Herkimer "OK" CO2 motor in vintage Squirt boat

The Herkimer "OK" CO2 motor was produced from 1947 through the early 1960’s and ran from 20 to 90 seconds on a single CO2 seltzer bottle cartridge. Normally used to power free flight model aircraft, this Herkimer CO2 motor was used to power a balsa “Squirt" boat constructed from a vintage 1950’s model kit.

[@gwheyduke]

I would call that build a success👍

[@tomfey6020]

Thanks. It was fun. Just need to get a better run out of it.

[@Del350K4]

Last time I watched a video called "The Squirt Boat" the subject matter was very different. Having said that, I think you did a terrific job of building the kit and finishing the model. That propellor, while charming, looks quite inefficient to my untutored eye. I'm sure that, with all you've learned, you could get a satisfying run out of it.

[@tomfey6020]

I was going to title it "CO2 Gone Wild" to try to get more hits but backed off to "...Squirt Boat". I agree, the prop is more period show than go. I debated profiling it, etc., but decided to leave it box-stock. At some point I may fabricate a "racing" prop. Thanks for your comments.

[@Del350K4]

@@tomfey6020 Oh,I think nearly all of us would agree that we needed to see it run box stock. I have no expertise here, but am aware that modern speedboat props are of the "surface piercing" type and look very different from yours, which looks more like something you'd find on a slower cargo vessel. If you were to test a variety of Amazon or 3D printed or otherwise home-made props on this boat, I would delightedly watch any follow-up videos.

[@tomfey6020]

@@Del350K4 , thanks. The CO2 motors are high torque/low RPM, so it will never be very fast; more tugboat than Cigarette boat. I had one non-video'd run where the prop did get under water and the speed went up, RPM went down, duration seemed to improve up. And that is the type of run I'm trying to get on vid.

[@Del350K4]

@@tomfey6020 Additional weight astern is a double-edged sword, of course. You get a fully immersed prop at the cost of having to accelerate more mass...

[@tomfey6020]

@@Del350K4 What you make on the peaches you lose on the pears...

[@grisslebear]

Well, the boat run was singularly unimpressive, but the cool factor more that makes up for it. Hope you get it dialed in & can get lots better & more enjoyment out of it. Might also try building a fan boat.

[@tomfey6020]

The run video was indeed underwhelming, if not outright embarrassing. But I am encouraged that you stuck it out past that 170 seconds of propeller run. I intend to get a better boat run for video, then retire it to the shelf. But the Rain Gods have yet to smile upon me. Thank you for your comments.

[@RBOJCK]

ITS NICE TO SEE THESE BOATS RUNNING. RICK R-C CRAFT TOY BOATS

[@tomfey6020]

Thanks for your comments. It is a neat little time machine.

[@kh40yr]

A couple/several pennys on the stern and/or a simple prop change should toss that right on plane. It has the beans to get that done. Easy to see. Dumas would probably have a better prop for that, even in plastic to fit that shaft. Zipp Kits might have one. Offshore Electrics. I remember a TV show called The Love Boat. They could have used the same title as your boat and it would have worked out.

[@tomfey6020]

Thank you for your comments. My goal is to run it with the original, unmodified, stamped brass propeller with some transom weight and post an update. Stay tuned.

[@RichardTapp1]

looking forward to the next video, as I have the same motor.

[@tomfey6020]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I need to get couple good runs on the boat. But mostly it is just fun to see these little engines run.

[@RichardTapp1]

@@tomfey6020 I always thought that the steel CO2 cartridge would be too heavy for use with an aircraft. My other CO2 motors all have aluminium tanks. But I didn't think of a boat. I have a small balsa cabin cruiser that my father made 60 years ago, from a Ron Warring design. Originally it had a small Mabuchi motor and ran on a flat 4.5V battery - haven't seen one of them for a long time! I think this is likely to be perfect.

[@tomfey6020]

@@RichardTapp1 , my minimal experience is only with the Herkimer engine using disposable 8-gram CO2 cartridges in the Squirt boat. The 12-gram CO2 cartridges will not fit the Herkimer holder. I have no experience with the refillable reservoir systems or other motors. I think it was a challenge for designers and builders back in the day to build suitable models for a power system that weighed around two ounces (motor + prop + 8-gram cartridge) to go into an airframe that might weigh 3 or 4 ounces by itself.

[@tomfey6020]

@@RichardTapp1 , if you have a postal scale, could you please weight your Herkimer CO2 motor assembly? I'm wondering how close it is to the "3/4 ounce" weight they advertised. And it saves me the hassle of disassembling my boat. Thanks. Tom

[@RichardTapp1]

@@tomfey6020 38 grams. I tried to post a link to a photo of what I weighed, but it seemed that the link stopped the comment from posting.

[@WorldFamousDJFish]

I feel like one could recreate and possibly improve the design with a 3d printer.

[@tomfey6020]

Thanks for your comments. Regardless of the design and construction, it's still an uncontrolled boat with sub-60 second run time. Cutting edge for 1955.

[@stephenpatton8690]

It is not a $50 boat; it is a $1.50 boat.

[@tomfey6020]

It was $1.50 for the first guy; the last guy, me, paid $50! I do appreciate your watching that far into the video!