Interesting Air Rigger

[Meniscus]

It's always fun to see what the air boat guys are up to:

[srislash]

That is so cool.Is that an actual rudder hanging back there?

[siberianhusky]

Awesome! reminds me of some of the old tether boats.

[keithbradley]

There was a guy who posted vids of an air rigger (electric though) here maybe a year or two ago. It was pretty fast, like 70+...anyone else remember that or have a link to the vids?

[Boaterguy]

I was on an airboat forum a while ago, went to it and found this, pretty funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ztfm...&feature=feedu
edit: found it! is this what you meant? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhbau...eature=related

[martin]

Ive run tether hydros (ic glow motors)for more than 40 years in waterscrew class & airscrew, the airscrew class which is limited to .15 or 2.5cc engines have done over 170mph. Martin.

[Boaterguy]

tether hydros go in circles around a central point?
i always thought they pulled on a rope to go forward.

[martin]

Not sure what you mean. Pulled on a rope to go foward. Martin.

[Boaterguy]

ie. there is a rope anchored at one end of the pond.
your hydro is at the other end of the pond with a spool and that rope is attached.
when the motor spins, it spools the rope on the spool and that pulls it across the water.
it was one of my very early childhood theories.

[h2o 1]

[martin]

Their is a fixed pole with a revoling bearing attachment that is 18" off the water surface. The tether line is piano wire in varying diam depending on class of boats, 1 lap = 100metres x 5 laps for timed run = 500 metres. we also use an elastic bunge on the launch like they use on gliders for the initial launch because of the large props we use they wouldnt get away on the launch. Martin.

[Boaterguy]

understood.
I guess my old theory is hard to explain.

[Diegoboy]

If you watch closely, you will see the string when he starts it and when it slaps the water on takeoff

[LarrysDrifter]

That was sweet!

[srislash]

Just imagine if anything let go.

[martin]

That vid is of Bob Kirtley, his boat is steam driven (flash steam). All his own design boat & home made steam engine & boiler. He holds the world record for steam driven at 122mph. This is certainly a spectical to see this boat run as its weighs around 16lbs, in this vid its no were near its top speed. Martin.