river boat progress

I have posted some bits and pieces here, and my riverboat project progresses with some direction gained here. The pontoons are finished, connected, and the deck finished. The landing ramp is finishes and working. The diesel power unit (a/c power) is installed below in the port pontoon and hydraulic lifted for operation. The fore and aft thruster tunnels are finished. All chambers are cleaned, painted in white eurethane with decking installed below. The wheel house riser is finished and the wheelhouse is being framed as I write this. The engine has the transmission assembled, and two custom made props (wheels?) are received.

I just didn't want to be relegated to the pile of dreamers that do nothing else. This one is real, but has yet to float.

I want to thank the brothers here that have provided guidence.

This continues and hopes to launch in spring 2013

Ryland

 

Hi Ryland,
I was looking at your website yesterday, and reading your stern wheel thread this morning. Can you remind us about the propulsion system?
Good to hear it is coming along.
Any chance of a few pics?
Best Wishes,
Adam

 

drive method

Thanks for the interest.

I am building a long-tail drive with a Cat diesel, She has a 22 inch prop and will make 8.5 knots top speed, 5 knots at approx 2.5 gallons/hour. We weighed her last week, at 52k lbs she has a 26" draft


Ryland

 

progress photos

I have new photos of the vessel in progress. Gosh, I hope this works.

Ryland

 

Looks Great!!!! How far aft are you going to mount the 16" guns?

 

.30 cal

I have an electric ring turret system with remote joy-stick and heads-up display. It is currently fitted with a Browning Type 1919a4, solenoid fired full auto .30 cal (30.06). This is the prototype of a former production item and sits here with no cost. So, the little voices might convince me to build an attach point for this system on the vessel. State law forbids rifle fire over open water, so underway drill/practice would not be possible. To operate the weapon system, the vessel would have to be docked, moored, or secured in such a way that the trajectory of fire would not cross open water.

Ryland

 

Interesting project. And a great shot of the dog, too.

 

Ryland

Well done....good luck.

Only comments I would have would be that, even though you're estimating 8 knots, the bows look too bluff. Making a finer angle of entry, rather than the rounded shape you have would produce less spray. Also, have a spray rail running from the bow to a few metres aft.

 

Yeah!

 

If you can't fire over open water, have you considered torpedoes?

 

Go ahead and laugh

My license is a Type 7 FFl/ SOT Which permits us to manufacture, own, operate, buy, sell and trade machine guns, which we do.

A type 10 FFL is required to manufacture torpedoes (Destructive device), but it can be done.

That time and money is already committed to building this vessel.

She will be armed, but that will be an exercise in simplicity using weapons on hand. And I'm about done with the military arms trade. It's led to some excellent adventures and moderate profit, but the pain-in-the-*** factor is becoming more than I want to deal with.

Anyway, this is about building a boat.

Ryland

 

I was just kidding, but the boat is looking great.

 

Big project
question - what will the boat be used for
is it intended for some kind of police work ??

 

No, this vessel is for my amusement, only. I happen to be in the arms business, so I'm naturally compelled to mount a deck piece of some sort.

Ryland

 

Are you going with untapered pontoon ends like in the photo?