Chris Craft Rivierra
Posted: 01 Jul 2019, 01:54
Started this build some 15 years ago and getting close to finish now.
Model is approx. 1/5 scale built from GL3 aircraft grade plywood with the interior having inbuilt flotation chambers and timber internally sealed with glass and epoxy.
Engine built up from a casting given to me by a mate of mine George Punter. I think it was to see how I'd go with a bit of a challenge seeing I managed the first engine build in the Neptune ok.
There were no drawings, just had to make my own as I went. Most started as a scribble with pencil and paper and later transferred to Desktop Pro cad. Sadly all files were lost in the 2013 flood here.
Engine is 25cc four stroke running on methanol/castor mix with glow ignition. Single updraught carbie, had 4 initially but just too hard to tune. Also had a magnetic drive water pump with the intention of on-board heat exchanger but the need to know the cooling was actually operating while in the boat was not really practical so opted out for the usual ' pumped up by the prop" arrangement.
Tacho is operational, being a 0-5V signal derived from the flywheel pulse. Originally this was a frequency to voltage converter driving a series of LED's arranged in a circle on the dash but I later changed to the present servo driven gauge. Still uses the original converter but now, with a very simple picaxe code and some mapping and gearing, voila. Steering wheel also turns as the rudder turns.
Presently looking at perhaps using a telemetry receiver to send back the fuel level. Already has the probes fitted to the tank so may be fairly easy to get this addition. Trailer is made from scrap stainless tubing I found at the local scrap metal merchant for $5.00 ( bargain) and wheels and tyres come from rc stuff on Ebay.
Told my mate we are almost at the testing stage for the boat, he said "what about getting it back from the middle of the lake?" So presently knocking up a basic pusher boat ( Springer Tug)
Video ( not very good quality) of the engine running here.......
Model is approx. 1/5 scale built from GL3 aircraft grade plywood with the interior having inbuilt flotation chambers and timber internally sealed with glass and epoxy.
Engine built up from a casting given to me by a mate of mine George Punter. I think it was to see how I'd go with a bit of a challenge seeing I managed the first engine build in the Neptune ok.
There were no drawings, just had to make my own as I went. Most started as a scribble with pencil and paper and later transferred to Desktop Pro cad. Sadly all files were lost in the 2013 flood here.
Engine is 25cc four stroke running on methanol/castor mix with glow ignition. Single updraught carbie, had 4 initially but just too hard to tune. Also had a magnetic drive water pump with the intention of on-board heat exchanger but the need to know the cooling was actually operating while in the boat was not really practical so opted out for the usual ' pumped up by the prop" arrangement.
Tacho is operational, being a 0-5V signal derived from the flywheel pulse. Originally this was a frequency to voltage converter driving a series of LED's arranged in a circle on the dash but I later changed to the present servo driven gauge. Still uses the original converter but now, with a very simple picaxe code and some mapping and gearing, voila. Steering wheel also turns as the rudder turns.
Presently looking at perhaps using a telemetry receiver to send back the fuel level. Already has the probes fitted to the tank so may be fairly easy to get this addition. Trailer is made from scrap stainless tubing I found at the local scrap metal merchant for $5.00 ( bargain) and wheels and tyres come from rc stuff on Ebay.
Told my mate we are almost at the testing stage for the boat, he said "what about getting it back from the middle of the lake?" So presently knocking up a basic pusher boat ( Springer Tug)
Video ( not very good quality) of the engine running here.......