W
wcapron2001
Guest
Well I DID IT!! Last Wednesday my wife and I took the blue 64 out for
it's maiden voyage. This has been a SEVEN year project. (so long my
kids have stopped asking when) After reading Mike Israel's excellent
primer on the first swim we headed out to the float plane dock at
Renton airport on Lake Washington. This ramp is secured behind a
security fence that you need a gate code to enter and is only
supposed to be used by the float plane maintence crews to put in and
take out aircraft. Having a 182 hangered at Renton, I have the code.
We went in and I put in the bildge plug and hooked up the automatic
pump. I then latched the hood and the water lock on the passengers
door and checked them twice (three times) I donned my life jacket and
got in. I checked my water lock twice and started down the ramp. It
was rather unnerving driving my car into the lake. I went in so slow
that it wasn't until two big waves and a gust of wind blew me
sideways on the ramp that I realized I was floating. At this point I
am stuck sideways on the ramp. Being in the car, I just backed up and
turned down the ramp again. The second time was the charm. Off I
went, out about 100 yards and a turn around and back up the ramp. My
wife took some great pictures and we did a carefull inspection.
Everything looked great so back in we went. this time she went with
me and we stayed out a little longer. On this day the lake was quite
rough. We were frequently taking waves over the hood and
occassionally half way up the windshield. I can understand why the
magazines blasted amphicars. They are a poor car and a bad boat. On
the fun scale they are a solid 10. Amphi is now back in the garage to
get more fully compleated. I have managed to straighten the top bows
and get them ready to install the top. I have made a panel to cover
the steering linkage and I have decided to install the NOS
transmission I bought from Gordons back in 1995. The one in the car
works and shifts fine but its so noisy you cannot have a conversation
in the car. I'm going to install the new one and hopefully be able to
make one more good one out of the other two that I own. Surprisingly
enough the water gear box is as quiet as a mouse.
Bill Capron, a true swimmer
it's maiden voyage. This has been a SEVEN year project. (so long my
kids have stopped asking when) After reading Mike Israel's excellent
primer on the first swim we headed out to the float plane dock at
Renton airport on Lake Washington. This ramp is secured behind a
security fence that you need a gate code to enter and is only
supposed to be used by the float plane maintence crews to put in and
take out aircraft. Having a 182 hangered at Renton, I have the code.
We went in and I put in the bildge plug and hooked up the automatic
pump. I then latched the hood and the water lock on the passengers
door and checked them twice (three times) I donned my life jacket and
got in. I checked my water lock twice and started down the ramp. It
was rather unnerving driving my car into the lake. I went in so slow
that it wasn't until two big waves and a gust of wind blew me
sideways on the ramp that I realized I was floating. At this point I
am stuck sideways on the ramp. Being in the car, I just backed up and
turned down the ramp again. The second time was the charm. Off I
went, out about 100 yards and a turn around and back up the ramp. My
wife took some great pictures and we did a carefull inspection.
Everything looked great so back in we went. this time she went with
me and we stayed out a little longer. On this day the lake was quite
rough. We were frequently taking waves over the hood and
occassionally half way up the windshield. I can understand why the
magazines blasted amphicars. They are a poor car and a bad boat. On
the fun scale they are a solid 10. Amphi is now back in the garage to
get more fully compleated. I have managed to straighten the top bows
and get them ready to install the top. I have made a panel to cover
the steering linkage and I have decided to install the NOS
transmission I bought from Gordons back in 1995. The one in the car
works and shifts fine but its so noisy you cannot have a conversation
in the car. I'm going to install the new one and hopefully be able to
make one more good one out of the other two that I own. Surprisingly
enough the water gear box is as quiet as a mouse.
Bill Capron, a true swimmer
