Yes it did beat a record, how quick the miss's can yell at me for going over budget of $300.
Original concept, some parts of the bird sanctuary has a water depth of 8 inches with logs. The sanctuary only allows HPB's. My neighbor that is wheelchair bound loves those birds; hence we tried for something very stable, holds 800 pounds, wheel chair accessable and inexpensive.
Speed was not the intention, but I should have thought of what energy it will take to move. Where as, the chain kept slipping off the sprocket of the paddle wheel due to water saturation. Hereby, I was told by my wife, "You will not put one more second or dollar into that thing, unless you know it will work, like you promised!".
All in all, Skeeter is resting in dry dock, until the propulsion can be corrected. Oddly, the dry weight of raft alone is 80 pounds and it holds the 800 pounds with more to add before it sinks bellow (8 inches) 1/2 inner tube.
Please keep in mind, this project is more like "Huck Finn" hands on working, as compared to the scientific Da Vinci method. Truly, if I can see it, it can be built, but I can not tell you how it works with any level of intelligence.
I am not so sure you meant "level of intelligence". There are so many different types of intelligence. It takes me forever to understand some (ok, most) of the math that rolls out of Rick so easily...but I can out build just about anyone I know as far as strength, quality, finish, durability etc. It seems to me that your goal was noble and that you had budget constraints and still managed a boat with spirit that you built yourself. It has personality to spare which is a huge plus to me. Your Huckleberry Finn analogy was spot on because the first thing I though of was 'Two Fathoms--safe water".
I like it. Hope you finish it.
We did strive for originality, lite weight, and afford ability. We started with my 14 foot Sears John boat and installed the draw-bridge, paddle wheels bilaterally, and attempted twisted chain propeller propulsion, but they were cumbersome for loading and launching. Hence we came up with Skeeter from some 1955 Handy-Man catalog. Further more, I liked the frame style for adaptation towards pontoons, if the paddle wheel concept worked out.
