Building an Aluma-Jet

[cyclops]

Thanks PSG-1. Everybody please remember. Reefs and rock shoals are death to all types of prop drives lower than the hull bottom. Sand and mud or muck bottoms will destroy all COMMON built jet drives and possibly you if you eject in a turn with a channel marker pole in front of you. Very shallow running is definately asking for it to happen. Go slow in shallow.

[cyclops]

PSG-1. Chain couplings can run that fast. They are used in racing Hydros. A mini scatter shield is a very good idea for the rare times they let go completly because no one saw the first of the 3 links opening.

[tom kane]

Sounds like you are doing well and I am looking forward to new pictures.have a look at new image in photo gallery,Aircraft Technology it may give you some ideas.

[tom kane]

Originally Posted by cyclops

Thanks PSG-1. Everybody please remember. Reefs and rock shoals are death to all types of prop drives lower than the hull bottom. Sand and mud or muck bottoms will destroy all COMMON built jet drives and possibly you if you eject in a turn with a channel marker pole in front of you. Very shallow running is definately asking for it to happen. Go slow in shallow.

Awful things happen with jet units too running in shallows.a blown jet.

[Pdouda]

Your boat is looking good. Mine is still in it's infancy. I just made the cut for the bottom intake. I am planing on using the fiberglass shell from the waverunner. I am currently refiberglassing the intake to make it square and flat. I am planning on welding in 1-1/2" aluminum angle around the cut out. Then epoxying the fiberglass intake onto the angle. With a good amount of bolts as well. Hopefully it will work. I was going to use foam tape to seal it off, but I think the epoxy will do better. I am going to use 3M DP-190. It says it is flexible, hopefully it will be able to handle the different expansions of the materials. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I will need to post or email some pics.

I finally got my boat registered. Turns out it is a 1950 jon boat. Pretty old...

[tom kane]

A drive as in the image is great for shallow water,but with a smaller and more protection around the prop.In a flat bottom or pod or tunnel gives good steering and directional control.The outboard motor can be fitted on a swiveling mounting,air strut or spring loaded that lifts the motor straight up and down when going into shallows.The thrust of the propeller keeps the outboard against the back of the boat until the loss of thrust allows the outboard to swing back and up,and you can use an inboard/outboard the same way..the next best thing for shallow operation is a cushion craft or air boat,but they have drawbacks.Diagram is an indication only.

[astro150]

after 2 years i finally finished my jet boat project. you can call it a vacume if you want . i challenge anyone to follow me with an outboard prop job. i can get on top in 6'' of water an run in 1.5-2''of water and it handles like a dream.

[tom kane]

Looks like a great job to me,and nice to see a finished project on this web site.It looks like you are in for some fun.Congratulations....

[astro150]

thanks tom.not meaning to brag but the boat has exceeded all my expectations. the river i built the boat to run in is all but dried up an i can navigate it without any problem.the stick steering works great along with a trigger style throttle.