Sit on Kayak Pedal System

Intro: Sit on Kayak Pedal System

Made from a sit on kayak, a bicycle, weedeater and assorted parts, this water-craft is relatively easy to build, great exercise and fun!

STEP 1: Gather Materials

1 sheet of 2" blue insulation foam (4 ft X 8 ft) (or sit-on-top kayak)
1 bicycle (or 'Big Wheel' trike)
1 old 'Weed Eater' or weed whacker of any make
1 wooden or plastic model aircraft propeller (mine's 18 X 12 but somewhere in the range of 10 X 10 to 16 X 16 should do)
1 3/8 drive 90 degree drill chuck
various and sundry wood and metal bits to connect it all

STEP 2: Construct Foam Pontoon Boat

Insulation foam is relatively easy to work with and makes a utilitarian pontoon boat. (working on Instructable for my new design)
Alternately follow these directions (Dual-Motor SIP&PUFF Controlled Kayak System or https://www.instructables.com/id/Foamboat-construction/)

STEP 3: Construct Propeller Assembly

Disassemble "Weed Eater" to get to the flexible shaft assembly.
Remove the weed whacker head and attach propeller.

STEP 4: Mount Bicycle to Pontoon Boat

Use bamboo supports to mount bicycle to pontoon boat

STEP 5: Position Propeller Assembly

Position and mount propeller unit to the bicycle/pontoon boat assembly using U-bolts to clamp it in place

STEP 6: Pedal Away

Find a pond/lake/river deep enough for your boat/propeller and pedal away!
(Pictures of finished project ASAP!)

Comments

[RANDOMOCITY99]

whaT IS THE MAKE AND MODEL OF YOUR tricycle thingy?

[tropidavo]

HI Leon , This is just the thing Ihave been looking for . I want to adapt it to my 3 x 7 foot pvc raft. Instead of the prop Iwould like to use a pvc paddle wheel. Does anyone have a simple plan for that? thanks, tropidavo

[seabeepirate]

Maybe you could try something like this: https://www.instructables.com/id/PVC-pipe-blades-and-rotor-for-HAWT-from-scrap/

or this: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-I-built-an-electricity-producing-wind-turbine/step2/Making-the-blades/

Just make the blades shorter. Hope that helps.

[artnsue23]

I'd try really hard to use the propeller over a paddle wheel. It is way more efficient.

[cjbikenut]

This looks great. Could we see the finished project please?

[l8nite]

is this supposed to pull or push you thru the water ?. I hope you continue and take a lot more pics, Ive been considering something like this for a couple years now

[kuhldad]

Congrat! I was considering a similar design but decided it was too difficult. I've decided to try a paddle wheel system using a trike.

[bertus52x11]

Very nice!
I have been struggling with this for a while and then put the project "on hold" (and continued with my other projects).

Can you tell what a weed eater is? I'm very interested. Secondly, I have a similar propellor lying around here and I always assumed that it wouldn't be strong enough. Are you using it without any glass fibre / epoxy coverage?

[the cowboy]

Weed Eater is a product trade name for a landscaping tool also called a string trimmer. They work by spinning a length of replaceable nylon "string" fast enough to cut grass and weeds, hence the name Weed Eater. They are used to get close to items in a lawn or in areas that are inaccessible to larger mowers like steep hills.

[bertus52x11]

Thanks, I understand now.

[LeonArchiTesla]

yes...it's a kayak...NOT a pontoon boat but...the foam boat's not done yet so I just put the pedal assembly on my kayak...as it says you can in the instructable...and there you go! Video soon!