Custom made volkswagon powered 8x8 with sea doo pump

[Adondo]

I just found this thread. NICE machine!

As for water speed, you're going to find that 5 ~ 6 MPH is going to be a "brick wall" for maximum speed. You're dealing with a displacement hull, much like a sail boat or barge, in other words something that cannot get up and out on top of the water. (i.e. get up on plane) You can only push the water so fast, and adding power is just going to make a bigger wave, and take more fuel. There's probably no way to get it on plane with tires etc. and it would be horribly unstable if it did.

Boat owners who fish no doubt notice that same 5 or so MPH is max kicker motor speed, be it a 5 or 15 HP, you can't get more out of them. When the boat's down in the water, you just can't push them any faster. A 6x6 or 8x8 is the same way.

[chris davison]

Hey whats up guys? Ive been dealing with a lot of personal issues lately and have had no time or money to do the changes I wanted besides its 21 degrees outside and snow on the ground to cold to work outside in the shop. I have had a lot of time to think about the prop drive and Im going to try an arm with the prop on it that swings down by air cyl. rotating from the right side downward till the prop is about 3" below the hull and locks in place. The drive shaft will turn a cogbelt pully with the belt going down to the pully on the prop shaft this will be my last attempt to stay all mechanical drive for water travel. What do you guys think?

[chris davison]

actually Im looking at another route where the prop on an arm rotates downward into the water below the hull. but I have had a lot of house repairs lately and sold my camping trailer and bought another bigger one.

[mitchamus]

just thinking about your prop cavitation issue.

have you thought about creating a channel in the hull?

it made me thing of the prop on the DUKW. it might help/fix the cavitation problem.

[chris davison]

Thats where I sent my letter.

[rodp]

Ahh, I see. So, basically they're conmen, scammers, rip off merchants ? Had that scenario once with an almost new Range Rover, I just came away and contacted the factory. Two days later a letter from the dealer in question with an apology and full refund. I had to pay or not get the keys, and yes, I know I could have called the police but I hadn't got a week to wait while they turned up (if at all).

Contact the factory mate, they don't like their dealer bringing their name into disrepute.

[chris davison]

unfortunately thats not how it worked. I came to pick it up assuming it was done only after I paid the bill did they tell me it wasnt done yet and needed to work on it some more so another few days later I picked it up. Im in the process of complaining to John Deere corp. now. But you are right. I will pay with a credit card from now on so I have more options.

[rodp]

Just got back from my Calif. vacation. Shot a lot of amo. caught a lot of fish visited a lot of camp grounds and lakes on hwy 395.
Before I left my lawn mower craped out it has a 20 hp verticle BS 2 cyl V tech. I went as far as I had time for as I was preparing to go on Vac. the right cyl. missed real bad, I swapped coils, spark plugs, It had 150 lbs compression on each cyl. I went thru the carb, put on a new gas filter, cleaned and checked the gasline from the tank, put in new gas and ran out of time so I took it to John deere. I drove it up into my truck drove it out of the truck and into thier repair yard. $ 365.00 later it would not start and they had to tow it into my truck so I could take it home. 2 hrs later after I took the carb apart I had it running again and amazingly it had 150 lbs on the left cyl and 90 lbs on the right it ran like crap. Found a guy with the same motor in his mower but his rearend gear box was trash so I bought his 22 hp just serviced several years newer motor for $ 150.00 runs like a champ.

They charged you $365 to NOT get it running ??? And you paid it ??

[chris davison]

Just got back from my Calif. vacation. Shot a lot of amo. caught a lot of fish visited a lot of camp grounds and lakes on hwy 395.
Before I left my lawn mower craped out it has a 20 hp verticle BS 2 cyl V tech. I went as far as I had time for as I was preparing to go on Vac. the right cyl. missed real bad, I swapped coils, spark plugs, It had 150 lbs compression on each cyl. I went thru the carb, put on a new gas filter, cleaned and checked the gasline from the tank, put in new gas and ran out of time so I took it to John deere. I drove it up into my truck drove it out of the truck and into thier repair yard. $ 365.00 later it would not start and they had to tow it into my truck so I could take it home. 2 hrs later after I took the carb apart I had it running again and amazingly it had 150 lbs on the left cyl and 90 lbs on the right it ran like crap. Found a guy with the same motor in his mower but his rearend gear box was trash so I bought his 22 hp just serviced several years newer motor for $ 150.00 runs like a champ.

[chris davison]

Nothing new on walley as I am preparing for a vac. trip to Calif. for 2 weeks fishing and camping.

[chris davison]

The clutch sys. works good and I'm going to test with a 1.8 over drive but I'm am slowly being converted to a hyd. drive sys. at least in my mind. it will take no rudder as i can turn the hyd motor to point the prop in about 130 degrees rearward and can raise it up also say 16" or 24" depending on the stroke of the hyd cyl I buy. I already have the pump and the control valve and the tank this also solves the reverse problem. I wont get the full 53 hp of my motor to the hyd motor but anything more than what is needed to reach fixed hull speed is just a waste any way. What do you guys think?

[chris davison]

Sorry the wife was in Kansas and I was alone.

[kelvin]

awsome job i hope you filmed it because i carnt wait to see it

[chris davison]

Took walley out today for some fun drove into the river 18" deep in 2nd gear going 13 mph wow what a splash and kept on going shooting water into the air. then drove on a gravel road about 20 mph and as i jerked the steering wheel it swerved sideways for 10 feet it would do it in either direction then I climbed up a long dirt road that was steep in 2nd going about 18mph it did it easily and steered great the road was not used very much and had 2 feet tall weeds in the center I could feel them rubbing on the bottom of the hull comming down i needed no brakes I just down shifted to 2nd and feathered the gas. This thing controls so good At high speed it steers like a car on gravel at low speed it turns on a dime. I just wish it had suspention.

[chris davison]

OK first test with prop. It did 2mph but couldnt keep it in a strait line it vered left real bad dont know why. It threw water 5' in the air behind me and I spun it very easly so I can over drive it. no rudder yet but I'm thinking about it. It is barely submerged but hangs 5" below the hull and as I was in the river it broke a blade. Should have waited for the lake test. It seems I need a 12" prop 19 pitch over driven with a 13" tube around the prop with a rudder.

sorry having a lot of computer problems locking up and really slow.