I need new floats, help me to choose.

[T-Rex]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

If you fly your plane at 1650lbs. I would look at it like an F-21 with a 1750 GW. They also have a 115HP lyc. You are probably underpowered for what you want to do. I have the same problem, 1500lb GW with a 85HP engine. And I want to put me, my wife, my 95lb dog and camping gear in there with full fuel. It doesn't matter what kind of giant float I put on T-Rex with hatches to store all of this stuff. I just don't have enough power to pull it out of the water. You should call, no internet, Gregg Clayton (Clayton Skylight STC) up in Alaska. He loves to talk T-Craft and has a lot of experience flying his T at very heavy weights. There's no replacement for displacement. Cubic inches that is.
Can you post a picture of your floats? If they are so slow through the air I would interested to see how they look and are designed. You say they are Aqua look a like's, but Aquas are not that slow compared to others. Just curious

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

If you fly your plane at 1650lbs. I would look at it like an F-21 with a 1750 GW. They also have a 115HP lyc. You are probably underpowered for what you want to do. I have the same problem, 1500lb GW with a 85HP engine. And I want to put me, my wife, my 95lb dog and camping gear in there with full fuel. It doesn't matter what kind of giant float I put on T-Rex with hatches to store all of this stuff. I just don't have enough power to pull it out of the water. You should call, no internet, Gregg Clayton (Clayton Skylight STC) up in Alaska. He loves to talk T-Craft and has a lot of experience flying his T at very heavy weights. There's no replacement for displacement. Cubic inches that is.
Can you post a picture of your floats? If they are so slow through the air I would interested to see how they look and are designed. You say they are Aqua look a like's, but Aquas are not that slow compared to others. Just curious

I cannot argue with you on this one. The reason my ship is heavier is because I increased the spar size and upgraded all to match the F-21
and thus apply for the increased grosss weight eventually to 1750. I guess I should have gone with the 0-235,0-290, or 0-320 in the beginning but , the 0-200 was the right price at the time , you know how that goes.

I can make another 15 hp from the c-90,so, that and the LSI electronic ignition would make a good combo without increasing weight or throwing off the weight and balance .

Maybe I just need a Supercub??

[T-Rex]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

So I'm not trying to mess with you or anything, really. But I've seriously been thinking of a c-90 or o-200 crank conversion in T-Rex. If a good c-90 became available I may just jump on it.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

So I'm not trying to mess with you or anything, really. But I've seriously been thinking of a c-90 or o-200 crank conversion in T-Rex. If a good c-90 became available I may just jump on it.

My engine has about 200 hrs since complete overhaul . It had a new crank and cam but the cylinders are reconditioned. If I go for the extra hp I would need four new cylinders, pistons and rings. 115hp is very realistic doing this.

If I had a F21 firewall forward I would seriously consider the change. Actually
someone had offered this to me in the spring but the engine was questionable . If I find it , I'll have a good C90 to sell .

You could get the same thing out of your engine by doing what I have mentioned, but only if you have the bolt through case studs. Not sure if
approved though, I know the 0-200 crank and cam are. Actually, I am told
the C90 cam is much better for float flying as the torque comes in at a much lower RPM .

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

So I'm not trying to mess with you or anything, really. But I've seriously been thinking of a c-90 or o-200 crank conversion in T-Rex. If a good c-90 became available I may just jump on it.

My engine is in the experimental category and that may be an issue unless
you had a tag. My engine was rebuilt at a authorized rebuild shop and dynoed. My previous 0-200 was built by a local engine rebuilder and it failed in 6 hours. Lucky I caught it before a complete inflight failure occured. long story there.

[T-Rex]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

Well that all sounds real nice. I'm not in a hurry to buy someone else's problem so I will be looking for a while, so if all of the planets align we may have a deal. There is a guy who comes through Surfside a couple times a year for float changes that has an Exp. PA-11 with a hopped up O-200 with a C90 cam, high compression pistons, ported and polished cylinders, 4 into 1 balanced exhaust and light weight everything. He figures the engine is putting out about 125 horse or so. He swings a M76AK38 or 40 with ease to full redline. He has it registered Exp. LSA and routinely flies it at 2000 lbs. on Baumann 2100 floats. It is really an excellent performer even without flaps. I think a T-Craft with that engine and larger floats (1400+) would be awsome.

[swoeric]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

I have read through this several times. i just got a job on the lake and looking to add floats. I have 85hp 1500 gross full electric. I plan on starting the build of a new motor so that i have one in reserve and build as i save money. i like the idea of 90 cam in 0200 but plan on keeping compression low enough to use auto gas. Of the floats out there what have you guys decided as best bang for the buck. I weigh in at 230 and love taking the wife.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

I have read through this several times. i just got a job on the lake and looking to add floats. I have 85hp 1500 gross full electric. I plan on starting the build of a new motor so that i have one in reserve and build as i save money. i like the idea of 90 cam in 0200 but plan on keeping compression low enough to use auto gas. Of the floats out there what have you guys decided as best bang for the buck. I weigh in at 230 and love taking the wife.

I have read through this several times. i just got a job on the lake and looking to add floats. I have 85hp 1500 gross full electric. I plan on starting the build of a new motor so that i have one in reserve and build as i save money. i like the idea of 90 cam in 0200 but plan on keeping compression low enough to use auto gas. Of the floats out there what have you guys decided as best bang for the buck. I weigh in at 230 and love taking the wife.

You and the wife, 1320's and fuel would be good to go most days if your ship is on the light side. EDO1400's would also do in this situation giving a little more flotation , however at the expense of take-off performance. Now in the above
scenerio if you want to add camping gear , extra gas etc for a cross country trip you can forget it, it will not happen. If you want that you would need the
Baumman 1500 floats. If I were building the ultimate T right now and had a C90 to rebuild I would install the C90 cam, go with the high compression pistons, new flow matched cylinders and induction system, LSI electronic
ignition and use the Baumman 1500 floats. Keep everything light and the minimum amount of instruments. If you are certified you are limited in what
you can do , but if experimental or LSA you have many options for light
weight starter, alternator and electrical system half the weight of the certified stuff. And I have to add that going high compression will not allow
the use of auto fuel. I was STC'D to use auto fuel but never used it unless
in a pinch. Using auto fuel in the nose tank I would always smell its fowl order
in flight which for me was very unpleasant . Anyway, the C90 above would give 115 - 125 HP depending on how far you want to go. Adding the 0-290
or 0-320 would give more HP but at the expense of loss gross weight and the
extra fuel burn which you do not have the capacity for. I'm available to talk
further about this if you wish, just let me know.

[N5002M]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

Robert,

Quick question somewhat unrelated to your thread but how did you manage to get a experimental certificate for your BC12D. I'd love nothing more than to do that with mine but the Feds gave me a big lecture and said that I was fooling myself if I thought that I could just start adding the mods up to the 51% rule. It seems to me it's all very subjective and I want to arm myself with as much experimental knowledge as I can for my next exchange with these guys. Experimental is (in my humble oppinion) the future of general aviation. It kills me when my buddies wake up with an idea one morning to 'try' something on thier Kitfoxes and I get to look forward to a month of the approval process and arguing with people that have no engineering background at all. How antiquated the system is!!!!!

Chris

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

Robert,

Quick question somewhat unrelated to your thread but how did you manage to get a experimental certificate for your BC12D. I'd love nothing more than to do that with mine but the Feds gave me a big lecture and said that I was fooling myself if I thought that I could just start adding the mods up to the 51% rule. It seems to me it's all very subjective and I want to arm myself with as much experimental knowledge as I can for my next exchange with these guys. Experimental is (in my humble oppinion) the future of general aviation. It kills me when my buddies wake up with an idea one morning to 'try' something on thier Kitfoxes and I get to look forward to a month of the approval process and arguing with people that have no engineering background at all. How antiquated the system is!!!!!

Chris

Hate to say this but you are not going to be able to do much with a certified
aircraft. I'm in Canada actually and we have a new category called owner
maintenance which is similar to experimental or amateur build as it is called
here in Canada. With experimental or amateur built you would take a older
aircraft that is usually a wreck and apply to restore showing you will be doing
at least 51% of the rebuild to qualify.
Our new category called owner maintenance allows one to decertify an older
aircraft one time and it cannot ever go back to certified status . This also gives one the freedom to do the service work and make changes. I for example just bought a C172 with a modified engine, special float and a non
certified prop for this type . If it were certified I could not have done these
mods. Too bad because I have a 172 that performs just as good as a 180.
I sold my experimental T this past spring and I have to admit, I should have
done it long ago. The T was great for short trips and served me well for ten
years, but now I can actually fly with four people if I wish or I can take two to three guys and actually go on a fishing or hunting trip. And the bonus is
I can add non certified parts such as the micro VG's that I just bought for
$350 and the exact same kit "certified" is almost $2000. Gotta love it!

[astjp2]

Re: I need new floats, help me to choose.

There is a set of Aqua 1500's for sale in the other section. Tim