to the other across the plug location) think this point is going to be anywhere between 28 and 32% of the boats length from the transom. you'll have to play to see what works best just remember that it is supposed to include the total weight of the boat. drive, rudder and all.
when I post some pics if you have any questions I'll do th ebest I can to abswer them. Till then.....

Wish I had an umbrella

[lovinnitro]

Sorry also what type of boat is it deep vee, hydro, what?????

[T3guy]

I think it is a catamaran. go to this link for a picture of a similar boat.

SIMILAR BOAT (http://www.shark-racing.com/Imagens/Produtos/TunelPrather3.5-01.jpg)

i havent done anything to the engine.....i know it works though because i was wackin-weeds the other day with it!!:D

[lovinnitro]

Buddy that looks like a nitro tunnel hull for a 3.5. or 7.5 basically an outboard nitro. See what you can do to post some pics of the hull you have for us. Any of you other guys got an an opinion on the type of hull that is??

[T3guy]

Ummmmm......looking at the hull a little closer, i can see where the outboard motor was mounted....it still has holes in it. does that mean i can't convert it?

[Doubledog]

We're getting there.:) Getting your feet wet with alittle basic knowlege.;)

[lovinnitro]

Man just when I thought I had the answers. :confused: I really can't tell you on that. I know some boats can be built with ob's or wacker motors but that one I don't know. My guess is going to be no because of the stringer width and how far you can take em. 5" is the standard for a wacker style motor how far apart are yours? Even if not find you an ob to put on it if you have everything else.... From what I know tunnels fly!

Anybody else know if this can be switched?????

Stay with us Andy, we'll get you going and on the water

[T3guy]

I can tell that whatever motor i put on is gonna make her fly....it just looks fast. does anyone out there haave a cheap OB motor, that i can buy, or even better i'll trade ya a weed-wacker engine! well....until i get a motor for it how do i make it turn? i know its w/ a rudder, but how do i set it up? thanx
-andy
o yea i am goin for the low-buck boat....so i cant buy a brand new motor......

[lovinnitro]

" until i get a motor for it how do i make it turn?"

A good wind???????? :D :p :D :p :p :D :p Just teasin.

If possible some pics would be the way to go... You say its with a rudder..... is this a nitro inboard setup???? I got into nitro and went right to gas so my experience is limited all the way around.

Can you get a pic or ten for us?? If nothng else take a roll and have them put to CD. at that point we'll at least know exactly what were looking at and not passing any bogus advice.

figuring out what the heck was going was half the fun for me

[RCGUY76]

lawless outdrives makes a outboard motor mount for zenoa engines...BIG OUTBOARD

[hydroracer]

woops

[Toyotatogo]

The Miss Bud runs on a 23cc Zenoah motor isn't that a weed eater engine?

http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137044

If so its already been built....

[lovinnitro]

A Zen is basically a weedeater type motor but it was designed for rc use.