Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

[Wimperdink]

Well I did a test launch of my half canoe with a trolling motor. I reached about 4 or 5 mph (guessing) I'll bring along the handheld gps for next launch so I can get an acurate reading. Its a 36 lb thrust trolling motor. The motor weighs 15 lbs, The deepcycle marine battery 50 lbs, and I am about 180... thats 245 lbs in this thing.. Its pretty unstable so I figure I'm going to need some outriggers on this thing. My misconception was that the trolling motor and battery was going to weigh way less than a 5hp outboard and gas.. but realistically the weight will come in close... Outboard - 56 lbs Gas 2 gal - ? Trolling motor and battery = 65 lbs. I'm thinking with some very bouyant outriggers and a 5 horse outboard, I should get better speed, bouyancy, and stability. Only benefit to the single trolling motor and battery is the ability to move the battery around for proper weight distribution. To those critiquing my work, Its a test project so I havent been practicing high quality craftsmanship nor using proper marine materials and I'm aware of it. <br /><br />BTW it felt way more stable when I left the motor straight and used a paddle like a rudder. Any technical explanations for that?<br />

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<br /><br />There are more pictures Here<br /><br />p.s. does it mean i'm moving slow when my wake threatens to pass me?

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

Dude, you're crazy! <br /><br />Just be safe.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

lol ever had a rush from going slow? watching a small wake almost capsize ya will do it.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

That's an interesting project... looks somewhat underpowered.<br /><br />How's this look? lol <br /><br />

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

I sure build a mean transom huh.. I am cracking up here... I want I want... that looks soooooo friggen funny<br /><br />Hey do me a favor and give me a tummy tuck and throw on a rooster tail hahaha

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

<br /><br />On a more serious note, you really should be careful about flipping over, especially with a 5hp motor on it. Get some outriggers on it before you go out for journey #2.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

outriggers are part of the plans... what a crackup.. that needs to be framed.

 

[i rowboat]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

....and here I thought you were just gonna end with one heck of a set of bookends....

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH!!<br /><br />AMD Rules, that's funny!

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

Wimperdink, what are you trying to accomplish?

 

[BF]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

reminds me of one of my crazier moments... I have a couple of 12' cartopper tinnies that are really small. They're no deeper than your canoe and only a couple inches wider at the stern. A 6 hp is about as much as they should have. When I first bought my 15 hp, I did some maintenance things on it, but didn't yet have a boat to put it on. I decided putting it on one of the little ones tied to the dock would be easier than setting up a garbage can to see how it idled etc. It ran so smooth I couldn't help taking it for a ride.... ran so nice at fast idle, that I took it to 1/2 throttle.... and you guessed it, gotta see how it ran on the top end. I was doing a bizzilion then I noticed that the bottom of the boat was dishing up and deformed (only about the last 2' touched the water) I decided I'd better call it a day.... it was way more exhilarating (and stupid) than running 55+ in my ski boat.<br /><br />The only time that boat went faster was when it was strapped on the roof of a car.... maybe.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

Originally posted by fishingdan:<br /> Wimperdink, what are you trying to accomplish?

ummmm does there have to be a designated accomplishment here? guess I'm just really bored lol. <br />BF thats awesome.. wish I could have been there to see that... anyone have any good ideas on making a good looking outrigger as I dont really feel like spending a lot of money for my "would have been fancy bookends" ? hehe might be stupid, might be crazy, might be foolish, and might be dangerous, but its not illegal and it wont hurt anyone else, and its just as fun as the illegal stuff. gotta keep it going see how fast I can make it go safely then tone it back about 95% and my kid will have a fun lil runabout for the coves.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

Would you give your kid a loaded 45 and tell him to go play?

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

no but i'd give him a loaded squirtgun to play with, if your wanting a comparison to a finished stable craft with a trolling motor which it would be before I turned it over to a kid. Any reason I cant stabilize it and make it go fast when i'm using it and make it slow when their using it? Oh and by the way... when my kid is old enough and mature enough i'd put him through hunter safety then take him to a range and give him a loaded 45 to play with yep. Did you wear a bicycle helmet when you were "solittle"?<br /><br />sorry I should have taken into consideration you may have missed this part "then tone it back about 95%"

 

[BF]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

If that's 1/2 a canoe... maybe join the other 1/2 together catamaran style? A bar or something joining the bows, and a board across joining the 2 transoms... you could even mount the motor in the center. <br /><br />Maybe you could market this thingy as a "can-do"... use it as a canoe, but you're also able to split it apart for individual his and hers "personal explorer craft", and also configure in catamaran style for cruisin'! All you need is a mast and an old sea snark sail and you'd have all the bases covered.<br /><br />BTW, the reason it felt more stable when you steered with a paddle is 'cause if you turn the motor, the thrust from the prop is acting sideways on the end of the lever (the motor shaft) and pushing the canoe in a rotating motion... That's why powered canoes are so easy to flip... if you turn the motor much, they don't have enough primary stability to keep from flipping.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

Its funny you should say that, making a catamaran was my original idea, I tossed it aside thinking it was too much work... I wanted to put the two side by side, then shave the sides off and glass them together and put some cross ribs in and a transom all the way across the back. then I figured way easier to just put a transom on the back of one half .. now I think your idea is the cats meow.. pin them together back to back for a full sized canoe... pull the pins when wife gets lippy. hahaha just gotta make sure the motor and battery are in my half. I saw a canoe sail when I was hunting stabilizers.. would be fun but I would almost need a fin sticking out the bottom so I dont get going sideways... more work yet. Still dreaming up a front facing steering mechanism that is inexpensive. Any hints?

 

[i rowboat]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

BF's got it! Looks like you already have enough transom height to bolt a 2x4 or 2x6 across to join both halves together; if you make a matching transom for the other bookend (err, other half ), and clamp them together, drill two holes port and starboard for 1/2 inch bolts,you have your canoe back; then line them up side by side with the amount of space you want between them, and drill four holes through the 2x, instant cat with the motor between them!<br />For a front joiner, I don't think there would be too much stress, maybe a large 'staple'or u shape made out of 2" pvc or 3/4" black pipe...just my 2 cents worth...

 

[thehermit]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

AMD,<br />I am in tears! LOL CLASSIC!

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

Already on the road to building outriggers... I'm thinking i'll make my outriggers about 4' long and make them stick out the back about a foot then do a thinner transom on the other half that I can hinge pin in place if I have someone that wants to go for a ride. gonna start lookin like someone tipped over an outhouse and stuck a motor on it if I keep going here. wife already agreed to buy another canoe cause i dont think she'll be caught dead in this contraption.<br /><br />Let this be a lesson to all... if wife likes boating or canoeing and wont let ya buy a new one... cut the old one in half and make it into something wild so she'll ok the new one. hahaha

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Canoe in two Project launched (pics)

You might want to look into registration.. In WI it needs to be registered if it has a gas or electric motor.<br /><br />Other than that, looks like a fun project, something I'd like to do if I had the time. Maybe pvc plumbing pipe would work for outriggers? Usually you need just one, the boyency keeps you from rolling one way and the weight of it keeps you from rolling the other way.<br /><br />Keep it below planing speeds, there are no chines on a canoe, that's why it wants to roll. Maybe you could beat the stern into a square shape???