Posts: 1351
Joined: 4/13/2004 From: chesapeake, VA, USA Status: offline
I thought I am going to start a building thread how to build a cheap retrieval boat. This one is going to be different to what I have seen at the lake most the time. Everybody got one with a tennis ball in tow, which is not necessarely the best and the safest way of boat retrival. First of all the ball is a lot of drag for those small electric motors. Secondly, there is always a good chance that you run over your own line when you circle the boat to retrieve. Then you drag the stalled or flipped boat back to shore normally backwards. On your way back to the dock the floating boat you are retrieving is filled completely with water and thus submerged. The rescue mission turns into a survival mission for the rescue boat. But there is a better way to handle this situation. And that's what I want to share with you. I designed this boat in Autocad just like my Hydro, but this one is really simple in comparison. It also costs a lot less and should be build in no time. So let's get started. I already cut the ribs and the keel. Next step is to glue these parts together on a straight building board. I also got my drive unit. I found the gear box in my LHS and it is exactly what I had in mind. Two cheap 550's are the power units. They will give the boat plenty of torque. The boat is 40" long and 13.5" wide. Next step to follow soon.
Posts: 7427
Joined: 1/20/2005 From: blackpool, UNITED KINGDOM Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: SJN
MHZ has just recently released a rescue boat 250 euros around here
Looks too narrow sureley the idea should be to try to make the floats wide enough to get the stranded boat in between them to make it easier to push in?,i think the idea looks good but the boat looks too small to me. Mart
Posts: 1351
Joined: 4/13/2004 From: chesapeake, VA, USA Status: offline
I totally agree with you, mart. This boat is too small. Besides who needs a heli pad . And it has the a float to drag behind. Hello Marcel. Sit tight and watch. You'll be surprised how simple and quick this one goes together. I am not sure if this thread belongs in this forum, but I thought it's mainly for gas boat rescue anyway .
Posts: 7427
Joined: 1/20/2005 From: blackpool, UNITED KINGDOM Status: offline
Forgot about the heli pad now that would be cool to see a heli lanmding on it,mind you with my flying skills it would need to be WAY BIGGER ,looking forward to seeing your boat come together mate .Heres a simpler one i came up with i planned to make it using white foam sealed with epoxy.Not sure what motor to use yet but i have a few nimmh cells arround i can use. Mart sites not letting me load pic ill try later
< Message edited by martno1fan -- 6/30/2008 1:25:26 PM >
Posts: 7427
Joined: 1/20/2005 From: blackpool, UNITED KINGDOM Status: offline
Heres what i came up with,finally managed to upload it,basicaly its one piece of insulation foam board cut to shape then epoxy coated,thin cloth might make it stronger but im not sure its needed to be honest.You could use blue foam also as its a little better quality but white foam is cheap which i like .Another idea i had to strengthen the foam board was to use a piece of coraplast glued onto the top,i made an airboat like this but i sheeted the whole thing which is also another idea,seal all joints with silicone sealer and its water tight. Mart
< Message edited by martno1fan -- 6/30/2008 4:42:47 PM >
Posts: 1351
Joined: 4/13/2004 From: chesapeake, VA, USA Status: offline
Hey, mart; I like your idea a lot. This is really a rescue boat on a tight bugdet . No, seriously, I think it would work just fine. Yes, you have to reinforce the foam with glass, so what!. This is a super fast build, I can only imagine. Are you building one of these? Here is my next step of progress. Like I said. This boat goes together quickly. My idea was to have a rescue boat that makes fun to drive, too. With my dual motor set-up she certainly will have the necessary ponies to guarantee some fun.
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Joined: 4/13/2003 From: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA Status: offline
A friend of mine got an EP hammer on tower scratch and dent sale really cheap. Added a PVC frame to catch boats and drive them to shore. Works awesome and cost very little. From memory it was around $40 complete. Hard to beat that unless you already have most of the gear.
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How to build a cheap retrieval boat - 
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