My mini

[papee]

With all the interest in mini's lately, I thought I post a few pics. I have a 16x5 homebuilt aluminum hull and as of now, I am running an 18 hp direct drive motor, and a 42 inch prop. It will float in 3 " of water, 4 with my 230lb aboard. and move in 2" of water off plane. It has fish finder, trolling motor, live well, am/fm/cd player.

I am currently building a reduction drive and will be changing to a 35 hp vanguard over the winter months. Don't want to miss any fishing.

Total investment, as it sits, $1300

This is where I run the boat.

 

[goldhunter_2]

I've evolved from duct tape to a welder.

I like that :lol: I grew up hanging around my uncle allot and he always preached that duct tape could fix anything........and I believe it you would not believe some of the things I saw it keep running with just duct tape :shock: :shock:

 

[papee]

Actually, I have been welding for over 30 years, I put that up the day my wife got on me about all the metal scraps in the garage under my benches. She wanted me to get rid of it so I just put doors on my bottom shelf and hid it :lol: She didn't think it was as funny as I.

 

[Cajun]

You did a heck of a good job on that. Any idea what its cruising speed is? But I really like it. Did you take any pics of it while in the building stages? Thanx for the post. Later, Cajun

 

[Des Moines Boater]

Wow, that looks like some dangerous waters to airboat in. How about building some 6 by 10 foot flat bottom hulls that the rest of us could purchase to install small engines on? A 35 horse should really push that boat along. Stay away from those rocks.

 

[papee]

I didn't build the hull, it is about 15 years old. There is a guy here that will build any hull you want but I am in PA. AirboatMike has talked about him. Tom Snyder of Snyder boats is building mini's now. I am thinking about a new hull also. I like the room that a 16 has for fishing two people but a wide boat would be nice also. Maybe the wife will let me build a mini ride boat and maybe I can keep this one for fishing.


Top speed with the 18hp and a homemade 42 inch prop was just over 20 mph I would guess but as you know it seems faster. If I stay in a few inches of water it may get a little faster but as soon as I hit deeper water it slows down. Since I added all the extra weight now I have trouble staying on plane. If I want to travel any distance, I have to take off the trolling motor and extra battery so it will plane. This is the reason for the new engine and reduction unit.

I'm going to add a stationary horizontal "rudder" above the verticals this evening and play with the angle while I'm out fishing tomorrow to see if it will help keep it on plane. If I can push the nose down a bit an raise the tail it may stay up better. I've already tried adding a piece to the transom but did little to help.

 

[Olf Art]

Papee, we need to pass the hat and get you an A-65 Continental for that boat.
You wouldn't have to worry about plane then ...... .

 

[papee]

Papee, we need to pass the hat and get you an A-65 Continental for that boat.
You wouldn't have to worry about plane then ...... .

but then I couldn't get to my "fishing spots" :lol: The places I go are swift areas where the river drops over rock ledges. It's too dangerous to try them on plane so I just idle up to them and give it a handful and slide up over them. More weight in the back would hang me up, That's why I've tried so hard with the 18 hp so long. I can get it to go with just me but when I try to take someone along to show them some fishing it takes a while to get there off plane. Besides, I can get about three fishing trips out of the 6 gallon fuel tank. :lol:

 

[Olf Art]

Touche' That's what I get for tryin to tell another waterman how to run his boat.

 

[papee]

Touche' That's what I get for tryin to tell another waterman how to run his boat.

No problem, but if you really want to buy me a AC motor I'll build another one. :wink:

 

[grant]

Built 3 of these hulls.
Made to fit in the back of an 8' pickup bed.
Cost about $200 each.
Built all three in one day.
Size could be easily changed and would make a fine "mini airboat"

 

[Cajun]

What are they? 5' x 10' ? Glass or aluminum? Weight ? Pretty boxie looking hull, hows it handle? Thanx for the pics and info. All this has got my blood going pretty good. Thats bad ,huh, telling my age huh Olf Art ? Dang boat hulls get the blood going and not a word about any pretty ladies. Gettin old sucs. Later, Cajun

 

[grant]

They are 4'x8' made out of 5052 aluminum .050 thick.
They were made to be used as pole boats.
I think I would change the stern at least if I as going to use as an airboat.
Just thought someone might get some ideas from the pics

 

[Olf Art]

Those are cool, Grant. With a thin sheet of poly on the bottom they'd make great little sleds to haul material behind an ATV ..... :idea: .

 

[Cajun]

Man those ( no disrespect intended ) remind me of my teen years and we would take (borrow) cement mixing boxes from building sites and put a board acrossed it to sit on and use another board to paddle it and go all over creeks, canals and bayous. We caught alot of fish. And we always put the builders stuff back and they just got use to us using the stuff and would leave it out with a couple of boards laid inside of it. Thanx for the memories. Later, Cajun

 

[Cajun]

What about something like this? Is it too heavy? Or what would the draw backs be?Forget the list price, I could get one for about $1600 Later, Cajun

Kubota WG 1005 3 cylinder gasoline liquid cooled engine. It is exactly as pictured, including ignition control, alternator, water pump, etc. This engine is used in some Jacobson lawn mowers and some generators, or you can build anything you want with it. It comes with the standard Kubota warranty, 3,000 HRS/3 years. These are the specs: Type - Vertical in line 4 cycle gas. Cooling System - Water cooling with water pump. Number of Cylinders - 3. Cylinder Bore - 2.98. Stroke - 2.90. Total Displacement - 60.77 cu. in. High Idle - 3750 RPM Low Idle - 1500 RPM. Horse Power at 3600 RPM - 31.0. Max Torque - 522 FT-LB. Compression Ratio - 9.2. The current list price for this engine is $3,787.33.