tricycle steering float, does it work?
 

I have a huge Damn at the end of the street and was going to make a set of floats for my old Sig LT40

My question is can you make a small steer float for the front instead of a useing a rudder on the back of one of the main floats.

So basicly it would be a 3 float setup. Has anyone tried this?

thanks for any input!

RE: tricycle steering float, does it work?
 

It could work.

Or, just stick a rudder down from the nosegear and use regular floats. If you elect to use a small float, make sure it has a keel/skeg so it WILL actuall cause steering instead of just sliding sideways. AND make sure it can't tilt so it could hit your prop or be pointing in the "DIVE! "direction when you land. Also, check the steering and adjust it so it won't strike the other floats when turned.

For all the advantages a water rudder gives, all its disadvantages are caused because it is at the rear of the float.

Stick a water rudder at the nosewheel position, and make sure it sticks down no farther than the bottom of the float where it is installed. Set the plane on a board, and make sure the rudder does not keep both floats from touching. It will still steer, and it will be out of the water when you take off and land. AND, it won't make your plane weathervane toward the downwind direction like some water-rudder installations do.

It might cause some spray in the prop when you taxi slowly, but that's not a big deal and that is the only time it should be in the water.

RE: tricycle steering float, does it work?
 

Thanks for you input.

I was going to make some floats about 36" long and then use a foam filled wheel pant off of an old Cap232. I thought I would use this on the front with a second strut coming for the rear of the float to half way up the main strut to keep it in position. My main concern is if landing and the front float hits a small ripple if it would cause the nose to dive.

What do you think?

Any special technique for taking off of water?.

RE: tricycle steering float, does it work?
 

I don't think the wheel pant is the way to do it. If the bottom is not shaped like a ski, it could just stick to the water. A buddy of mine made some wingtip floats once that did that. No getting airborne that way.