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/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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1730197 No.1730197 [Reply] [Original]

My friends and I have been drawing up plans for the past few months on a homemade pontoon boat. The plan is to make two 8x4 ft sections (the dimensions of the truck beds well be using to transport) that we will secure together upon arrival of our launch site. Our main questions/concerns are 1. How many drums do we need to support the weight of the vessel/occupants 2. How to turn a bicycle into a water wheel for power 3.How to steer it besides having two people with oars sit on the sides of the bike. Any suggestions or similar plans appreciated

>> No.1730270

>>1730197
Water weighs 8 lb per gallon. Submerging, entirely, a 50 gallon drum takes 400 lb of force. Or, put another way, a boat deck over 4 drums, will support 1600 lb. including the weight of the deck.

>> No.1730284

>1. How many drums do we need to support the weight of the vessel/occupants
JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST. This is literally (literally) high-school physics. Is this the power of common core?

>> No.1730286

>>1730270
Yes, but fully submerging is absolutely retarded like OP

>> No.1730322

>>1730270
OP weighs 1100lbs.

>> No.1730526

Here m8, have fun and post pics https://youtu.be/A4pmb2huzQg

>> No.1730716

Personally, I would choose to have 6 barrels. 3 barrels, exactly end to end on either side. That way you have a catamaran and they're pretty stable and you have a higher factor for safety. For the bike thing, I'd say you're best building a metal frame that's attached to the boat and permanently attached to the bike too. You can pretty easily attach a water wheel for propulsion by just using the gears you have for the bike and buying a longer chain so you don't have to be half hanging off the back of the boat. For steering, I feel like it's possible to make a large rudder controlled by the handles on the bike and a system with cables but obviously that might break so you might just want the more standard rudder and a handle to turn it which is more simple and less likely to leave you stranded in the water. I would definitely keep a set of oars just in case the more intricate system goes to shit though.

>> No.1731555

>>1730197
Skip the wedges and bolts to tighten them. They can give a little. You really shouldn't even need them tied in theory. Save the cash ang get a few ratches straps and 1,000 feet roll of paracord for $70. You can use one strap to pull several slip knots tighter than you'd ever get them by hand and it'll last forevor.

>> No.1731556

>>1730197
A simple rudder to steer and 3 separate independent cut up bikes is easier than 1 3 man bar you all have to pedal in unison.

And turn the boards the other way over the drums. Some 8' 2x4 and 6 drums should suffice. Or maybe 1 sideways n front and back

>> No.1731606

>>1730197
My grandpa died before my mother was born attempting to build a house boat on the Mississippi River. Needless to say, it flipped over and drowned him as he was working on it. Not entirely important, just thought it would be interesting to mention.