weed eater on canoe

[alloffroad]

I have this thought that a gas powered weed eater fitted with a prop and mounted on a canoe would be fast and fun and cheap. Has anybody ever done or seen this?

 

[arks]

Re: weed eater on canoe

Won't work. Not enough torque to swing a prop large enough to move even a small canoe with 1 person aboard very briskly. Taks a look at this video. Stay with it, the wife's dialogue is too funny.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g83516KqQt8

Those "Go Devils" and "Mud Buddys" are basically what you're thinking, but on a much larger scale- I think the smallest motors are like 20 HP. Here's a short video clip of them in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qimjHKRU7Ns

The weedwacker motors do work very well in R/C boats, though! I've got 2 of 'em. Not mine, but similar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yzCTWUsknY&mode=related&search=

 

[bjcsc]

Re: weed eater on canoe

Every time I watch a documentary and they go through third world river communities I see those, but they're longer than weedeaters. I can't remember what show it was but I saw several - they were the driveline of choice...

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: weed eater on canoe

Maybe a cordless drill would work better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOTwJRnmrTY&mode=related&search=​

 

[bassboy1]

Re: weed eater on canoe

hey ark, were you to choose the right one, I bet it would work. Ya see, the one that the feller in your clip had, was a cable driven one. The shaft is a curved on, so there is a cable that drives it. This just doesn't have much strength, or gusto. On the other hand, the straight shaft ones have a steel shaft that drives them, and these don't slip. Our STIHL weedeater has the straight shaft, and it has some pretty heavy implements. One is a 10 inch blade, that is used to cut trees up to 4 inches in diameter. (well 8 if you hit it from both sides) And it works well for that too. I have no doubt that it could spin the same prop as say a 2 or 3 horse evinrude. Or at least a large trolling motor prop if nothing else.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: weed eater on canoe

the shaft is not going to last long in the water. 1st time might be fine. but after it rusts up inside, could be hard to start.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: weed eater on canoe

Guy with the drill has potential!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: weed eater on canoe

okay how about a gas powered leaf blower?

hillbilly-redneck jet drive?

 

[Pony]

Re: weed eater on canoe

Wimperdink made one. Used a trolling motor prop on a weed whacker. He said the clutch was smoking and his top speed against a mild wind was 2.8 mph in a 12ft tinny.​

 

[arks]

Re: weed eater on canoe

hey ark, were you to choose the right one, I bet it would work.... I have no doubt that it could spin the same prop as say a 2 or 3 horse evinrude. Or at least a large trolling motor prop if nothing else.

That guy in the video used a big trolling motor prop similar to wimperdink's. It's very visible at the end of the clip.
I'm tellin' ya, a 25 or 30cc motor will NEVER plane a boat that weighs over 100 pounds with an occupant. It's all about cubic inches and torque versus weight. With a big prop attached, a weedeater motor will bog down as soon as the prop attempts to get a good bite on the water. As in the video, it WILL move the boat, but planing is out of the question. I'd think blowers have basically the same size motor but I could be wrong.
OTOH, maybe a big chainsaw motor would work....

 

[steelespike]

Re: weed eater on canoe

A canoe is not designed to go fast.It's design moves efficiently at displacement speeds about 6 mph max.
by the way a CruiseNcarry 6700 developes 2.7 hp at 8,000 rpm from 41.5 cc.
2.5 cu in.