The Adventures of Thumper

Thanks Oscar.

Cheers, Don

Quote from tufual

Glad to hear your starting to feel better Don , haven't been on the forum for a while ( exams ) . But iv'e seen it before my dad damaged his back catching a falling oxygen cylinder ( the over 5 foot tall ones ) . I'm gonna give you the advice you gave me , take it slow , be safe buddy , wish you a safe recovery .:thumbsup2:

Thank you buddy.
I'm doing a lot better just waiting on parts and cave time.;)

Cheers, Don

This weekend I tried to find a project that was easy on my recovering back, so I set out to complete the manual pull start project from the 40 hp unit I had sourced last year. I still
had faith that I could find one for a 50hp if I kept searching FleBay and marine salvage stores on line.....nope... nada....no joy. I like doing challenging projects, but just throwing down a couple C-notes and buying a part makes for more sense at times. I started by
re- drilling the 8 1/4'' sheave ring holes to 5/16'', easy right.....not thorough heat treated steel, out came the carbide bits.
Mounted it on the flywheel with 8 locktighted grade 8 bolts, zinkcromate primer and black paint followed. Then came 4 hrs of centering the rewind housing sprag, temporary jigging and mock up of the 3 support legs hacked from the unit for refab and fit. ( glad my son Dillon had my camera so there is no record of the carnage, welding and grinding that continued till dark.

The next day I replaced the cord with a new part, more fun but I knew I would be pulling it soon and bring a fire to the cylinders......well not yet, starter bendix nut needs .050 more clearance machined into the housing... out came the band sander.... (poor mans CNC) more cleaning and reassembly. Fleck....I should have just bought a new Honda 4 stroke.. I could be having a nice cigar and whiskey by the fire....but that's no fun and not much of a challenge, right?:boring1:

By 4PM today I had trial assembled everything , plotted the location of the pull cord hole and carefully drilled it. Now I'm to lazy and hungry to pull the boat outside, hook up the water and fuel and give it life...... tomorrow night is the plan.
Next the eng top cowl gets stripped and taken to the powder painter, then back to the floor project......good things take time.;)

Cheers, Don

I know it has been a long time since my last post about my project, but sometimes life, family or health issues adjusts ones best laid plans. The truth is very little forward progress has been made on the black boat, but now my sons first car (jeep) has been procured and made road worthy and safe the past year. I was all set to begin after Xmass day but managed to almost cut off my thumb while moving thumper from the boat yard. Being the cheap ass Connecticut Yankee that hates med bills I stitched up my own hand and cut the pain with Glenlivet for a few weeks, feeling is now starting to return and the hole in my thumb is healed over, but just really sensitive to touch. I figure a wee bit of boat work will be good physical therapy for me flecked up hand. Last Saturday I stripped thumper down to a bare hull and flipped her over for a hull redesign.

The US Navy parted with a new old stock speedtube kit and it found it's way to my temporary boat house, progress will be slow as I can only work weekends. The military Fc 470 speed tube kit is designed for a Zodiac not a Avon CRRC but I have confidence that I can pull it off.
Just a few images tonight to get it started, I'll explain the function and reasoning behind my modification in later posts,....here we go.

Cheers. Don

I also acquired Zodiac FC 470 hull # 306 that was cut into 3 pieces. The crew of CRRC 306 may be happy to know their sweat and piss soaked boat will be recycled into usable bits that will see Mother Ocean again. I can't wait for the day when I can take a long piss in my wetsuit and have it washed away by foaming green water over the bow as I steer Thunper back to home port.:D

Cheers, Don

Some of the remains of CRRC 306.

At least I found a sporty crew.:bouncinboobs:

Cheers, Don

Quote from Dan

2 years went by fast.

I don't understand, looks like tubes under tubes?

Here is Zodiac Millpro image and text, I also gain the added buoyancy of each tube.

Trimaran FC Hull

''Zodiac Milpro trimaran FC hull features two lateral stabilizers (removable on FC range) under the boat. These lateral stabilizers (or speed tubes) increase hydrodynamic lift and reduce drag. This specific hull shape allows professionals to transport large loads and still manage to make the boat plane. It also gives the pilot unsurpassed manoeuvrability in different and often dangerous conditions''.

The last image shows a removable speedtube, mine will be permanently bonded to the hull .

Cheers, Don

Or I could just go with a new first mate that brings her own flotation.:thumbsup2: And not spend 200 bucks on glue.

Cheers,Don

Quote from Stick em

I say save the $200 that was for glue, buy beer, and stay home!

Yeah but a chick like that is going to want more then beer,;)

My chick (wife) called and said shes taking me out Sat for Sushi and drinks for my birthday, I told her ''I can buy 2 cans of glue for my boat for what your going to waste on tuna and Sake''.....she just doesn't get it.

Cheers,Don