Paul M

Especially if 'gators are about to eat it

Nice looking retrieval boats

Marinero

Howdy, Yep

With a 12 vlt troller or a set of 14 vlt motors it will overdrive the sponson/keel set up, but I just want to get the race boat back..... or out of the debris field . sounds simple until you see a boat explode post impact..

Jeez 100 bucks for this thing to save a grand sounds good.

I'm thinkin about using the original idea of a 12 vlt trolling motor with a few more lipos for amps. this thing could fly on a slight hydrofoil.

It's time to experiment.

I'll show you some t/motor action if I can find a minkota that I can hook a MSC up to.

D

thevirginian

I like your idea. Very creative [sm=thumbs_up.gif]. What are the approx. dimensions?

Marinero

Howdy Virginian

The R boat measures 31 " outside and 48 " long. Using the 3" sewer tube it leaves me with 23.5 on the inside leaving room for foam pads to save the rudder and other gear on the stern. The crosss members are 2.5 " square downspout drain tube and 45 deg. elbos. I used 1/2 " dowell to cross pin the elbos inside the 3 " tube before gluing and filling with foam before gluing the end caps on the stern. I found a innertube works pretty good to catch the stern of the target boat. I found a trolling motor for fifty bucks but this is a low budjet project so I'll have to keep looking. If you are going to build one I'd use the 4 " tube and fittings for more flotation.
Looking forward to your build ideas .
D

dicko

I think you'll want the rescued boat to sit further back in the forks, otherwise it will spin out sideways & be a pain to get back to shore.

Here's a pic of my rescue hammer.

Marinero

Howdy
Thats simple enough, I like the idea of using existing stuff.
D

thevirginian

dicko, that's it! I am gonna build the front just like yours. With white PVC pipes and foam sleeves pulled over it. That's why I chose to have a blunt bow like a miniature jon boat. Hier are a cpouple of pics from last night. Deck is on and glassed. Today I sanded it and put two layers of clearoat over it/ Looks pretty good, so far. Working on the rudder right now. Although not completely finished she should be running by the weekend, I hope. Still have to fix the problem with the carburetor on my hydro, too.

thevirginian

Here is my boat in the pool for a test run. Got her painted and clearcoated. Rudder is done. Tomorrow we will test her in real life. For right now I am going to drag a float behind her. Next week I am going to make the bow fork.

Dreamin Hemi

VERY NICE! How did it scoot around in the pool?

thevirginian

I made some big waves

martno1fan

Looks really good i cant wait to see her in action,how about some video of her pushing your hydro that would be cool.Hope your hydro doesnt need rescuing mind just a test run ,good luck with it .
Mart

monsterbrad

I like the PVC idea looks good

thevirginian

Well, today she had her debut at the lake. Although I haven't finished the PVC front fork I dragged a tennis ball on a string behind her. We had plenty of opportunities for rescues and she peerformed just great. Turns on a dime and has a lot of torque. That GRAUPNER prop (2"x ?) really works. She already made friends among all my boating buddies who welcomed her dearly. There is nothing I would need to change other than finish my plan by adding the front fork. That 7Amps 12V battery doesn't seem to slow down at all. Tallying up the total cost of the build revealed an astonishing low number: Motors and gearset-up: $70.00. One sheet of plywood at Home Depot: $6.00. Paint: $7.00. Building materials: ca $10.00. GRAUPNER prop $5.00. Proboat speed controll $50.00. One rudder servo $25.00. Radio and battery was free (given to me). Total cost of out of my pocket: $173.00. Now you might say that's not that cheap for a home build boat, especially when compared to those RTR TRAXXAS or PROBOAT little electric boats under 200 bucks. Those boats should not be considered as rescue boats, because that's not what they are. They are llittle fun boats for the pool but not rescue boats. We have plenty of those in the club but neither one of them can match the performance of a boat like mine. I am not trying to brag but my boat is designed exactly for one purpose and that's what she does well. That's why I still consider her "cheap"

Hesco Racing

Great build. Now show some video

thevirginian

HR,
Next time around and with the front fork finished, I will shoot a video of her in action. Just don't know exactly when I am getting to that.

Marinero

Howdy Virginian

I havent seen your rescue boat yet any video of it in action ?

D

thevirginian

Marinero;
No action videos yet. Last weekend we had our monthly club race and for such an event we have a full scale rescue jon boat. Besides now I am taking the necessary time to finish my little rescue boat and putting on the final touches. I'll post pictures of her once she is completely done. I promise you 'll like what you gonna see. Should be in a short time from now.

firelite_marine

heres my rescue boat. I just have to be carefull not to skewer my 57apache on approch. lol

thevirginian

Now, how do you get that thing in your truck?

firelite_marine

lol, its a big deal where I live. the whole town gets together and lifts it into the back of a giant tonka style truck and then.... ...I think I've spewed enough BS to make the joke funny.

thevirginian

I like people with a sense of humor[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

thevirginian

Finally I was able to complete this project. I know, it took me longer than anticipated. Took her to the lake today and tested the fork. Works pretty smooth. I might do a couple of mod, like extend the upward ends a bit. I also consider to put on som foam sleeves. But that's about it. Everything works the way it should, basically. The boat itself runs like a charm. Lots of torque and very maneuverable.

firelite_marine

I got a perfect idea, how a bout a beer barrel and a paddle? lol

thevirginian

After emptying the contents it's the perfect floatation. I go for that

powerroller

Really nice work there on your retrieval boat,and pics don't lie.

Any thoughts on picking up a boat upside down,submerged,with your rig,as alot of folks will end up that way..