Thread: Clinker Putt Putt Plans

Yup. In my front yard is a 1950's, genuine clinker Samarcraft that is screaming out for restoration rather than slowly rotting away (she's pretty sad now). She's yours if you want, just don't knock over me tap when you're towing her away. If nothing else, the trailer (registered) is worth something.

Richard

On the topic of putt putts, we "clutch started" one before.

It broke down, and we had to tow it. It eventually started just from the towing action...

Originally Posted by AV Elec

On the topic of putt putts, we "clutch started" one before.

It broke down, and we had to tow it. It eventually started just from the towing action...

Now that really is funny, it must have had an enormous prop and no compression!
3 weeks ago at Westbrook park near Tailem Bend we watched these idiots towing a big ski boat up and down the river at a great rate of knots. We joked that they were trying to bump start it. Eventually, after breaking ropes and using lots of fuel they came and borrowed my jumper leads. The fibreglass penis extension had a flat battery and they were trying to start it!

Good one Christopha, SWMBO and I went through a period of financial stress many years back. During this time, we used to go to boat ramps for cheap entertainment. Putting the wife astraddle the towbar, whilst the captain guns the vessels up onto the trailer was the scariest. Releasing all of the restraints at the top of the ramp and then slammning on the brakes half way down, once provided us with an afternoon of specualtion as the vessel was a 25' timber inboard vessel made of jarrah or some such, with a huge cabin. It shook the ground as it settled onto the ramp for the day.

Back to the putt-putt thread, what sort of motor will put into her Kingfisher?

I'm pretty keen on diesel for the safety factor.
It's got to look the part as well - relatively simple, with hand starting and a ridculous big flywheel.
At this stage a Kubota 10hp looks attractive.

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

I'm pretty keen on diesel for the safety factor.
It's got to look the part as well - relatively simple, with hand starting and a ridculous big flywheel.
At this stage a Kubota 10hp looks attractive.

Make sure you get a *really* good muffler for it. We use small diesels on some of our fire pumps & many have a really nasty bark. I'm guessing due to the high compression ratio & lack of cylinders to even it out. A 15HP 2cyl Lombardini was by far the worst of them. After a few minutes it felt like you were standing near the wrong end of a machine-gun. With the fire appliance, you can just stand away from it a bit when it gets too much. A bit hard to do that in a boat...

Have you considered a Simplex or Blaxland Chapman petrol donk? (for the authentic putt-putt sound)

Cheers
AJ

If its to be a true Put Put It has to be single cylinder, otherwise it would be a puttter puttter

There is just something story bookish about a put put.
I can remember seeing & hearing them as a kid....just great.

If you could get one of those old, southern cross or a lombardi single....AHHHH.... that would have soul

cheers

Kingfisher me old mate.... want an ancientish single cylinder Yanmar diesel? Yours for a very reasonable price..... in beer or other barter! Only trouble is that it's about 4 hours South East of Adelaide.

Originally Posted by soundman

There is just something story bookish about a put put.
I can remember seeing & hearing them as a kid....just great.

You too huh?
I remember the hire boats on the Noosa River in the late 60's early 70's. We could hear them starting up from our tent at Noosaville caravan park, back a block or so from the O-Boats jetty. Hired one a couple of times our first year there (69?). Thereafter we had our own tinnie to drown worms from.

I seem to remember being able to tell the difference between an O-Boat & a T-Boat (Tewantin jetty) by sound. Not sure of the other hire jetties now. Q-Boats & S-Boats perhaps ? Any other fossils on list from that era & location ?

cheers
AJ

Originally Posted by Christopha

Kingfisher me old mate.... want an ancientish single cylinder Yanmar diesel? Yours for a very reasonable price..... in beer or other barter! Only trouble is that it's about 4 hours South East of Adelaide.

Now that does sound interesting. I take AJ's point. There seems to be a general opinion that some of the later model diesels are very LOUD. How can I get in touch with you Christopha?

Hi I had one of the put put boats on Noosa River for about 6-7 years,it was O boats No 1 when they used to hire them,the motor was made in Maryborough in 1948 by the Olds engineering company(they are still making motors)it was known as a BILLY OLDS 7-8 hp we could go all day on 4ltres of fuel. the cylinder wore out at one stage and I drove to Maryborough and got a new one off the shelf,
when Noosa started to get over populated people started to complain about the sound of the motors I used to fish at night the locals loved the sound but the blow ins whinged so much we had to put little mufflers on the exhaust then they became puft puft boats,any way you can still pick up an Olds motor now and then they are Australian and they are the best.

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

I'm pretty keen on diesel for the safety factor.
It's got to look the part as well - relatively simple, with hand starting and a ridculous big flywheel.
At this stage a Kubota 10hp looks attractive.

Howdy - if 17ft is too long, David does a couple of shorter boats too. It think he is the only highly experienced designer drawing proper plans for boats of this type.

Be aware that most of the putt putts were designed to get along fine with 4hp.

You may be getting a more expensive (and heavy) motor than the boat will require.

Most motor boats that want to be quiet use water silenced exhausts.

Best wishes
Michael Storer

My David Payne Yellowtail can be built as a putt putt, and she's only 14'. Makes a nice putt putt actually.

Richard

Yellowtail would be so easily driven that 4hp would be HEAPS.

MIK