motorcycle cataraft ferry

[spidennis]

I want to modify a class 4 white water cataraft to be a motorcycle ferry. I also want to power the craft using the rear wheel drive of the bike. Usually the frame is Al pipe, bent and using pipe fittings but I also heard of someone using pvc or abs pipe which I'm considering. Because this is a drop down floor I have a couple of stress points to strengthen, and i have to come up with a twisted chain drive of some sort to power my (surface?) prop. Yup, I looked all around and found nothing like what I'm trying to do ..... so I figure this is just the place to look for ideas, suggestions and comments. See more about what I'm planning here:
http://www.sandslave.com/2003wr250f/bikeferry/

[kach22i]

Somebody is going to steal your stuff while you are away.

How about something like a Hummercraft?

http://www.hoverclubofamerica.org/fo...=504&hl=hummer

You could call it a Motocraft.

[spidennis]

Hopefully my idea isn't as crazy as the hover/hummer thing ......

the forward half of the frame of the cataraft (holding the front wheel) will be the frame of my trailer and everything will load into the 18" x 2.5-3.0' floor space for transport to the next ferry point. still debating if this is going to be a one or two wheel trailer. the hitch will be on starboard side, the wheel(s) will be on the port. The rear wheel platform, very similar in design to the forward section will sit inside the forward section or on top of the forward section.

Everything packs up and gets towed behind my bike
front wheel platform
rear wheel platform
port tube
starboard tube
center length bike ramp
short loading/unloading ramp
2 oars/ push poles which is also rudder
rear wheel drive system and prop
cross braces?
spare tube for tire(s)

so far, my idea is remarkably similar to the single wheeled motorcycle trailers of yesteryear and today.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by spidennis

Everything packs up and gets towed behind my bike

That's a good idea, but the devil is in the details.

[spidennis]

Originally Posted by kach22i

That's a good idea, but the devil is in the details.

yup, caught up in the details ....
one wheel or two?
motorcycle tire, atv tire, golf tire?
and it has to be street legal of course
the frame I might model a 1:1 in abs or pvc pipe
then go to Al pipe (not tube) 1.5" sched 40?
bend or fittings? which fittings? there's a few ......
cost vs convience for parts ........
then there's the tubes, diameter? 17"? or 22"? hummm...
length? 10 -14' range ......
and how can I make all this fit together later
to be built up as a runabout with a transom and 25 hp 4 stroke?
It would be nice to have this boat be multi functional .....
I'm surrounded by water,
and it would make a killer dive platform!
Got some cool ideas for that .......
slanted bow plate drops down into the water
to be a swim up dive platform ......
now that would be really nice!
so the tubes would need to have a grommet rail
on each tube bow, say 2' worth? or so .......
ok, enough boat design for now,
time to get back to prep work for my enduro race sunday!

[kach22i]

Don't forget about operating in MUD.

[spidennis]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Don't forget about operating in MUD.

For the enduro or the ferry? Both of course!
...... and for this enduro,
I slaved to put on a pair of dunlop 773s
just for this race ....
and I'll put on new dot tires next week ....
my hands are takin' a beating!
got to get better at this tire changing thing .....

hope to use the ferry trailer tire (s)
to help launch the cataraft, if necessary ....
just another one of those "details"!

bike is ready, now to load up the jeep ....