Scratch Built Scale Pontoon Rescue Boat

[sammyha]

When I started this build, my original idea was to use thin wall PVC pipe to build a simple pontoon style frame with an electric outboard on it for a rescue boat. By not framing the front third on the pontoon tubes, it would capture the downed boat to rescue it.

I was picturing a quick, simple build with the good steering an outboard offers. Forward and reverse.

I had the outboard motor and ESC, and it would be a good match for this application with the right prop and a 3s lipo battery.

So I purchased the PVC pipe and some structural aluminum from the local hardware store. Ordered some blind rivets to attach the u-channel frame I was picturing in my mind to the tubes. Be waterproof.

At some point in the build I started thinking, why not make it a scale pontoon boat too? Make it look nice, not just have an ugly, exposed aluminum frame on a couple of PVC tubes...

And that was three years ago looking at the dates on the pictures I took of the project.

I'm not sure how I got here, but it's not the first time this has happened. The ideas kept coming, the one thing led to another, and this is what I built...



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[sammyha]

The build became so involved, I didn't post anything. Mostly because I knew it would take a long time to finish. I also had my doubts on how it would turn out.

It came out nice enough, it runs better than I could have hoped for, and it's done!

I'll be posting some more info on this build, it sure was a fun one, and maybe some of the ideas I worked out on it will be useful to someone else...

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[sammyha]

This is my first time working with styrene. I love this stuff! If you can imagine it, you can build it with styrene.

Here's the console and the captain's chair...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/15a48b0bfcd287063f58992d8d81fd09.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/3af0327205f8d12b305e30b36a977c5d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/dc7037788edf6005f9f84ece746c8048.jpg

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[sammyha]

For this entire build, I searched the internet for pontoon boats and their features, and did screenshots on my phone. I had no plans, this is LAR engineering all the way.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/06b263a7cf529f3dcbc8fef3a0c74e71.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/c83c75cdc4fe43213a79da0ba10829e7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/69f367107ea3e4a6c8e02db36877df7a.jpg

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[sammyha]

I relied on the pictures for scale mostly, then changed things to suit me and to match my build.

Here's some detail shots of the console components...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/b167303540e51739f72f498d0d90de79.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/bddecc875d3a986ef2f00124a1cb946d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/dc10b0d2113b3f63cf4e3deae9279507.jpg

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[sammyha]

The wheel is made from a bamboo skewer, steamed for two plus hours to form it. The rest of the steering wheel and column, and the Mercury shifter control is made from styrene. I glued layers together, and sawed, sanded and carved the styrene to shape. Then primed and spray painted it, and hand painted the details with a small brush.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220830/d41d751ebd90d04d0701c9a82fa6fd46.jpg

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[fweasel]

Amazing.

[sammyha]

Amazing.Thank you
It's both a gift and a curse I think, to build like this. On this build, if I thought of an idea, I built it. I didn't settle for less. I can't tell you how many hours this took...

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[sammyha]

How does it run?

Long story...

Like I said in my first post, initially I was only going to build a pontoon style rescue boat, just the frame and tubes with an outboard motor. Framed two thirds of the way from the back, with the front third of the tubes swallowing the boat needing rescued.

The length I needed the front third to be determined the OAL.

When I turned it into a scale boat, I never considered how much a 53" boat would weigh. Before I had the interior and all the scale details done, the outboard I started with would barely bring it on plane.

In for dime, in for a dollar!

Or toss it in the dumpster...

Or, buy a bigger outboard motor!

Here's a link to the running video, minus the interior seats, but with the receiver, ESC, 5,000mAh 6s lipo, deck, sides, bimini top and the linkages that converts it into a rescue boat (I'll show them in another post)

Let's just say OSE's 1/5 scale outboard motor is a BEAST!

https://youtu.be/axrJH2cnAxw


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[sammyha]

OSE's 1/5 Scale Outboard is rated for a 3,000 watt system. That's a 5692 brushless motor, either 540kv or 730kv, running on 10s!

I'm guessing my setup is about 2,000 watts (someone else do the math), with a TFL 4092, 1400kv on 6s in there. Running on a Hobbywing Seaking 180 amp ESC. It barely gets warm.

I'm telling you if you don't already know, this outboard is for real!

Anyway, I had started this build with the Scale Seven outboard, made an oversize cowling for it, stuffed a Leopard 3660, 2050kv motor in that. Ran it on 6s, it barely planed.

Here's a picture of the Scale Seven with the oversize cowling. I have a thread about it somewhere on this forum. My plan is to build the Zippkits G30 Tunnel hull this winter for it. It's too sexy to not use...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/07cfd101fb89113044ec7e7fbdfea5f3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/0115bd98b88fa6ecd5360b951cf3d5e0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/03cbb12ba7c460d6c44d945697b3cead.jpg

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[sammyha]

Have I said I don't even like pontoon boats yet?

I call them tweeners. Kind of like a runabout boat with a car motor and an IO drive. Not a speed boat, not a fishing boat, or a ski boat. Just somewhere in between.

I suppose a pontoon boat is perfect for a barbeque and a get together...

So why build one? And put this much scale detail on it?

It was an idea that I had for it to convert into a rescue boat. Like a transformer. Lol. And then after awhile I was too committed to stop.

Here's some pics and links to videos showing the rescue aspect...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/7e6b0ab2c88ed87f657100886aecf6f2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/398bdcf3685de51e98f6264ed05e3cc3.jpg

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[sammyha]

The front deck raises, a foam padded bumper drops down and it drives over the downed boat until it engages the bumper.

Cool?

It was a stupid amount of designing and fabricating! Took me three tries to get it right.

But I figured it out.

And at that point I was too committed to stop the build...

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[sammyha]

Link to video showing deck linkage...

https://youtu.be/qvITj8-HYoQ

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[Diegoboy]

Amazing boat. Nice work!

[sammyha]

This shows it working on the finished boat. Note the foam bumper lowering as the front deck goes up..

https://youtu.be/BaRkJVsIZtI

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[sammyha]

Amazing boat. Nice work!Thank you very much. I'll be uploading a bunch of info on the build little by little. It's done, and I'm sharing it so others can maybe enjoy it and/ or just check it out...

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[sammyha]

All said, there are several design challenges involved here. As scissor linkages go up, their pivot points can't be fixed. The horizontal distance shortens.

Note the idler link on the bottom and the ball bearing engaged in the C-channel on top. I don't think two idler links would work. The deck would flop around, right?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/1414c365c690c6aa5d9334fe17f8e6f4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/b371c99ae21d75349de0e34ff38c2cd4.jpg

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[sammyha]

The aluminum arm extending towards the back goes down as the deck raises, and that lowers the bumper. But it didn't have enough travel.

So I came up with the extra link that connects to the bumper and gained more travel because of the longer moment arm where it is contacting that back arm as it goes down.

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[sammyha]

In all four corners of the deck that raises I made these aluminum parts that engage with each other and align/ lock the deck precisely in location when it comes down. By design they engage on tapered angles in both directions at the same time...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/521a0f93cbb1e4ff56183714ba4f3e20.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/11a67203dcfb320f928390dec49df82b.jpg

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[sammyha]

I'm using a pair of 444 in/oz. Savox servos to raise the deck. That requires a stand alone BEC to truly get that much torque. A Castle Creations 15 amp BEC does the job.

More importantly was designing the servo linkages and bellcranks so the load comes off the servos in the raised position.

Note in the raised position the servo arms are 180 degrees from the linkage (pointing straight back) and the bellcrank arms are almost pointing straight up.

And the bellcrank design had to get enough travel...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/dfb23284beb2fb7afe55a705ccd96d5f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/cf616ea952a5bedcf78e4c6e419d39c1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/3fc4a2f9abf593dc79bbd94ae45d2a59.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/707610c27d96bbb6df1e63968624ab01.jpg

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[sammyha]

Anyway, that's what I meant when I said it was a stupid amount of design and fabricating to make this idea work.

When I got to this point I was finally ready to build the transom and mount the decks...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/3a2bde5682ad8537b99ec29f4ceac751.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/9c4308d801cb588c71791c32e6e3ee33.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/e7fb593f03d8f8bf9e9a375c5e6d196d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/7808798d87949c13c98f500e93151e22.jpg

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[sammyha]

And I haven't mentioned building the tubes yet...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/1d2e197768e3a563b639c10b664b7352.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/ce9416f03f628453915cba81b0c57765.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/d5ef98821315359d04471439acf097ad.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/152ccaaeb7945141e0deddd16c1a0414.jpg

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[sammyha]

I used self tapping screws into the PVC pipe during the design/ build phase. These screws were smaller than the blind end/ waterproof rivets I used for final assembly.

Then I took everything apart to paint the tubes. Used the Preval spray system and Klass Kote aluminum color epoxy paint.

And finally assembled it all back together again using blind rivets. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/24263fde5dca17d8644569344c62ef7b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/d78eb89545f12c0d06b0eaf816bd9a11.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/1e82797092908e770aea1fc87c34afe2.jpg

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[sammyha]

The decks are made from 5mm Revolution plywood. It's a nice tight, straight grain ply used for flooring underlayment.

I drilled lightening holes in the front deck and sealed the plywood completely with polyurethane.

For the flooring, I found the material at Walmart in the sewing section, $3.99 a yard. Layed it down with contact cement.

Then built the side walls over that using aluminum fascia...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/ddf556d6e973bb391955c12cded17fe3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/a587d9898b8c94a2861e2af874ee81b8.jpg

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[sammyha]

It was about at this point in the build I decided to not throw it all in the dumpster because it had become too heavy for my little outboard.

I purchased and tested the 1/5 scale outboard and was blown away with how it performed!

So now it was game on, immerse yourself in the scale details.

I built the bimini top first...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/d58da0a2f22603d06bc7d0574b007ab1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/a55544ab1d3da735da76afc994769e49.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/0dcf82a710d423add2178688a6a3eebf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/63c37addac023cd992323fec36d50b7e.jpg

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[Panchothedog]

Your build is really nice. Actually over the top. I bet the amount of hours you have invested in it is quite high. Very realistic, can't complement your work enough.

[autolex]

my god this is cool. more pictures please!

[sammyha]

Your build is really nice. Actually over the top. I bet the amount of hours you have invested in it is quite high. Very realistic, can't complement your work enough.Thank you.
I have no real idea of how many hours this took. My guess would be somewhere between 500 and 1000 hours. Besides the outboard motor, everything is scratch built...

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[sammyha]

my god this is cool. more pictures please!Thank you so much. I will be posting more for sure...

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[sammyha]

Here's a bit more on the bimini top.

Like for the flooring, I bought the material at Walmart, in the sewing section. In all I spent $35, a yard of material each for the floor, the bimini top and the two colors on the seats.

There's no stitching on this, or the furniture. I used E6000, stretched it over the frame and spread the glue on a 1/2" of overlapped material with my finger.

It even has the pockets around the middle rods so they spread out properly when you set up the bimini top. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/5291beda17885ca0870bd53033463444.jpg

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[sammyha]

I turned these plastic pins on my lathe, drilled them for small body clips and tied them with fishing line so I can't drop and lose them. It's faster to setup the top than using screws and nylok nuts too...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/708e01b223fe0a5f7c480b8b061613f6.jpg

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[sammyha]

A word on E6000. I was using so much for this build, I started to worry about the weight. I did a test and found out it loses 70% of it's weight after it dries.

I put exactly one gram on my mini scale and checked it 24 hours later...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/fc4291d0bab43f5b322571b3f38ccd01.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/9047c6b5b4b6ec663ad7058638c93b45.jpg

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[sammyha]

I built the captain's chair after the console. Wrapped the material around the foam seat pads and glued it down with E6000.

Everywhere you see seams, that's separate pieces of foam wrapped with material. Then glued it all together. Yup, with E6000...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/5e3f00d6b174ba179898c3abc8970944.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/e3f1c62a68eaf260977afd672774709e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/8c8ec3c41529e8e83780a225a0ea38cb.jpg

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[sammyha]

Made the seat base adjustable too. A bit tricky to figure out. Made up the seat adjustment handle and it loosens and tightens the near side to the inner rail.

For the seat adjustment handle, I dremmeled a groove in the screw head, super glued in a piece of wire, glued a plastic cap over the wire and the head of the screw, and glued a hand carved plastic knob on the end of the wire. Tedious work..

The square styrene nuts can't spin being they are next to the rails, the screws are self tapping.

The other side is just tightened snug enough so it will slide but not rattle around. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/da78f779a630408b76f321703cd13a8c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/5b1852e44e588fa5c24cf55ffe75d7a0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/2e769884875c4933e0ec115955b0e449.jpg

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[sammyha]

Next I built the seat with the backrest that can be switched so you can sit looking back too.

Had to cover the servos that actuate the front deck, and also figure out how long to build the back couches. The other servo is under the console... https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/018b466aa79813c2a2248eeaee3016fa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/5edd5cd5d1e4ba6ba30b85ff9d7f12e8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/c0fc83f975ca92baa2dda77e940b342e.jpg

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[sammyha]

Here's some pics of that seat build, in random order. I inlaid a styrene frame in the seat back to screw the side brackets into.

In one picture I'm taping and clamping the foam while the E6000 cures, in the other picture I tape and clamped the covering material while it cures.

The bump stops for the backrest are pieces of black fuel tubing over the screws. The spacers on the sides of the seat back are servo grommets. I'll use anything I can find that works for scratch builds, lol.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/20b1d4346c0832b3de60f951f3fea8a5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/eace06980d89748b13597c996ab1f185.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/8424d832c0bba3b77e06ddfdbd4efbc8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/6f48ad46ee5cd483d567ce17ac0c1398.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/8a6cffa5c6cd374a888c9e825db4de94.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/61680d16a9b3a391fe6ea09f7dde94f6.jpg

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[sammyha]

More pics of that seat...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/274da11aa5d8c74acccfef405bdd12dd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/88b582dc6e2cc477af32764e97de3ed7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/3a80bd9e4f186a9afe629f6cfa898f54.jpg

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[sammyha]

Then I built couches for days!

That's cutting out the frame from styrene, gluing them together, sanding the corner radii, primer, paint, build the upholstery, glue it down, rivet the couch to the deck... rinse and repeat...

Here's some pics. The back L-shaped couches double as radio compartments...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/2e110e449955eeec65dda04f9f673baf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/c5c1cd66fd371fd507a4a97113632490.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/2447b0402dc344eeb4e71ac524791d05.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/8f545dd81a0ec4372e4a8ed983c7f89b.jpg

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[sammyha]

The back half of the boat interior finished...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/268cdee488c7443686217add478ac5dd.jpg

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[sammyha]

Some details on building the latches for making the seats removable to access the radio compartments.

Push the black buttons circled in red to remove the seat...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/3b9d29f571ec105d298182f8e8b1035e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/e2cd7c604d296805f83ea01207ca6521.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/67d5835e51bcc0d09c3f80c8429fe329.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/50e8a350385be19827adefc75292da31.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/dd1bbd8449ddcb57b69d06847a4c3ea1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/effdabd41dd1df05e0c763d500f6f416.jpg

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[sammyha]

For awhile there it felt like I been building boat furniture my entire adult life. There's a LOT of furniture in a pontoon boat.

Some shots of building the front couches and armrests, with built in cup holders...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/1b779a96925d249245044c988231b8ec.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/f335bed610927f9ba5011a4b5f345aa2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/72b4b9856f3ce569b0a37f5560d1d8d5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/94b5dc011cec963ee73ec5b09a64f10f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/4cd006488d990c244499df5042b298d8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/d2ba806aeab5c936d4816af4d07a1f44.jpg

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[sammyha]

Eventually if you stay with it you'll get it done...

I think these are some really cool shots.

Inspired by the screenshot I was using for making pontoon boat interiors.

It's also cool because I remembered to take these pics before I riveted them in the boat.

You can see where I made cutouts in the frames of the furniture to save weight on the front deck...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/62d2608ee89c08b1b0d92bc067173ec8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/036e40cdabcd4873915128444375f084.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/09f47877c6078d3dfa4e115e09d85c39.jpg

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[sammyha]

Here's an interesting bit of info I stumbled onto...

The servo on a pull- pull setup using push rods (but not cables), does not have to be fixed in place. The length of the push rods is a constant. The servo just cannot rock side to side.

When I mounted the steering servo for the smaller outboard motor, I made guide rails from black delrin so the servo can slide forward when the motor tilts up. Two layers, the bottom one is slightly thicker than the aluminum plate.

The fit to the guide rails must be close, no play side to side, and be able to slide freely forward and backward.

The servo is just mounted to the aluminum plate. Also the sides of the aluminum plate must be parallel.

The 1/5 scale outboard does not tilt, BUT, the extended mount allows for adjustment of the motor height. So it was no problem to adjust the motor height for tuning it at the reservoir. Without ever having to change the length of the pull- pull rods.

Pretty cool...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/7b3b9eef2f77f3efbbeedfdeaf963017.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/e6ae096f2b6eb6b2abf762854cbfef23.jpg

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[sammyha]

The motor mount on a pontoon boat has a leading angle plate on the bottom. To add some lift to the back of the boat I assume.

I made it so the height is adjustable. There's five holes on both sides under the screw the red arrow points to.

Set the transom too high and there's not enough down adjustment in the set back motor mount.

Set the transom too low and it blows a big hole in the water and the prop cavitates.

I did a fair amount of adjustments at the water to get it right. Got the transom height right first so there was clean water coming off it and the prop had a clean bite.

Then I played with the motor height and angle on the setback mount until the front of the boat wasn't running too wet or too loose.

It runs a bit like a catamaran, holds air underneath and lifts the boat. It actually runs strong enough that it got a little scary loose at one point...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/469fd13dcc24110ec9838509af236b17.jpg

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[sammyha]

Did you notice the wrinkle finish on the lower end paint?

Rustoleum's own clear coat was not compatible with their paint. But it cured nice and hard, and I kind of like how it looks now.

I was upset at first when it wrinkled, and used a different brand clear polyurethane on the cowling that did not wrinkle...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/195bbc1bc18ef2fb0c5f2b5fc5bf4341.jpg

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[sammyha]

Here's a couple shots of the bottom side...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/71c489d0b77beb551546b12059d2465d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/028df59bbda948f358429f356e129e90.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/6e462d52d6fb3c3822a6951181a56d9a.jpg

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[sammyha]

Onto some fun to build scale details.

The swim ladder is made from two sizes of K&S aluminum tubing.

And some junk.

I save weird stuff, like this battery box lid, for the material. I cut pieces out with the angle in them for the steps.

It folds and retracts...



https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/23db751cfcfc6b2751de0312ff4a43ee.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/1ae930e8e8a9e3fc5309882d1a482e1a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/4bb6a30c4dd85dd1a15bbfd2ca097548.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/308d48a667e0612f9ed668210cb08d31.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/92e81c57ea202dd48a197a973a3da057.jpg

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[sammyha]

Here's a nifty idea I think for the retractable section of the ladder.

I filed a groove on the inner piece of tubing. At just the right length to where there's about 3/8" engagement left inside when it extends. And to where it slides in to retract.

Then slid the tubing in and center punched the outer tubing in line with the groove.

Such a simple solution! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/a3a8af880107e5d6c25f476579c12fde.jpg

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[sammyha]

These clips are shaped from styrene. It snaps in place when it folds up...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/a512fcabd69d3f12c0620fb30c4496d3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/e9b7dffbd0d677062957f4064576dacd.jpg

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[sammyha]

The spacing on the steps are scale too.

No, I don't play with Barbie dolls. Not very often anyway, lol...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/74e5edc6bb3ec5709b34c8613dc5864e.jpg

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[sammyha]

Some random and fun pics I think.

I found it interesting that a few of my friends thought she should not be driving.

Really?

There's also a shot with her facing rearward in the passenger seat. It's a good look at the side brackets and bump stops for the backrest...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/6bec69c8805aabc3bc3cb5ad0834118a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/a74d41da70a7c9194a9b424e42ac60ca.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/15ed090e09bb26784b87428b0ccc6b1d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/116fd4fa097f30ba0644f3f4d3333b4c.jpg

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[sammyha]

The faux aluminum framework on the side walls was the last major scale detail in this build.

They're made from strips of 3/16"wide styrene. With a radius hand sanded on all four corners. Then primed and painted. Aluminum colored Rustoleum paint. Glued on with E6000.

I made 23 pieces total from a 1/8" x 12" x 24" piece of styrene sheet. The side walls measure 118" all the way around. For the top and bottom, and including the edges of the black stripe, I needed enough to wrap around the walls basically four times. Plus the vertical pieces.

I considered skipping the black stripe.

Less work.

But when I found the picture of the full size boat with the stripe, I knew I was in for a lot more work.

The black stripe pops, adds a little shape too...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/b74b0e4c5502ac32f3b1be6017f6b519.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/0f2fcdf324477df62b5542a6bbb3e68a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/f4285b368c3ec3cf7d3f0d18cc3a874d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/532d20c24045192fae07d0f9849082d1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220901/7dda38f8067f6ed3437b626db3ea1861.jpg

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[sammyha]

The framework adds so much depth to the look of the side walls...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/d4a869731479519963ce2d3ccd4227b8.jpg

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[sammyha]

Working doors!

Gotta do it, right?

I used nylon airplane hinges with steel pins. E6000 is amazing for bonding nylon to aluminum.

And hand carved the handles from 1/8" styrene with a pin to go thru the door.

Then glued together some styrene pieces on the inside for the latch to work. E6000 glues styrene amazingly well to aluminum too.

But for all the gluing of styrene to itself I used Same Stuff by Micro Mark. It melts the plastic together, very strong joints...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/5e3e6c430d38fff40e577e13da13acf0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/5f8e71a364301cc3f5156b03386eed57.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/08e52d23a30e18e9f775e70cf45978e1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/cd05442c3dcd6835782aa3c95d3896f4.jpg

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[sammyha]

I've also got a video on YouTube on this build.

There's another longer run at the 7:48 mark where it loosens up and goes pretty good, fwiw...

https://youtu.be/csHt6GQGkCc

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[sammyha]

An internet search tells me the CG should be at 60-65% back on a 1/1 pontoon boat.

I'm right on 64% now, exactly where it was when I ran it without the interior.

Might explain it feeling a bit loose, that plus the trim of the outboard and the power this beast cranks out.

I kinda like where it's at, and with a pontoon boat I'm not going out for a SAW run every time...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/52868aaaf17592655f8de938b1b340ff.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/3cfd4818ac6e435cf9dbdb5c09b31fbc.jpg

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[sammyha]

She did 32mph on GPS that day. Not too bad for a pontoon boat...

I float tested it with the interior, it sits about a 1/2" lower with the interior done. I gave it a quick snort, she jumped right up on plane just fine.

It was too windy to risk it here today, I'll get some more running vids soon...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/f3d2b11d9a300a05f42c53f2766f889d.jpg

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[sammyha]

Here's a shot of the foam bumper, it drops all the way down on the water with the deck raised.

I watched it coming in on plane, the bumper is not touching the water at all, it's way above it actually...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220831/7af351852706c7ed605ee2e486c6e672.jpg

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[sammyha]

I uploaded the second running video if you just want to watch that...

https://youtu.be/-ESI6viOTNM

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[Mike W]

So awesome thanks for sharing!! :rockon2:

[sammyha]

So awesome thanks for sharing!! :rockon2:Thank you. It was a fun build!

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[sammyha]

I've added the badging. It's a finishing touch that was missing to my eye and needs to be on a scale boat.

Jokingly I said the boat is like a transformer. It changes into a rescue boat.

Well, a chrysalis morphs into a Monarch butterfly...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220901/04f2fbb271c9f46c4b8f76a5a3e86e79.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220901/ab0eb96ed8cc26ba0a6aab8ad6c486f5.jpg

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[sammyha]

So I'm calling this boat Chrysalis. That's the model name.

I'm calling the boat brand Monarch. Built by Monarch Boats. Even sounds like the name of a boat manufacturer.

I know, maybe a bit of a reach, but it needed a name, lol...

Edit: I changed the badging slightly and uploaded new pictures in this post.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220904/c5538108b818dc58552e24550eb1ee75.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220904/5bd8c6d4b4cb7ae2377007d69472e38c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220904/3b6dfbad7a37e40cb220b02083adfac4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220904/fb7afbd2ee29e869e2742bdb62d40f20.jpg
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[sammyha]

I got the boat out a few times for some testing with the interior in it.

It took a couple of trips to get it right, it was mostly the transom height. I had to raise it up due to the weight of the interior which added 2.89 pounds.

I'm pretty happy with the overall performance.

And the dock handling is great.

The video of the finished boat running at White River Reservoir drops tomorrow, I'll post a link here when it does...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220905/fad27bdef6b2cd8f7fe2c766674acc50.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220905/053649690f2fdfc43abbc5026abb0d62.jpg

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[sammyha]

Here's the link to the running video of the finished boat...

https://youtu.be/NBX7iPvKsUk

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[Diegoboy]

I absolutely love it. Master craftsmanship on a very cool project.

[sammyha]

I absolutely love it. Master craftsmanship on a very cool project.Thank you very much. I really appreciate that...

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[sammyha]

I did a little more to the underside. To clean up the water splashing over the transom and spraying against the front of the outboard motor...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220910/b07e4f30c99efb5a9cad67c6849738fb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220910/25cd254b68c82fe1c9e9dae6339aaa2d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220910/3d84b908cc2dc529d60571c168c40ab1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220910/61132a56a691998184a3c5e56bcb4250.jpg

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[sammyha]

I got around to shooting a video of the rescue function...

https://youtu.be/YwKV_vLeRBc

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[Returntohome]

Brilliant, just read the whole post, you are a man after my own heart. I love the seats and the canopy.