Motor for Flyer 95?

[JFH]

I have the plans for the flyer 95 and it calls for a 75 cubic inch motor up to a 99 cubic inch Universal Blue Jacket motor. Of course the design was from when these motors were new.

I feel that a modern epoxy bottom of marine ply with batten seamed mohogany planking and seamed decks would make a great boat. The motor weight would have to keep the boat around the 600 pound mark according to the plans. With the modern construction methods, this would be easy to do and she would probably take a bigger engine.

I thought maybe a marinized Subaru or just go for a new one of the popular names.

Any suggestions on the motor for this little darlin or her cousin the Flyer 135?

see: woodenboat.com (http://media5.hypernet.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001739&...)

I hoped to put an image up....but can't figure out the language...ugggg..

Jim

[merc412]

You might want to look at one of the water cooled motorcycle engines. I think the Subaru might be too heavy.

[Tom Lathrop]

Jim,

I saw the Mazda rotary marine engines at the IBEX show last year. They would be at the top of my list of engines to consider for a project like yours. Lightweight, simple and smoooothe running.

Great classic boat, by the way. I wanta ride!

Tom

[Keith Wilson]

Here it is - I you build one, can I have a ride? I think the Universal 4-cylinder engines were about 350# FWIW. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dbwilde/BoatScans/Flyer91.jpg

[ 06-17-2003, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Keith Wilson]

Hmmm - I know hardly anything about powerboats, so I did a little searching. Is it possible to buy a small gasoline inboard engine anymore? There seem to be plenty of diesels in all size ranges, and lots of high-horsepower gas engines, usually converted automotive V8s, and you can get rebuilt atomic-4s for sailboats. The rotary engines I found were very cool, but near 200 hp, which seems to me would be kind of scary in that boat. A 75-100 cubic inch boat motor 50 years ago put out - what, around 50-60 hp for 350# weight? No advice; I certainly don't know enough, but one would think you ought to be able to get something a lot lighter for equivalent power, or a lot more powerful for equivalent weight - how much horespower do you think she'll handle?

[Tom Lathrop]

Jim,

There is a one rotor Mazda engine that give about 100hp output and weighs about 135lbs minus some required attachments. I will be at Oshkosh for the EAA show this year and will take another look. For me, it's just dreaming since I am already boat poor with more in the works.

They make the rotary in several multiples for diferent applications. I don't know if the one rotor model comes in a marine version or not but the basic one rotor aircraft unit goes for about $4500. That is cheap compared to outboards these days but some other stuff must be added of course.

http://www.atkinsrotary.com/

[Nicholas Carey]

I believe I know where you can find a Universal Blue Jacket of, I think, about 15hp. It's in perfect running order.

The only problem with it is that it comes with a 1930s-vintage Alden catboat attached to it :D if that is indeed a problem.

[bill ladd]

Jim, I also am contemplating building one of the Crandall designs -- the Flyer 135. Mercruiser, or OMC, or somebody like that still make 4-cylinder inboard motors. Look on eBay, you should see a number of used 4-cyl. units for sale. Not sure of the weight, but I assume one should be able to get more ponies for less weight than was available in the 1930s.

Best of luck.

P.S. Just looked on ebay, saw a 3.0 mercruiser. Listed weight of 325-350 lbs. fully crated. Hmm.

[ 06-17-2003, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: bill ladd ]

[JFH]

A 3.0 Mercruiser would be just fine for the job. Actually, the 135 is the other choice of boat. The overhang on the stern would act as a "trim-tab" and the whole design is really clean.
I will take a look at the e-bay stuff and see what happens.

Jim