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Airboat Engine Mounts
In April of 2006, Water Walker published an article entitled "Airboat Engine Power Reduction Unit & Propeller Dynamics," in that month's issue of Airboat World Magazine (click here to download PDF file. 3.45 MB). The article described the findings of research that we had done into otherwise unexplained failures of car motor airboats with large horsepower engines and large wide blade propellers. The answers pointed strongly to a phenomenon known in aeronautical (airplane) design principles as Whirl Mode. At its conclusion, that article suggested that manufacturers of airboats attempt to design engine stand structures and in particular, engine mount systems that would be strong enough and sufficiently stiff so as to preclude the possibility of a destructive “Whirl Mode Phenomenon” event occurring anytime during the lifetime of the airboat. Lonny Tucker of Outback Adventures, Inc. of Lorida, Florida, (near Sebring), has produced such an engine mount system. After our published article mentioned above, Lonny became very interested and aware of the possibility of “Whirl Mode” dangers and spent considerable time in his shop with his machine lathe to develop the engine mount system he showed us on the new boat that is pictured and described here. In essence, in addition to being strong, these engine mounts provide tightly controlled vibration isolation from the engine to the engine stand (with rubber bushings) while limiting the maximum dislocation of the engine, reduction unit and propeller assembly to a very small 3 dimensional area. These qualities of strength, vibration isolation and “Stiffness” are required to preclude the onset of a “Whirl Mode Phenomenon” event. Water Walker LLC is “Working to make airboating better.” In this attitude, with the consent of Outback Adventures, we present this engine mount system. Lonnie has asked that Water Walker LLC manufacture the parts and pieces, and provide this mount system to him and to all airboat builders. We are looking forward to feedback from the airboating community. Would the airboat builders buy and use them? Do the airboat users want them? Please send comments to David Wine at Water Walker, LLC. In the meantime, Outback Adventures is a leader in this effort for safer boats. Lonny will be using this advanced engine mount system on his new boats. |
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We're working to make airboating better.
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