boatbuildlog

Design

Bicycle Boat

Designed by Grandpa's Archive

A pedal boat made from an old bicycle frame mounted above two narrow pontoons. Pedaling turns a ring-and-pinion gear bolted to the sprocket, which drives a small three-blade propeller through a shaft, and the article notes that a girl's bicycle is easier to mount because it has no crossbar. It also suggests war-surplus aircraft belly tanks as ready-made pontoons.

The plan pontoons are framed in white pine, planked with 1/4 in sugar pine, covered in muslin ironed on over airplane cement, and fitted with a spruce keel and air vents so heat cannot burst them. The drawings show the pontoons about 10 ft long. Pipe braces and angle iron hold the bicycle in place. A period curiosity for warm, calm water, and a free scan.

What building a Bicycle Boat actually takes

Medians from the build logs kept on this site, not the designer’s estimate. Nobody has logged this boat here yet, so they are empty until the first builder does.

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Median months

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Builds of this boat

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Boats like this one

Same type, closest in length.

Design Plans from LOA Logs
24 ft Barge/Shop Benford Design Group 24′ 0″ (7.32 m) 0
3 Piece Boat Grandpa's Archive 7′ 0″ (2.13 m) 0
40 ft Landing Ramp Fuel Barge Benford Design Group 40′ 0″ (12.19 m) 0
Baby Boat Cradle Manta Marine Design 1.2 m (3′ 11″) 0
Corky Grandpa's Archive n/a 0
Foldavan Woodenwidget n/a 0