Homemade Amphibious Boat Build

[@stereorandy]

Hey, Ben. Nice to see someone else accomplish a successful amphibious craft. I built the Quadyak about 10 years ago and rode it across the US, a trip of around 4500 miles (7242km), 3000 on land, 1500 in the water. I've ridden around 10, 000 miles in total in that craft. I'm not an engineer, nor even much of a craftsman, but my father was, so he did the mechanical build, while I did the bike and boat parts, which I was experienced with. I would like to point out a few things different about our crafts for folks considering such a build. 1. Front wheel drive and rear wheel steering allows for you to ride directly up steeper ramps or banks as the drive wheels hit land first, with the added benefit of a drastically shortened chain drive and the use of the rear wheel (or wheels) as rudder surface. 2. Making it a quad, verses a trike, although increasing the weight and complexity slightly, shortens the wheel base, resulting in greater ground clearance. It also aids in stability in the land to water launch transition. 3. I really like your paddle pedal drive, and It had the added benefit of the zero draft mode, but for simplicity sake alone, I prefer adding paddles to the drive wheels for a paddle-boat drive. It would be interesting to compare speeds. I had a flat-water cruising speed of about 2.5 mph, which I could maintain for the entire day and a sprint speed of about 3.5 mph. I will mention a down-side to my paddle-wheel system. You have to peddle constantly or break out a hand paddle, as the paddle wheels produce drag when Idle and will flip the craft around stern first or sideways. I look forward to your further videos and builds. If you want to see my build, check here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp60do2PrreWiMk There is also a 14 part series on my trip on m channel. Reach out if you have any questions or comments, please. And again, Good job and keep up the great work!

[@ben-kilner]

Top tips thank you 🙏🙏 looking forward to checking out your build 🤩

[@LoganRudolphLavalier]

Wow, the number of different talent that you utilized in this one build is incredible.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏

[@voornaam3191]

No, this is an engineer. Some people do such things for a living. Designing, calculating strength, building it, next project. He is good at it. Yes. But making him some demi god? Why? People should stop killing all talents except for one.

[@s4n714g000]

@@voornaam3191 And you're a KZbin commenter.

[@bartjohnson8139]

All of this build, but those duck feet! all of it, simply fantastic!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄🙏🙏

[@stephensmith1118]

@@ben-kilner the duck feet are inspired... but will you get a big bill.... ;oP

[@Personnenenparle]

I love how everything you do is almost wrong enough to cause problem, but just right enough to work pretty much flawlessly

[@ben-kilner]

You have got the art of prototyping in one 😂

[@izzyplusplusplus1004]

I love prototypes! ​@@ben-kilner Been dreaming of building something along the same lines myself!

[@DanielCrist]

This is the modus operandi for us amateur engineers.

[@geraldneville2733]

Very impressive. I much enjoyed from beginning to end (1&2).

[@duncanwallace7760]

Well, I was proud of myself when I made a fridge draw for my camper van! So many concepts and skills required to build this, quite amazing!

[@captainironbat8193]

One of my old teachers did this a while back. He's taken it across the country and traveled though the west with only a backpack and his amphibious kayak.

[@ben-kilner]

🤩🤩

[@TrevC-co6xk]

This video was a very pleasant suprise. An astounding concept and great problem solving, Thankyou!

[@tanioraaura1274]

Wow, you designed and hand built your own technical happiness. Brilliant video. Thank you

[@ben-kilner]

😄❤️

[@mikehall8036]

So relaxing watching a true craftsman at work. Amazing attention to detail.

[@Asja763]

It's amazing, what you've created.

[@laynetimba6060]

Great engineering and quality of build. Done in a very approachable way that the average person with simple hand tools can do. Nice analog build. Good filming angles with just enough content.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you! Getting to grips with filming and editing longer-form content. Feedback much appreciated 🙏

[@eltoro6064]

The weight of the metal tubings, braces, and what not , is two or three times the weight of the wooden frame boat. It's incredible the whole structure didn't sink at once. Great video.

[@sleeplessstu]

What a crazy contraption ! (But after seeing your dedication and ingenious craftsmanship, I’m a believer ! ⭐️ ) You’ve earned MY subscription 😉

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you and welcome to the channel 🤩

[@dancarter482]

Fascinating ~ the duck feet sequence with the music was particularly moving!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 glad you enjoyed it! Loved making the feet 😄

[@dancarter482]

@@ben-kilner _Beautiful craftsmanship._

[@Ace01010]

Love seeing a plan come to fruition!

[@LordDustinDeWynd]

Greetings from Temple, Texas, USA! 4:53 If the axle doesn't keep spinning after giving it a good twist, your bearings need adjustment otherwise you're using pedal power to overcome the friction the bearings are supposed to eliminate.

[@DickvanZanten]

Why not glue the wood of the padflefeet with epoxy too? That is way stronger than the foaming pu( gorilla )glue you used. Wher there is a bjbble ,there is no glue, so there's more gluesurface and epoxy wicks into the wood grain besides being FAR more waterresistant. Tip: put a piece of shockcord at the front side of the rudder blade, pulling the blade down. It allows the blade to kick up when necessary, yet being pulled down by freely. A sort of soft tripping defence. Good luck with your projects, your doing a fine piece of engineering! A professional yachtdesigner

[@tomquinlan821]

Sound like a know it all

[@Mr_Jamin007]

@@tomquinlan821 sounds like they know about building yachts.

[@tomquinlan821]

@@Mr_Jamin007 maybe to you. Professional yacht builder

[@Mr_Jamin007]

@@tomquinlan821 nah I'm an amateur wood worker that knows epoxy is better than glue!

[@ben-kilner]

The whole build was PU 😅 I will definitely have a go with epoxy next time around, especially when bonding dissimilar woods. Top tip with the rudder bungee however I found it’s own weight held it down well and I had a rope + cleat for lifting and lowering it 👍

[@seanrowe3622]

Very talented, a true visionary plus a very quirky way to conquer what looks to be a beautiful landscape .

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏

[@barthanes1]

It looks pretty nice. You could shave kilograms off of the frame with a welder. The u-bolts, fastners, plates, and tube secions at the connection points add a lot of mass. Also, the axle probably doesn't have to be solid. Heavy walled DOM tubing would probably sufice for the loads. A fully welded frame made of steel may even be lighter than the aluminum frame held with plates and fasteners. Anyway, it's a really cool duck boat. I hope you keep optimizing it until it becomes a viable product. It looks really fun and I'd like to try it for fishing.

[@ben-kilner]

🤩 Looking forward to learning to weld 😄👌

[@chriscrilly8807]

A small fortune in tools and materials. Clever builder too. Nice boat.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏

[@henrycartwright7124]

Another phenomenal episode! Can’t wait to see it in action!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you H 😍

[@christopping5876]

Amazing build and video. I paddled the Great Glen last year with my son. He now wants to cycle it. Looking forward to the video of the trip. Thank you.

[@ben-kilner]

Definitely worth a go on land 🤩

[@onebrownmeece]

This is truly inspiring, particularly because it shows how accessible such a build can be. Thank you

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🤩🙏 I really hope it inspires others to have a go!

[@dagunta]

Ur my hero! Never stop never stopping!

[@Leaf.Commented]

An excellent musical score as well Ben. Well done, brilliant project. (and great music)

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏🙏

[@LordDustinDeWynd]

Just for giggles, you might enable attachment of a trailer tongue/hitch to handlebars so you can tow without needing a separate trailer. It would also facilitate using block&tackle to pull out of sticky bits.

[@rogerwalker6407]

This is ingenious, very resourceful with lots of problem solving.

[@TonyM540]

Some serious engineering skills there, love the paddle boat.

[@1974UTuber]

I love the duck feet paddle design and your dedication to hand sewing and treating it instead of just a fibreglass construction. It would be cool to have a small battery pack and some LED strip lights in the hull to have the whole body light up on the water. Also, you may attract some fish for dinner that way.

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏 glad you like the duck feet! Excellent idea re. lighting 👍

[@essaunders]

Excellent series. Looking forward to the next episode!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 next episode out on the 19th 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀🚀

[@Pushyhog]

lights action camera ,focus , edit timing, great.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@NZHorizones]

High ASMR value in the stitching scene, that was a treat to watch!

[@Ernzt8]

What a great project! I love the paddles, they have a real Leonardo De Vinci vibe :)

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🤓🙏

[@errarehumanumest3810]

And now please make it also able to dive, glide and fly (powered). 🙂 Also fill out the front wheel to almost the inner end outer edge, so it can be used as side rudder. Instead of the bicycle steering wheel, make a small ship's steering wheel. And don't forget the small metal anchor so you can stop your vehicle on land and in the water. And, damn, wear a captain's hat! 😀

[@alexkram]

Everything about this is excellent! The design, the videography, the voiceover, the craftsmanship (ok not the welding lol). You were inspired by videos and contraptions made by others. I wonder who will be inspired by this to make something great.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄🙏 hopefully it passes on sleepless nights full of excitement and creativity ❤️

[@first_namelast_name4923]

Absolutely beautiful build. Please keep them coming. The canoe alone is a piece of art.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 episode 3 is out this Saturday at 9am BST.

[@girottos]

What a build!!! congrats bro!! respect!!! from Brazil

[@ben-kilner]

Thanks Tom 🙏🙏

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Amazing! All those skills/crafts put to good use. The bone frame and webbing, a work of art. What a fantastic project. Subscribed for more.

[@ben-kilner]

Welcome to the channel 😄🤩

[@ariefzulkarnaen9517]

From Jakarta Indonesia....Good Idea....Impressiveness....thanks bro....Goodluck

[@siov4279]

wow this is totally awesome!

[@TheMim95]

Really really nice build! And love to see how you go further and further with every build! Looking forward to see more!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🤓👍 next episode out on the 19th 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@kaisailor1]

Hey man, great Build! I love the idea. I saw you and the boat somewhere else on the net. You were in a Canal I think but then I happened across this video here on YT. I'm also a boat builder. I'm designing a 26' camp cruiser for The Great Loop here in the states. But considering doing something like an 18'-20' version first for local waterways and lakes. I love the multipurpose aspects of your creation. It looks like a lot of fun to travel with it. I'm a cyclist myself and spend a lot of time biking the local trails. We have a few canals here going up to the Great Lakes I was initially just going to build a trailer for my bicycle to pack my camping gear and some sort of inflatable or foldable boat. To do the Erie Canal and bike trails. But this would probably he an even better option. Really grat idea in my opinion for those who want a unique minimalist multipurpose method to do some adventure camping and cruising. So glad that I found your channel.

[@ben-kilner]

🤩 so much fun to use! With some upgrades I would do it again some day. Best of luck with all your adventures 🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀

[@Josef-q2f]

Wunderschönes Projekt. Sehr inspirierend und gutes Handwerk.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@Put-that-down]

This was fun to watch and got my imagination going.

[@soilnrock1979]

With all that sawing I can't help myself from constantly worrying for the safety of your fingers 🙂 Love the purple colour accent - and everything else!

[@ben-kilner]

😬🤞 glad you enjoyed it! The anodised parts did give it a bit of zing 🤩

[@victorriceroni8455]

How cool. Kind of a fun mix of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Trimaran on Waterworld.

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

Excellent workmanship, thanks for posting 🙏

[@geetee50]

you are a true engineer absolutely love this project and this journey your on.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄🙏🙏

[@meirfeit2221]

What a neat build! I can’t wait to see the journey, and how it holds up. I’m definitely subscribing.

[@ben-kilner]

🤩 first part of the journey is up, second part will be out this Saturday 🥳

[@JDRockinfeller]

Absolutely fascinating build

[@ВладимирНемов-ы9е]

Oh man! This is super cool!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@williamschultz298]

You're definitely going places, please keep the uploads going!

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏🚴‍♂️🛶🚀🚀 next episode out on the 19th 👍

[@LostButMakingGoodTime]

Amazing blend of engineering and craftsmanship! Well done!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 😄🙏

[@adddude7524]

Holy shit. Nice craftsmanship!

[@stefanbeutz8574]

😂 sehr geil. Ich bin selber Kanute und fahre viel Fahrrad. Was für eine verrückte Idee.👏💪✌👍👍👍👍

[@dandaniels851]

Fantastic project, brilliant work much appreciated by a diy bloke like myself. I built a similar sailing canoe myself once with detachable wheels and as soon as I saw yours on the road I realised the need for a clear sail 😅

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you!! A clear sail would be ideal on land 🤣

[@massinissa36]

That's what they call talent 👌 🙌

[@ben-kilner]

😄🙏

[@ramoverde4133]

The Pedal Paddle feet are beautiful !!!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@danielbradmacboleniii5601]

Excellent craftsmanship 😊

[@thornwarbler]

Well done, mate. Lovely job.

[@ben-kilner]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤩🙏

[@garyvs.carsmore4607]

This channel should have way more subscribers! Great editing, a masterful build!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 working on growing the channel 😅

[@portnuefflyer]

The coolest guy on the boat ramp!

[@ben-kilner]

😄🚴‍♂️🛶🚀

[@user-augurus]

👏Великолепное каноэ и Идея. Быть Добру и СоЗнанию✊️

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@ВРАГБАНДЕР.Самоделки]

это военный десантный корабль

[@user-augurus]

@@ВРАГБАНДЕР.Самоделки Шуточка?? Думаю что у Творящих Людей, даже и аналогий таких в Сознании нет🫣 Быть Добру✊️

[@ВРАГБАНДЕР.Самоделки]

@@user-augurus мой ютуб канал. .тв полезные самоделки. ,самый общеполезный в это мире

[@mspeir]

You should implement a clutch system for steering so that when you want to steer, the opposite paddle is disconnected from the drive. It would steer in water more like how a typical canoe steers.

[@ben-kilner]

I like your thinking!!

[@Wrenchmonkey1]

How do you only have 6.5k subscribers, with such an ambitious project? Allow me to add one more. This is wildly entertaining. Can't wait to see how it performs.

[@ben-kilner]

Welcome to the channel 😍 it is early days but hopefully it will see some growth 🤞🤞

[@izzyplusplusplus1004]

​@@ben-kilner1k in 4 days, bro's going viral.

[@izzyplusplusplus1004]

Wrenchmonkey1 is simply a fellow appreciative of the KZbin fine arts.

[@advantagemarine7305]

Surely you meant amphibious project 😂

[@Wrenchmonkey1]

@@advantagemarine7305 Nope.

[@NSResponder]

Brilliant contraption!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏

[@robertberger8642]

Wonderful build!

[@Cruz0e]

Kino Yves would love this :D

[@supermroz]

This is incredible!

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏

[@TheIronSmith-s9e]

the bottom getting chewed out by gravel when you go 30 km down dirt road? mud flaps for protecting keel?

[@johnhughes8563]

Excellent video.

[@backyardforge5568]

Somebody pls sponsor this guy with tools!

[@WoodArt-92]

You guys are very creative but also called very destructive 😂😂

[@zhuyouan0412]

Fantastic! would like to know if you can incorporate a mid drive assist motor for longer distance travel with less effort, the system should weight any from 6-10kg including battery so no big deal compare to the canoe and cycling part.

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏 it would be easy to incorporate however it would need to be thoroughly waterproofed in case of capsizing 😅

[@cory4152]

Incredible, bravo 🎉

[@ben-kilner]

🙏🙏

[@luke384]

Nice one ben, youve been busy since the framing course i see 😂. Love it mate keep up the great inventions and enjoy the adventures 👍 Luke

[@ben-kilner]

Hello Luke 😄 I hope you are well! The contraption has developed a fair bit since the course. MK1 was built a few days after I got home from framing. All the best, Ben.

[@AnthonyPhillpotts]

Amazing build

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@jonbridge8064]

If you find/make wheel covers for the front wheel, it can be a rudder also.

[@ronkemp9528]

Great build always wanted to do this to my paddleboat.

[@ben-kilner]

🙏

[@boomer2264]

Great video👍

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@izzyplusplusplus1004]

Saw this, subbed immediately, glad to be one of the first 10k.

[@ben-kilner]

🤩 welcome to the channel! Thank you for your support 🙏🙏

[@waynethomas3638]

I used to use a lot of thick metal to make thread locking for attachments until i found rivnuts. Now I use less thick metal. when I use electric accelerators i mount thumb or hand accelerators in reverse as this stops runaway action. I applaud the use of dynema fibres for strengthening the web

[@ben-kilner]

Yes, I need to embrace lighter fastening techniques. Hoping to learn to weld properly one of these days. The main upside of all the U bolts etc. is the adjustability when working with a prototype. So easy to tweak and shuffle when needed.

[@ben-kilner]

Top tip re. Reverse mounting of accelerators to reduce chances of runaway 👍

[@rickstig9040]

really nice job!!!

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@manfredatee]

Lovely video again, nice work and well shot. I appreciate the insights into the design process as that is always interesting. I am looking forward to next episode and I would love to see some of your thoughts/plans for improvement after the trip: it's all part of the engineering process, no?

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏 Glad you enjoyed it Manfred. I am aiming to do a technical deep dive into the build and thoughts for future development. It will most likely just be on Patreon 👍

[@CapitanPodd-lm2dm]

incredible!

[@kimkimkim2634]

Impressive skills! How about adding a roof made of solar panels to power a tiny engine?

[@ben-kilner]

🤩 a flexible cover made from solar panels was part of an early design however I decided to keep it as simple as possible for this prototype mainly because I expected to capsize 😅. One issue with a roof is the increased impact of side and head winds and increased height of the centre of gravity.

[@kimkimkim2634]

@@ben-kilner oh yes, of course. I didn't think about that :)

[@scottytherambler6919]

You need to upgrade from pedal bike chain to go-kart chain, in America it's called #40 or 420 chain, they are nearly identical with minimal differences, but are far sturdier, the sprockets are far thicker, and the links on a good 420 chain will high quality sealed rollers on the links that will reduce the stresses on your drive system. With proper gear ratios, you could have exactly the same performance but with added strength and durability compared to traditional pedal bike components. I would also add some aluminum skids to the front/bottom to reduce the potential of a slice or puncture while being driven, or even possibly raising the ride height while on road/trails to a few inches higher, and improving the braking system by adding fat tires, with hydraulic disc brakes. These suggestions are not to imply you did any designing or building wrong, but just things i think will improve quality of life during use, as well as the reliability of your vehicle on long voyages.

[@ben-kilner]

Spot on!! Definite chain / belt upgrades needed. Hit some challenges with basic bike components when climbing steep hills on land 😅 (details in episode 4). For flat use, normal bike components would be fine but for any touring go kart components needed 👌

[@velvetvideo]

love this...been designing similar.

[@MrBaophdiyart]

Good job🎉🎉

[@francoisclaeys3594]

Magnifique !

[@shaul.b2464]

Amazing Ben! Could you share please what is your profession and how did you get the knowledge to design and make such a thing?

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🤓 I have enjoyed making things from a young age including radio controlled boats and cars etc. I spent lots of time in canoes and river boats as a child. Mainly on the River Wye and Thames. I then studied Mechanical Engineering at university. The original Pedal Paddle setup was inspired by Theo Jansen and his wind sculptures. Overall just the product of my curiosity and experiences 😄👍

[@aaronjaben7913]

14:04 drill halfway through from both ends to ensure centered holes

[@ezraredgwell]

Very cool video but there are multiple things I would have done differently, I personally would have left the sail idea behind as it is just added weight. Instead of making my own paddle feet I would have went to my local hardware store and picked up two aluminum spades and used them for paddles. I also would have added in a electric mid drive onto the pedals so it would have an easier time pedaling on the road and a higher top speed in the water

[@carlotesta6299]

🇮🇹Bellissimo semplicemente geniale degno dei lavori di Leonardo Da Vinci 👍👍👍👍👍saluti dall’Italia

[@ben-kilner]

Thank you 🙏 greetings from the UK 🇬🇧

[@nikolaykalnakov]

Absolutely fabulous!!! Just wondering I it wouldn't have been possible to use the front wheel as a rudder if is was made with covered sides (it would have also proved the aerodynamics, although since speed is not the objective of the build it probably doesn't matter)? That way there would jave been less parts and a small weight gain. Even better if the wheel set up was a revercet trike with single back wheel that is steered. .. in any case, as it is, it is still absolutely amazing!!! Genius!!!

[@ben-kilner]

Very good questions 🤓👌 Thought about a front rudder but decided against it - it would create an overturning moment that would create an axial rotation moment counteracting the natural tendency to lean into a turn. At slow speeds this would be fine but at higher speeds or in rough water this would become undesirable. I suspect this is the reason for all the trailing rudders out there. Two reasons for avoiding rear wheel steer - it looks like it would be disconcerting to steer + it would put the pedal paddle system and front wheels next to or just in front of the driver making it a less pleasant/safe user experience. Less pleasant because of all the bits waving around in the field of view and less safe as it could impede a swift exit if needed (especially in water mode).

[@nikolaykalnakov]

Ben, it all.makes sense!!! And as I said I love what you have done!!! Just have this nag to look for better ways.... what about having back stear and drive wheel with the peta pata system on the sides of the back wheel. That way the doubling and overcomplicated 2 driven wheels would be avoided (the 2wheels on the front could be simply independent and free spining), too, probably saving you significant weight. I know back stear on land is frowned upon but at low speed is fine and if you have ever driven a forklift the feeling is actually fun... aither way you are great! Keep on!!!❤

[@bravobursado5974]

There will be galvanic corrosion between iron and aluminum. Best to have some silicone paste or grease sandwiched between them.

[@johnteevins7036]

rad. thanks for existing bud.

[@ben-kilner]

😄❤️

[@Iowa599]

Use oil when cutting threads. I use Dex/Merc ATF, because I have some.

[@JC-ew5ss]

I am surprised you dis not try using the sail for land as well. I know the wind would not always be in the right direction but sometimes it may.

[@ben-kilner]

Check out the next episode 😄 I used it on land for a stretch of canal path between Loch Oich and Loch Ness