How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

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.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Nice, looking forward to seeing the build progress. A retrieval plan is something no one should be without.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

MHZ has just recently released a rescue boat 250 euros around here ;)

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Is this going to be as good as your Hydro? :D

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Thanks for sharing the build.

I'll be following it closely.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

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

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

I totally agree with you, mart. This boat is too small. Besides who needs a heli pad:D:D:D. 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:).

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

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 :D,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

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

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

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

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.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Then you need to build a Springer.. ;)

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7676575/tm.htm

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

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.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

You cant tease us with the build and not share the plans.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Yours is much nicer to look at mate no worries there mine is just practical :D,yes i think i will build one mate,then my son can keep his cheap ebay hull and ill rig it with better electrics and a bigger single motor.Any recomendations for a motor for this one? i was thinking maybe a 600-700 echo type motor and a mechanical speed controller etc?.
Mart
ps another alternative covering would be brown paper and water proof wood glue then seal it with paint etc,i made a nice cowl for my next hydro using this method and it came out really good,its very strong and rigid but light too.oh and i did have joes blessing to do the cowl as its for my own use only.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Hey, wait a moment; isn't this the cowl from your shovel nose? Great idea to use that as a floatation device:D. I reckon you gonna make a sorta pontoon boat from those two floats, correct.
Hey hesco racing; Yes, I can share the plans with you guys. No problem. Let me convert them into a *jpg first.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Nice thank you. i do have autocad if you want to leave them as is.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Yeah, that would be the best way to do it. I just don't know for sure how to post a *.dwg file here on RCU. Does anybody know?

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Yea right like im going to use those :),i have better use for them than as pontoons :D.
Mart

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

O.K.
The sceleton is done and off the building board. She is even straight;). Next step: Skinning the sceleton. Need to go to Home Depot and get me one of those thin plywood sheets 4x8x1/8.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

15.00 PFD and swim out. :eek:

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Still not sold on the whole "swim for it" approach - [link=http://www.courant.com/news/local/hcu-voldrown-0701,0,2463893.story]considering this was a mile from my house (and 2 miles from where I run boats) and happened yesterday[/link] - I cant say I will be swimming for a boat anytime soon

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Why didn't you leave it on the board until the bottom was glued? Now there is still a change of bending when glueing the bottom.

Marcel

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

No problem, Marcel.
I can nail her back down anytime I need to. As a matter of fact I actually will, before I start putting the skin on her. But I can trace and shape the skin better this way. Plus I want to do a few things before and prefer to have her off the building board for that.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Mart, did you actually build this, or is still just a thought? Would like to see pictures if you have them. I'm thinking of something like that myself.

This is turning out to be a nice build. I appreciate you taking the time for this.

RE: How to build a cheap retrieval boat
 

Mart, did you actually build this, or is still just a thought? Would like to see pictures if you have them. I'm thinking of something like that myself.

This is turning out to be a nice build. I appreciate you taking the time for this.
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Havent built it yet mate but i will do in the near future,still need a motor as i only have a 540 which i feel is a tad too much rpm maybe a bigger slower revving motor would be best suited.
Mart