High School Airboat Build II

[CWAIS]

The engine stand is built to hold our engine while we make the actual engine and seat stand for the hull. The hull bottom is all welded and ready to flip over on Monday. John Hagen from Onalaska, WI found some rudders for us to use on our build we just have to do some welding to get them back into shape before we use them. Once I find out the name of the guy that donated them I will post up a thank you.



Have a great weekend!!!!

[CWAIS]

We started putting the engine stand together this week. We have a few things to finish up on the hull but we will get those things done as we go.
Justin thanks for your in put this week, we really appreciate it.

[CWAIS]

Engine stand is just about done we had to add an extra support running from the front bottom to the back upper support frame. Hopefully that isn't to weird there was just to much movement. We should be starting the seat frame tomorrow if we have school ( a lot of ICE).

[Duff0113]

That hull is looking awesome. Sure wish we had a class like this when I was in high school years and years ago. It sure would have been more interesting than taking apart a lawnmower engine in our shop class haha.

[CWAIS]

My students started the foot and seat part of the stand today. Only had to re-bend one piece today ( good teaching opportunity) so it was a good day.
Glad you like it DUFF0113, I will tell them.

[Gary S]

Moving along fast, and looking good. Great students and teacher.

[CWAIS]

So today we bent up a gage panel, didn't get it welded but I think it is going to look great. We scored the bends since we had to bend them on the edge of the table. They also got the supports for the seat and foot platform.
Thanks for the nice comments Gary I will pass them on.

[fhp6]

Really nice work!!

[CWAIS]

One of the students turned some bushings to make a flange tool for the drain holes. We borrowed a flange tool but the bushings on the tool were too short and it caused the drain tube to wrinkle a little, so we made new bushings for the flange tool and it worked great.
One student milled down the outer sleeve on both of the drain holes so we could salvage the 1st drain tube that had a wrinkle in it. He milled down the second one just so they would match in size.
We bent some Alum. Brackets for the radiator and those were mounted to the engine stand.
Expanded metal was cut to size and welded to the stand.
A bracket was made up to support the gauge panel then they made four clips , drilled , tapped and welded them to the bracket that will secure the gauge panel.
The last picture we made an h pipe for the exhaust system. The research that the students had done on this engine states that if an H pipe is put in place just below the oil pan and increase the DIA. Of the exhaust pipe, you can gain up to 10 HP. So we are giving it a try.
Metal came in today for the cage and trailer so we will split the group up for both of those jobs and a few will work on finishing up the wiring, cooling and throttle systems.
The one picture of the engine we just turned the coolant filler around the other way so we can run the hose down along the front of the engine.

Thanks fhp6 we are trying!

[Gary S]

Thanks for the update. These are my favorite post.

[Duff0113]

One can not only see these kids learning valuable information and work ethics but also those reading it are able to pick up bits of info just from the pics. Keep up the great work.

[CWAIS]

One student turned a guide for drilling holes when putting screws in for poly.



A good friend of mine Mike Ives from Wyocena, WI. tacked and welded up two rudders that were all bent up and cracked ( too thin for my students or even I). The rudders were donated by Kenny Nelson from LaCrosse WI. Thanks to Mike and Kenny for helping us out!!! My students cleaned them up and straightened them out and made patches to go over the damaged area.





A few more pieces got cut up for the trailer.



J bars and big loops were bent up today ( 5 degrees outside)





Thanks for the comments Gary and Duff!

[CWAIS]

Pretty bummed out tonight, I will get to that after I explain a few pictures. We got the bolts turned down to fit inside the loops and all the J Bars are coped on one end and drilled for wire. Wired everything to run the engine.
The H pipe was welded up for the exhaust .
We made up a bracket for the coil.
The main platform for the trailer is all cut and ground, ready for tacking.
BAD NEWS I thought we would fire up the engine (since it was all wired now) tomorrow during class to get the guys all fired up. So tonight after school I decided to fill up the radiator with distilled water and get it all ready for tomorrow. I had to replace the thermostat so I started filling the engine, as much as I could before I put the thermostat in while I was filling I saw a little water on the top of the case. It looked like it was coming out of the top of the case. I took a pick and ran it along the edge of the paint and this is what I found. I think my heart dropped down in my gut.
Not sure what to do next, I am at a loss for words !!!!!!!!!!!

[Gary S]

I know that had to be a kick in the stomach. Hopefully something will turn up. Life has a way of watching over good people.

[CWAIS]

Well the weekend went by and we have a plan. We started stripping this engine down, by the end of the day we have everything ready to split this case.
I talked to Steve Buege in Burnett, WI and he said they would help us out if he could. Steve runs" Buege High Performance Auto Specialists".
We did run into one cause of the water being in everything, there were two freeze plugs laying in the heads when we took them off. Which could be good or maybe bad. we will see soon. My trailer guys had a bad day today, they have to go back and cut tacks out tomorrow ( you can't double check your measurements enough, hard way to learn but it works).

[CWAIS]

The trailer base is all welded up, fenders are cut out and bent, mounting bolts are welded to the loops the engine stand is bolted in, front mounts are welded up for the small loop and after some persuasion the case was split so it can be welded but we have one stud that we can not get out

[glades cat]

Again, outstanding work and progress. None of the incidentals go to waste, not even the cracked block. They will all serve as teaching points. You and your students bring hope in a time of perishing trade skills.
Kudos.

[airduds]

Again, outstanding work and progress. None of the incidentals go to waste, not even the cracked block. They will all serve as teaching points. You and your students bring hope in a time of perishing trade skills.
Kudos.

x2

[rdb]

keep the pictures coming. I watching how you build the different riggings, especially the cage.
Thanks

[glades cat]

Was thinking...
Hey Chuck, do you still have the last boat and what does the future hold for this one? A fund raising raffle for more materials or scholarships. Shop class/Trade school promotional projects? National High School shop class competition?
The rewards, benefits and possibilities of your/your students efforts can be an encouragement for others and blessing for your school. If I was your principal or a parent, there would be a nomination for some sort of recognition.

[Black67]

Real life stuff right there.


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[Lwells]

I think it is outstanding that these students have such a great teacher and great opportunity to learn and do what they are doing and what they are learning will stay with them for life . GREAT JOB YOUNG MEN and it makes us old men proud that you are working together and doing such great work. What you are learning has almost become extinct in todays USA and it is good to see your teacher is seeing you get such a special opportunity and always learn everything you possibly can while your young and never do things close, always do them exact and you will never want or need in life for you will always be sought after.

[CWAIS]

Glade cat, airduds, rdb, black67, Lwells thanks for the comments. Glade cats I have the last one this one will be used to take others out so they can drive to. I can talk to them with a headset making rides more fun. Then this one will get sold for the next project. Most of the competitions are in STEM
projects, that is where most of the money is pushed into. We don't need any recognition, we know we are getting smarter every day LOL .
Here are some pictures of the start of the J-Bars. Thanks for following !!!!!













as you can see we have engine parts laying everywhere, we will get organized soon

[Rick McC.]

Hopefully they'll be able to get that crack taken care of for y'all!

[CWAIS]

Rick McC we are hoping also. The base to the trailer is all welded up, steps for the front and back of the fenders are almost done, J Bars are all welded in place and the top support bar for the rudders is welded into place and leveled.