Volkswagen Airboat?

[Flatz Honky]

Does anyone have any knowledge of using an old "Beetle" air cooled engine for power on a airboat? Pros and cons? Horsepower and torque? How much weight will it handle (persons)? Size prop? I am just kicking around the idea. Anyone with info on it would be greatlt appreciated. I know absolutely nothing about VW's...

 

[tim]

i too, have always pondered the idea. the problem is power, they lack in that department, there are ways to combat that. a ew companies produce belt drives and gear reduction units for them, but the cost is a big factor to me. but you have to admit it would be a fun project. anyways, this one of the more informative sites i have come across.....

http://www.greatplainsas.com/vwairboat.html

oh, by the way, first time poster here. been looking for a site like this for years. nice site guys.

 

[Flatz Honky]

Thanks for the reply Tim, I think it would be different anyway. I was just looking for an excuse to start another project anyway. What made me think of it was the "Mosquito Airboat" website. I figured that if that little tiny motor made those boats run ground with two people in them, then a little more power with not that much more weight would be even better. Ahh, who knows....If I can find the website again, I will post the url. They have a bunch of good videos.

 

[Anonymous]

I built and ran a VW airboat for a long time , But the only way to get good power out of it is to use a redution unit....I ran a 3 blade power Fin prop. :shock:

 

[tim]

is to use a redution unit....

did you run a psru?

what's the specs on the motor you ran?

 

[Flatz Honky]

tim, psru????? forgive me brother, I am not up to date...Break that down fer me... I am gonna give it a guess and reckon that "ru" stands for "reduction unit". Help me out....

 

[Anonymous]

Yes I ran it dirct drive for a while then I wanted more power so I built me a belt drive for it. I was running a type 2 pancake engine out of a 73 vw bus I put pop tops and a larger high tourqe cam was getting around 85 to 90 HP. But the redrive was the trick!!!

 

[tim]

psru?????

Prop Speed Reduction Unit, sorry, picked it up from the ultralight crowd.

"guest" ,
do you have any pics of the belt drive you built, or explain a How-To for us. i have seen them for sale, but 1200-1300 $ is a bit much for me. thanks, tim

ps: why don't you register a name.........

 

[Flatz Honky]

I was half way right!!!! psru...