Creating an hybrid aquascooter

Hi, i'm from Italy and i'm a design student. I'm building a 3D Model of an hybrid aquascooter, i mean that it's both for sea and ground. For now i'm creating a prototype of this vehicle but i need more informations and tips about the materials to use and its functioning. Thank you very much for your help.

https://unofficialnetworks.com/wp-c...creen-Shot-2022-06-07-at-7.30.58-AM.jpg?w=640

https://gibbsamphibians.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/quad3-1.jpg
https://gibbsamphibians.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/quad9-1.jpg

 

Is this a college project that you have been assigned, to design and build a hybrid aquascooter?
It looks like you are using this Quadski as a reference basis -
Quadski - Gibbs Amphibians https://gibbsamphibians.com/platform/quadski/

Re your 3-D model, is it full size?
Re information about materials to use, do you mean for the construction for the hull / body shell - I am guessing probably in fibreglass?
Do you have to design all the mechanical engineering aspects as well, such as how the wheels fold up when the scooter is in aqua mode?

I don't think I would want to use one of these scooters in salt water - I think the salt would play havoc with all the components that are immersed in it, even if they are subjected to a good wash down after every use.

 

Yes, it is for a project! I could make it in fiberglass but also print a first model in 3D for testing it. I don't have much information about internal mechanics and engines and i hope you'll help me on this regard.
Also yes, i'm obliged to use in salt water because the vehicle is thought for saving people at sea. I'm glad you asked: the wheels go up and are closed/incorporated inside the body shell of the aquascooter, due to havoc the salt. Thanks for you interest!

 

There are some sketches for the aquascooter initially imagined. I will post also new sketches

 

Looks terribly inefficient.
Make the entire hull a single hover-pocket with a single fan.
Another fan for forward thrust and directional control.
Have you ever driven one?

 

No never driven one. Anyway there aren't fans but wheels for ground

 

Hi holocope, it's an interesting project, been done before so copy what works as much as you can get away with, and using what you have on hand to use. If it's a jet drive, source a small jet unit, maybe off an old or written off jetski type machine; find a light 2 stroke engine, water cooled - you can marinise it, or air cooled in a waterproof box cooled by fans, see floating volkswagon beetles. Driving the wheels and alternatively the water propulsion with the same motor will be the most difficult and technical thing I think. Or run 2 motors to keep it simple. Centrifugal clutches and variable cone drives will fail in water, so a gearbox for land use will probably be best there. Hydraulic drives are very expensive but versatile. Or maybe sealed electric motors and battery powered. With the basics laid out full size and somewhat operational, then design your chassis and hull and everything else around your physical power and drive systems. Folding wheel suspension is a geometrical nightmare on its own, copy that and put big round hubcaps or woks over the wheels; mobility scooter steering column pushing cable steering. V belts will slip in water, so use toothed belts if you have to run belts. As you build it, ensure you can get to all parts to adjust and repair fairly easily, or you will forever be opening it up, and closing it up when many little things go wrong. And they will, on a student project budget. Good luck. Get back to us and show photos of your build, however it goes, good or bad.

 

Thanks for your tips, seasquirts. I'm going to apply what you've told me, confronting my teacher before.

 

I never like the side-tilt wheels Amphib concept, although it seems to be the dominate layout.
Here is my rough concept for a Amphib inline 2 wheeled motorcycle/PWC mash-up. zzzzz | Boat Design Net https://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/zzzzz.20302/ I guess there would need to be some pretty fancy work to keep the rear wheel in the center and have the jet (at least outlets) on either side. Maybe use two small JetSki units in a larger PWC hull? Maybe some Printed Metal manifolds somewhere? IDK.

The idea would be for a yacht to shore vehicle of small footprint but still able to get through surf and town traffic, with the major bonus that on land its legally a MOTORCYCLE and its IIRC much, much easier to get a homemade motorcycle "street legal" with tags, lic plate etc.

I guess MAYBE it could be a tree-wheeler (trikes under certain generous weight limits are still legally motorcycles) with two rear wheels on swing-arms. Since it wouldn't be for motorsports, having only one rear wheel driven would be acceptable. Many motorcycles have belt final drive which should be OK for water. Three wheels with some means to lock both swing-arms together might be the way to go because if its two wheeled motorcycle layout you'd need some way to balance when stopped since you wouldn't be able to put foot on ground from a PWC hull (but maybe could from JetSki).