Converting to marine use ?
 

I have a small very light Micro Hydroplane boat I designed. I want to try to put a small glow engine in it.

I know I have to cool it.... any advise here ? I thought about making my own head or something for a small glow engine..... I just am looking for advise - pointers - I know SOMEONE has done this before.....

Heres a link to my boat as posted on Micro Hydros website....

http://www.microhydros.com/tom_mitzlaff/tom2.htm

Thanks guys !
Tom M.

Converting to marine use ?
 

Tom,
You might want to search on model boats. There used to be devices that would attach to the cylinder and provide a water jacket at the outside edge of the fins. I think they were called "Kool Klamps". You could probably create the same affect by winding some soft brass or copper tubing around the fins a few times and running warer through it.
You will also need a prop, rudder, stuffing box, and flywheel. I think Octura was a good company for those (assuming they are still in business).
There is probably a "drop-in" package for what you need.

Good luck. BTW, the boat looks nice.

George

Converting to marine use ?
 

Heat sink and airflow. That's all you need. Look at the R/C car engines, and look at OLD R/C heli heatsinks (which strapped on the head, rather than being a part of the head)

There's not a tremendous amount of airflow at the head of the engine on a GMP Cricket... (no fan) A R/C Car type heatsink head is plenty of cooling there... Just remember you need SOME airflow.

Converting to marine use ?
 

Hello,
Take some 1/8" or larger, depending on engine size, and heat it up until it glows red with a propane torch. Then slowly move up the length, making sure you get the whole thing gloing red at some point. This is called annealing, it softens the brass. Wrap 3-4 turns around the cylinder head, and solder the brass tuding together, make sure it is tight on the engine for good heat transition. Then, hook up the water inlets to one side, exits to the other. You also have to get a flyweel to facilitate starting and running, as part of the process in an airplane engine uses the propeller to make the engine turn over. The boat propellers have low mass combined with high resistance, so the extra mass of the flywheel keeps everything turning. Octura is a good brand, and I believe they are still in business. Cool clamps do exist, but they are not as good as the brass tubing method ( less surface area.) A heatsink is not the recomended method to use in a boat. Boats are usually enclosed, with very little or no airflow. It's also a small space, which means it will heat the whole but up quickly. Water cooling is easy and inexpensive, so why not go that route instead of creating porblems?
All this info on converting airplane engines came from a book published a few years ago. There was a point when no manufacturers produced good marine engines, so everyone had to convert from airplane use. Nowadays, however, there are quite a few manufacturers making marine engines. O.S., rossi, K&B and zenoah all make good marine engines. Just pick one suitable for your boat, hook it up and go shred some water!
Kurt