raft design

Scavenger · Post by **Scavenger** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:04 pm

I am planning a boat of some sort, and I am looking for some advice. I have 23 1-gallon jugs, and I think I will use a catamaran setup. I'm going to attach them using some sort of waterproof cloth (or a substitute) and duct tape. I am using 11 jugs for one side. I want to put some sort of platform across them, but I can't figure out what to use. With the catamaran setup, I only use 22 gallon jugs. A gallon jug displaces (lifts) 8 pounds when fully submerged. If you only wanted it 75% submerged, 22 jugs would lift 132 pounds. I can get more jugs if I need them. Does anyone know a good material that is strong enough to cover about 4x5 feet with bending much but still lighter than around 20 pounds?

Thanks for the help

Scavenger · Post by **Scavenger** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:32 pm

I decided to use some aluminum poles to cross the center with some netting in the middle, but I still need somethingto be on the top of the sides. I would use cardboard, but that's not waterproof and wood would probably be to heavy. Does anyone know what I can use?

SSCBen · Post by **SSCBen** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 3:20 pm

I doubt that anyone has any ideas, which explains the lack of replies.

Maybe you should try doing a few Google searches? I'm sure that there is someone out there who has done what you are doing and published a webpage on it.

Scavenger · Post by **Scavenger** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:20 pm

I found some stuff on the weight of plywood. I am going to use that and 20 jugs for one side. Total it will give me 240 pounds of lift.

The plywood will weigh around 26 pounds for both sides combined. Not counting the metal poles, it will have 214 pounds of lift. That's with the jugs at a maximum submergence of 3/4 of the jug. If you wanted it to be submerged to the top, it could lift 294 pounds, compared to the 416 pound lift of a 55 gallon plastic drum.

I like math.

soakup · Post by **soakup** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:15 pm

Before: Why not a water bike my friend just made one and we finished mine today to they really work what you would do is on each side of the bike chasis place one jug like pontoons then for the front wheel yopu would extend the barsand placea 1 1/2 ft. long pvc pipe pontoon for steering. On the back wheel you would replace the with a propeller thing to paddle it forward.

After: Why not build a water bike? My friend just made one and we finished mine today. They really work! What you would do is on each side of the bike chasis and place one jug like pontoons. Then for the front wheel you would extend the bars and place a 1 1/2 ft. long pvc pipe pontoon for steering. On the back wheel you would replace the wheel with a propeller to paddle it forward.

Scavenger · Post by **Scavenger** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:32 pm

What kind (or size) of jug is on the back wheel? It sounds like it wouldn't float. And I don't quite get how the front wheel works.