Gasoline Engine Aluminium Boat

Intro: Gasoline Engine Aluminium Boat

An especially distinctive structure has been created this time by our team approaching it from different views both structural and functional. Besides our structural interest of creating it and the development of our knowledge and experience, our main aim was our entertainment while making it. We decided to make our own small, aluminum boat that will be able to carry only an individual in the sea providing him the sensation that he is surfing by just using a gasoline powered engine.

STEP 1: Aluminum Iron

Firstly, we started our structure by cutting aluminum iron plates into pieces conglutinating them air tightly. In this point, we should say that our preference for the aluminum material was made for its great endurance and its light weight. Therefore, we had the opportunity to experience how to conglutinate aluminum using a mig welder. After connecting the aluminum pieces, we gave them the shape of a small boat keeping its upper surface closed and flat. Then, we had to place the engine at the back of the boat and put a propeller at its end. Next, using the lathe we made all the essential pieces in order to place the axis and the propeller on it and the particular pieces were connected to the engine of our boat.

STEP 2: Engine

We chose an engine that was taken from an old tree-cutting company and it has been repaired before used. Our aim was to connect the engine to our structure without causing any damage in order to be able to be restored to its former function used at the tree-cutting company. Also, we chose the particular engine for various reasons of which the basic one was its small size. Additionally, we regulated the evaporation of the engine to be made on a high point of the boat in order to prevent water going in while evaporating as well as we created air inlets to oxygenate the engine sufficiently. Moreover, we created an output where we put the rope for starting the machine. For our own safety, we made a metallic frame around the propeller. Also, we put a safety switch that is placed in the hand and it deactivates the machine when the user leaves the boat. Our boat weighs about 45kg and it is capable of displacing about180kg meaning to sink it completely 135kg should be placed on it. At the point, where the axis sticks out of the boat, we prevented the insertion of the water using water seals. Just in case, we placed a water pump inside our boat in order to get the water out if it gets in.

STEP 3: Test

We must admit that we are very satisfied from our boat’s sailing and the way that it deals with the water. However, we felt very disappointed about the engine used as after numerous attempts and after using multiple propellers, we came into conclusion that we could not get the desirable speed and the power of the engine to use our boat as a surfboard, too.What we can say for sure, though is that using a more powerful engine and if our structure was lighter, the outcome would be successful. Also, it would be surely more preferable if our engine was water-cooled to avoid high temperatures. Whatismore, for keeping it lighter in size, it would be recommendable to use carbon fiber that is very light in weight and has high water-resistance. In addition, instead of using a propeller, a jet mechanism would be better obtaining a better performance. In conclusion, we have notified many potentials of improving our structure and increasing its functionality and we can certainly say that we will attempt to create such a structure again considering the above potentials of improvement as due to our current budget the particular changes were not feasible to be implemented

STEP 4: Video

Nevertheless, completing this structure, we gained more experiences and we had fun every single moment creating it as well as enjoying the sea of our country.

Comments

[alpha k]

hi i love your projects! they are awesome. where do you come from?

[Jobar007]

Gas vapors in an enclosed environment can have explosive results. You didn't mention venting the engine compartment before starting the engine. If you had a gas leak or spilled some fuel while refueling could prove disastrous. Since you didn't modify the engine, that also means that you don't have flame arrestors. This is a very dangerous craft for more reasons than you stated.

You might be having problems with thrust less from the power of your engine but from the prop speed. Water is a lot more viscous than air and requires a much slower rotational speed than a typical gasoline engine produces to produce adequate thrust. Gas engines typically operate at 3-4k RPM. If there is little to no reduction, that is way too fast and the prop will "slip" in the water. My guess is that is your problem, not the fact that it is under powered.

[lucanos]

Most chainsaws I have worked with have an inbuilt spark/flame arrestor in their exhaust system, although that doesn't mean ALL do. That being said, good ventilation is key for any petrol engine to operate well (especially, as the author noted) an air-cooled one.

[Jetsom]

Great video! Showing off a few awesome tools. Very envious!

[iminthebathroom]

Wow, this is awesome. Love to see some expanded metal around and behind the prop guard, being your more or less in the water with the prop at the same time, just in case the safety switch jams. Other then that safety spiel, this is one epic build. You should enter the "Metal Contest" here on instructables. I'll vote for sure.