OK what about a surface drive for the bug

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   A surface drive is a little different then a "long Tail".The shaft is much shorter and not always turned with a tiller, sometimes with a reverse.
I'm thinking the VW motor is not a good candidate to hang off the transom and tiller steer.
Maybe sit a little forward and drive an out drive with a PTO.
It would take a surface piercing prop Maybe like 15".
A drive shaft through the transom would be the easiest with hydraulic  linear actuators would be the fast idea.
BUT no transom on a cat.
Maybe something like a lower unit as on an outboard that is driven from the top with a PTO shaft and u joints.
Some kind of struts to let the unit rise over obstetrical as rocks and logs. The drive in the water/mus normally is 2 to 3 feet long and has a very stout scag to protect the prop.
I think it would be similar to a tunnel hull and use water trapped by the cats. ANY ideas?
Some examples 

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d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9162	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: OK what about a surface drive for the bug Posted: 26 May 2020 at 19:21
	A surface drive is a little different then a "long Tail". The shaft is much shorter and not always turned with a tiller, sometimes with a reverse. I'm thinking the VW motor is not a good candidate to hang off the transom and tiller steer. Maybe sit a little forward and drive an out drive with a PTO. It would take a surface piercing prop Maybe like 15". A drive shaft through the transom would be the easiest with hydraulic linear actuators would be the fast idea. BUT no transom on a cat. Maybe something like a lower unit as on an outboard that is driven from the top with a PTO shaft and u joints. Some kind of struts to let the unit rise over obstetrical as rocks and logs. The drive in the water/mus normally is 2 to 3 feet long and has a very stout scag to protect the prop. I think it would be similar to a tunnel hull and use water trapped by the cats. ANY ideas? Some examples
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

BEAR Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 07 September 2013 Location: Appalachian Mtn Status: Offline Points: 13569	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEAR Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 May 2020 at 08:37
	Black foot looks cool. Thinking outside the box, how about a jet drive inside the cat-toons. would be easy to low for deep water and move up to the level of the bottom of the boat in shallows. only bummer is jet drives and weeds/sand don't mix.
	“ The IQ and the life expectancy of the average American recently passed each other in opposite directions.”

d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9162	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 May 2020 at 14:27
	Sand is OK it's the moss and willow branches that will stop you, the rocks don't help either. Gota jet now jet is like air the loss is to high, a 60 hp is only 35 to 40 on a jet. If I change it will be a prop.
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

BEAR Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 07 September 2013 Location: Appalachian Mtn Status: Offline Points: 13569	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEAR Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 May 2020 at 15:05
	What is the hurry???? your retired now....relax getting there can be half the fun.
	“ The IQ and the life expectancy of the average American recently passed each other in opposite directions.”

Wing master Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA StraightShooter Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7438	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wing master Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2020 at 02:12
	If you go with a prop you won't be able to go across mud or ice or whatever you could with an air boat. I think the snow mobile engine is a good idea. But, That's coming from someone that knows nothing about boats. Wing master
	I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.

d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9162	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 May 2020 at 07:31
	A surface drive prop is like a mud motor prop and will run through mud and bounce over rocks. NO ice or dry ground.
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

Wing master Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA StraightShooter Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7438	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wing master Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 2020 at 21:55
	I didn't know that. That's interesting. I would think that even with the air drive you wouldn't go over dry ground very often. Except maybe before loading it on a trailer. Wing master
	I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.

d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9162	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 July 2020 at 09:18
	I think I have made up my mind,it's either a surface drive or scrap the hole thing. I only hope I live long enough to actually use this protect. I'm still in the planning mode for an outdrive. I'm hoping to get the air drive off soon but the general plan is to mount the motor on a trailer hub spindle. Bolt it like a wheel with the spindle standing up to let the motor turn side to side. Then mount that to a 1" short axel with bearing blocks on each end to let the motor pivot "up and down" A person could not comfortably tiller steer a 350 pound 60 hp mud drive. What would be best is a Hydraulic actuator to move it side by side. Like most big outboards have. At times you need to move the boat sideways in the mud with the outdrive, so this would be a plus. Unless I use a hydraulic PUMP for this I'll use an electric winch to raise and lower the prop and have Equalizer shocks to push it back down and still have movement when you hit rocks and trees. That's just a general direction I looking.??? It probably would have been cheaper in the long run just to buy a good used airboat. BUT it does keep me out of the bars and casinos .
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

jsgbearpaws1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 02 March 2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3590	Post Options Post Reply Quote jsgbearpaws1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 July 2020 at 10:10
	Got me thinking. Why not repurpose a jet ski? Shaft drive off the bug and just hang the pump assembly between the cats. A fixed bracket at the back for the directional swivel and it's all but surface driven. Doesn't have to break the sound barrier. 60hp should push it just fine to about 20 nauts.
	...oh yeah! thats gonna hurt!

d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9162	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 July 2020 at 11:13
	Thought of that too. Jets just DON'T suck in the mud, they need some water between the in take and the bottom of the lake. Besides I HAVE a vw motor, think Cheap.
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

jsgbearpaws1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 02 March 2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3590	Post Options Post Reply Quote jsgbearpaws1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 July 2020 at 12:40
	Well the shaft drive would be off the bug motor and a front shaft off a small SUV or FWD from a junk yard weld the appropriate splines on etc. A cheap insurance claimed jet ski could be had for a couple hundred. Check IAAI or others local to you and I'm sure one could be found dirt cheap with a working pump and swivel. For clean flow thoughts of a backflow plate placed under the cats and used as a reservoir crossed my mind but I doubt you could get enough to feed the pump well enough but a dual flow into a reservoir like an air ram from cat louvres could work at the slower speed, thinking skimmer type at the water line and not below to catch the mud. Done with PVC and flex line. Hard part would be the custom fab of the skimmers to keep your water tight cats dry. Steering can be an easy rutter type to the swivel or go the distance and add the bar with throttle and steer wires like off a 4 wheeler with guide wires run back to the swivel. Hardware store should have your pulleys for a few bucks each and shouldn't be all that hard to run them down the insides of the cats. Just thoughts.
	...oh yeah! thats gonna hurt!

d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9162	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 July 2020 at 14:19
	No jet, I have one. Works fine when your up and running in 3" of water. Won't work in the Shallows in a weed bead or mud bar, You need something to dig through. Something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id49rUwTvB8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRlAajIgXFM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jbzuek6eis Edited by d4570 - 10 July 2020 at 14:29
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

BEAR Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Joined: 07 September 2013 Location: Appalachian Mtn Status: Offline Points: 13569	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEAR Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 July 2020 at 15:03
	paddle wheel??? slow but goes anywhere.
	“ The IQ and the life expectancy of the average American recently passed each other in opposite directions.”