Boat design help

[Si...]

Hi all bit of a newbie here

I`m in the process of making a baitboat for fishing.
I have the hull designs etc I`m going to use, but i`m clueless on the propulsion system.

I`m not using props as they`re too noisy and clog up with weed, I`m using 4 Rule Bilge pumps (http://marinestore.co.uk/page/mrst/PROD/rule-pumps-bilge/MD049510/) (2 fwd and 2 reverse)

I`m unsure on how to get it so that the pumps are independant of each other.

Meaning that if I turn left then only the right rear motor will run, and vice-versa, and both pumps to run when its just a forward motion.
Also for the front to pumps to make the boat reverse and steer.

I have a Futaba Skysport 6 channel tx/rx set for doing this, hopefully it`ll do the job.

I`d be extremely grateful if someone`s able to help with this.
Thanks in advance

[lmopar69]

Maybe using the old style mechanical speed controls that have been used for RC cars/trucks for a long time. Im sure it would work for forward and reverse, but Im not sure how you would set up your turning with that unless you used a conventional rudder. But hey, Im not a boat guy, Im a fly guy, I just stumbled accross this. Good luck, hope you get it figured out!

[LtDoc]

Si,
Weeds can certainly foul props, but there are ways to prevent it, or at least slow it down. Seems it would be much easier than with the pumps (then again, I'm sort of lazy).

One method would be to put each 'set' of pumps on a seperate channel to be controled indipendantly ( :), hope you got lots of hands - lol).
- 'Doc

[Shaun Hendricks]

Sounds almost like you want to set it up TANK ESC style. I have a tank that moves a pair of motors similar to how you describe. I'm not sure how computer/mixing friendly the Skysport is or you could do it with 4 forward only ESC's and 4 channels, each one starting mix at the 50% point of the stick and taking over as the sticks are moved. That's a heckuva radio setup though.

There are ways to do what you are looking to do but it may require some specialised equipment to do it with 4 pumps.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Four momentary switches will allow you to turn on or off the power to any motor.
Put the two starboard(right) fwd/rev motors on one channel, and the two port(left) fwd/rev motors on the second channel.

Use your third channel to drop bait from either of two hoppers.

[boatman1]

Why not build a airboat ? shallow running & no water rudder
it wont be fast but it should get the job done

[towboatjoe]

Have you gave thought that pumps have impellers, like props, and will suck weeds into the intakes and foul them up.

I think you'll find that you can't steer a boat by shutting off a motor on one side especially when pulling a line. The line is going to cause the boat to have a tendecy to veer off in one direction depending on the torque direction of the water flow and you're going to need power to overcome that.

The best I can rekon is an airboat design or a side wheeler design with seperate motor control to enable steering by reversing one wheel and coming ahead on the other.

[Shaun Hendricks]

A paddle wheeler would be cool, but incredibly ineffcient! :D

Speaking of which, anybody make one? I've seen all kinds of boats on these forums but never a stern or side wheeler...

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Aren't they typically talking about baiting an area not dropping a line?

http://www.anglingtechnicsbaitboats.co.uk/
http://www.baitboats.com/

[Rex R]

nowadays whenever someone mentions a paddle-wheeler, I get this image of some person mounting 1(or more) 700's w/direct drive to the wheels...(kmot & horrible harry and their tugs might have something to do with this :)). would imagine that it would kick up quite a rooster tail.

[Si...]

The angling technics one above as with most other comercially available baitboats in the UK do actually take the line out with them.

The line is coming freely off the reel so theres actually very little tension on the boat to hinder steering.

This is the overhead view of the design so far, as you can probably guess I`m building this completely from scratch.


Also, What kind of material would be best to use as the mould?
I was thinking of the blue styrofoam, but nowhere in my area stocks it.
I live in Surrey UK incase anyone knows of someone who does stock it, or a similar/better material to use

[Si...]

Anyone?