The Hunt For a Right angle Bevel Gear box

Well, I was looking at 2 theories for changing the direction of the chain from running down the center of the boat to going across the transom. First was to use the twisted compact chain theory which consists of rotating one of the sprockets 90 degrees which works from what I've seen on other HPB websites. The other was to use a right angled Bevel gear box like you can find at Mitrpak.com. However, to purchase a gear box is expensive. The one I looked at was nearly $200.00 american, and out of my price range for my experimental boat not to mention, I'm trying to keep the boat as green as possible by recycling as many parts as possible.

While out in my shed the other day, I noticed my angle grinder sitting on the bench when it hit me....... angle grinders must have bevel gears and the shaft sizes are really close to what I was looking for. I searched online for a break apart schematic of an angel grinder (found some really good ones on Dewalts website) and low and behold, there were bevel gears!

I posted an ad on Kijiji.ca and I picked up a few non working grinders that were going to be throw in the garbage. I'm hoping in the next few weeks the weather will be a little warmer so I can get out in my shed and start working on the boat. If everything goes well, the mechanics will be complete very soon, and then I can start building the actual boat, which could be as early as April when I take my first vacation of 2009.

Spring is coming

I ran out of time last fall to complete my project, and figured Instead of rushing it, and trying to get some hunting in at the same time, I would take a break and get back at it in the spring. Here it is February, lot's of snow on the ground and I'm dreaming of warmer weather and my boat. I've been doing a lot of debating of whether or not to run dual propellers, or a single propeller. Dual props are certainly more work to put together mechanically, and can in theory more thrust with more effort. The more I think about it, then more I feel I need to go for the gusto and build the boat to the fullest. I'm hoping for the best, and in the worst case scenario, i remove all of the bicycle gear and have an ordinary boat and pop an electric motor on it to get around, but that's not positive thinking is it. This will work, just not sure if I'll be able to pedal it.... lol.

I'm still looking around for an inexpensive right angle bevel gearbox to transfer the direction of the chains so I can hook up the chain drive to the propellers. I've been given some websites to check out, however being an experimental boat and wanting to keep the costs as low as possible, $200.00 is out of my price range for a gear box. Time will tell what I'll find.

Stay tuned, more to come in the near future.