Moto powered boat!!!

**flyde** · #1 13 Sep 2009

OK... about to cross the gap Columbia to Panama. Requirements are a boat.

It has been rumoured that a couple previously built a raft and powered it with their bikes. Does anyone know the source of this?

While myself and Conrad arnt keen on the raft idea we have come to the conclusion that buying a hull and using something like a VW dif to run a prop powered by our two KLR{s is an exciting option. Do people agree? Thoughts/Advice??. Will be in Turbo in a week to hopefully commence the build.

Safety? ... Solutions?? ... Hull for sale?? Donde Diff?? (Medellin)

**backofbeyond** · #2 13 Sep 2009

There was a report (on here I think - I haven't done a search) a few years ago about a couple of guys who used their bikes (one was a KTM?) to power a paddle wheel raft a couple of hundred miles up the river Niger.

One of them eventually packed up through overheating - lots of revs, relatively low speed.

One thing doing it on a calm river, another on the sea.

**flyde** · #3 16 Sep 2009

hmm.. would defiantly want to cut the radiator out of the system and run a hose out and under the water. The only restriction at the moment is the potential cost of a suitable hull. Turbo in 4 days to find this out.

**MikeS** · #4 16 Sep 2009

www.paulnoyverlag.com

I believe you are referring to 'Fast Guido' from Switzerland!

Bumped into him on the Great Ocean Road last year, what a dude. You'll find some pics of his KTM powered raft on the website, I think it even had a bar area!!

**flyde** · #5 17 Sep 2009

Awsome!!! Thanks alot Mike.

**El Aleman - Jens** · #6 18 Sep 2009

Hi,

good luck with your boat idea! Some Germans built similar things, but I don´t know if they made it through... They wrote a book about it:

"Abgefahren"

They were travelling on 2 XT 500s, they also have a website, something with abgefahren...

If you can not do it, I recommend a German Sailboat "Stahlratte"(steelrat)
they have a website and explain how to contact them and where the start, I know for sure they thake bikes!

Friend of mine did it a couple of months ago, check out their website, great pictures!

The Bundschuhs

See you one day at the HU Germany Meeting!!!

Jens - El Aleman

right now at Cusco!

**flyde** · #7 11 Oct 2009

The boat is a 1964 orange life raft. Have been working on it for a couple of weeks now and will drop the bike in tomorrow to try and line some things up. All goes well we will vamos to Panama in another week.

Two KLR´s connected to a land cruiser differential which powers the prop. Cooling system for the bikes is the last thing on the list, perhaps a submerged radiator.

How many have done the gap powered by motorbike before?

**Pigford** · #8 12 Oct 2009

I'd think twice about running river/sea water through the cooling system. As last post a submerged rad would be much safer

How about just pumping the tyres up a bit

**Stewart H** · #9 21 Oct 2009

Keep the saltwater out of your cooling system, raw water cooled marine engines have to run pretty cold in order to prevent salt blocking up the coolant passages, your bike engine is likely to be running hot enough to block itself up,

have fun.

Stewart

**flyde** · #10 13 Nov 2009

Its alive and hit the water today!!!!

Cooling system is returning cool water to the bike.... (:
Departing pronto

There is an engineering report on our sight and we will have more spacific pics and video soon.

**DarrenM** · #11 13 Nov 2009

wow thats impressive, I had doubts when you first started. have a safe journey.

**palace15** · #12 13 Nov 2009

All the very best with this project, and look forward to reading about your progress.

**MikeS** · #13 13 Nov 2009

Excellent! I think you guys need to do a video diary of the crossing...