Custom/Hybrid Melmack's very unique 300sx build
- Thread starter Melmack
- Start date
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
No biggie.
I ordered a taller pitch skat swirl from Dave at Impros yesterday. He hooked me up as always. (Seriously, no pun was intended) LOL. Getting a bad 550 reed built for it. Maybe have it in by lsfr.
I ordered a taller pitch skat swirl from Dave at Impros yesterday. He hooked me up as always. (Seriously, no pun was intended) LOL. Getting a bad 550 reed built for it. Maybe have it in by lsfr.
- Location
- Canyon Lake Texas
That 550 should be sweet in there!
I still have yet to ride on the river in NB, every time I drive over the bridge right there on the Guadalupe I think about how fun it must be.
I still have yet to ride on the river in NB, every time I drive over the bridge right there on the Guadalupe I think about how fun it must be.
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
Thats my hope. Hopefully the weight will be about the same. The hp should be about double. And with the new prop, the cavitatin issue should be solved. It will still look the same but should pull like an fx1. Btw, well have to go ride the guad sometime
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
New developments in the works. We have aquired a new hull for futher testing of my lightweight power concept. Will keep posting as more hapens. Thank you all for staying interested.
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Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
Making a mould and doing some modifications to this new hull. Going to be able to mount the 300, a 701, and the rotary all in the same mounts. So depending what engine is in there, I just need to pitch the prop to match the engine and wholla, I have a super light freestyle ski with the 701 or a badass freeride/surf/beginner ski with the 300 or sigle rotor rotary. all in the same hull. We are also making it to where it is super short or there will be a bolt on extention for surf riding or just cruising flat water.
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
Big developments are in the works! We are working with an American manufacturer of a 450cc Rotary that can be stacked as a dual rotary to make a huge 900cc monster with potential double the power of today's 700cc engine. The weight of this engine is basically he same of a stock 700cc considering exhaust and electronics. The best part is they are gearing up to produce 200 prototype engines built in the US. We are working on a deal to purchase several of these engines so we can obtain a few for testing and tooling of mounts and such. The goal is to test these engines and prove their viability in our application, then, we will work on having them build a specific, slightly smaller and lighter engine for a direct CARB certified replacement for 2 strokes. We will then sell them as a retrofit kit an use them to power our production ski as well. Mass production is still a few years out. Our goal is to have a full working prototype watercraft within one year and roll out 15-25 complete units the first year and then 50+ watercraft every year thereafter. We are also going to consider a sport class ski. Best of all the goal is to keep the total cost of this complete ski with a hand laid, lightweight hull under 12k. I am confident that will work out but the goal is to make it as affordable as possible. If we can make a profit at 8k we will do it for that. The more we can put on the water to keep this sport alive, the better. Keep checking back. Ill post up when I have more info.
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- Location
- sask, canada
That's awesome news!
- Location
- Bay City, Texas
this is a very interesting idea. especially for an application like this. I first got my hands on a wankel engine about 5 years ago and did a ton of experimentation with it, but I wasn't into watercraft at the time, so never thought of this. but this would really be a great fit for the motor, ESPECIALLY in a freestyle application. the throttle response is unlike anything with piston because there is no reciprocating mass at any point in the drive train. it makes for an extremely jumpy, touchy throttle.
- Location
- Harveys Lake PA
Post pics of this new hull or it didnt happen. Even if I did sell you the pieces.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
- Location
- wichita, ks
agreed
iangdesign
Cats, lots of cats!
- Location
- United States
Most have lost interest in it...
naticen
Site Supporter
- Location
- wilmington, nc
It may never come to light, but I haven't lost interest and hope that Melmack hasn't either. I could only imagine how long a project like this would take me.
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
Still working on it guys. The engine builder is getting ready to build some prototypes. And I'm keeping my options open looking for a used Aixro Kart engine for sale to use in our test hull. As of right now, we only have parts of the hull molded up. I really have little to show. The hull look is not going to be the breakthrough here. Other guys have perfected that. We are focusing on lightening a good and proven hull for mass production, then using an even lighter power plant and needing much less power to overcome the weight. So instead of a Production ski with say 72 hp and 320 lbs we will produce a 50 hp ski with 220 lbs. In theory, ours will perform just as well or better and meet epa standards. Then, we will offer a "competition use only" bolt on cylinder/carburetor kit that doubles the hp to around 100 and ads about 30 lbs. There is a lot to work to be done on this but I am doing what I can to make it happen. If I wasn't working on a shoestring budget, I'd have this thing on the market already. Just waiting on that lotto ticket or Warren Buffet to give me a call.
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- Location
- California
did you ever put the built 550 in the 300 hull??? What prop for the fx1 pump did you use? Have most of those parts laying around with a couple fx1 swirl props and an extra pump...sounds like it could be super fun little ski! Any idea what a 300 engine weighs vs the 550 reed motor vs and yamaha 701? Just curious the actual differences
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
I did put a skat swirl from Impros in. It improved the power a lot but it still cavitates. I think it needs to be pitched up.. The 300 is about 40 lbs with pipe if I remember. The 701 is about 70. The 550 is just a bit heavier than the 300. The best power to weight is in the 550 but the Axiro beats them all in that area. The axiro has the weight of the 300 and the power of the 550. I never got around to building the 550. I have had a lot going on away from skis the last 3 months and no time to mess with it With all I have going on right now, I need a voulunteer to assymbol this 550 for me. I don't know if Ill ever get around to it at this rate. I was planning on boxing it all up and sending it to Group K but not sure if I can spend the cash right now.
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onedumbtrucker
Now with 20% more pulp.
- Location
- London, ON
I would assemble it for you Melmack but Canada is a looong way from Texas.
- Location
- California
Do you know what pitch prop you put in? Im picking up a 550reed motor this weekend, and already have the fx1 pumps & props. Have to figure out how to mount the 550 reed motor in there (I know there are threads on it just havent been able to read them yet...sounds like aluminum plates that you mount the 550 motor mounts to though which is easy). Would you mind giving me a better idea of what you did to get the FX1 pump mounted up & connected to the kawi motor? I know you said you modified the midshaft housing but I didnt see any specific details other than needing a welder which I do have. Did you have to source a different driveshaft / midshaft setup? Will probably go with a kart tank to save weight & space. Want to run a half pipe, bump the compression, possibly some light home porting, and it already has reeds and other mods so it should run pretty good! If you are rolling it with a 300 I am hoping I can try to roll and maybe flip it with the reed motor & fx1 pump...hopefully the prop is close too!
The rotary motor would be very cool and I really like your idea of a emissions legal lightweight affordable stand up ski for sale but obviously the engine is still a big hold up for that. I was talking to friends recently about a similar idea with something like a dirtbike 450F engine and a superlight "plastic" hull like the new cheap seadoos...either way would be great for the sport!
The rotary motor would be very cool and I really like your idea of a emissions legal lightweight affordable stand up ski for sale but obviously the engine is still a big hold up for that. I was talking to friends recently about a similar idea with something like a dirtbike 450F engine and a superlight "plastic" hull like the new cheap seadoos...either way would be great for the sport!
Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
Ill have to get with Dave at Impros to look up what I did. But I think it was the lowest pitch Skat swirl. I would think the highest pitch available would be a better starting point with a moded 550 after my results. I'm planning on sending it back and having it pitched as high as possible. I have also thought of just going with 144 pump and a low pitched hooker 9/15.
As far as the midshaft goes, I left the fiberglass tubular piece on the firewall in tact and removed the old midshaft. I picked out an aluminum tube just big enough to fit the center piece of a cracked Yamaha midshaft(Cut off the rubber part and outer section). I then welded two pieces of angle aluminum parallel to the tube allowing an overhang of the tube an inch or so on the back side. To get the pieces to line up, I cut the old 300sx midshaft in two, bolted it to a block of wood, and used that as a jig to align and spot weld the new piece together at the right height. Its complicated but the jig made it very easy. (Ill look for pics). I then inserted the modified Yamaha midshaft with a bead of polyurethane to hold it in place and seal it. I bolted this assembly right where the old mid shaft was. Then I sealed the rear of the coupling to the firewall tube with a large rubber hose using the firewall tube and the overhang I mentioned earlier to clamp the hose to.
I'll look up that pitch and get you a few pics.
As far as the midshaft goes, I left the fiberglass tubular piece on the firewall in tact and removed the old midshaft. I picked out an aluminum tube just big enough to fit the center piece of a cracked Yamaha midshaft(Cut off the rubber part and outer section). I then welded two pieces of angle aluminum parallel to the tube allowing an overhang of the tube an inch or so on the back side. To get the pieces to line up, I cut the old 300sx midshaft in two, bolted it to a block of wood, and used that as a jig to align and spot weld the new piece together at the right height. Its complicated but the jig made it very easy. (Ill look for pics). I then inserted the modified Yamaha midshaft with a bead of polyurethane to hold it in place and seal it. I bolted this assembly right where the old mid shaft was. Then I sealed the rear of the coupling to the firewall tube with a large rubber hose using the firewall tube and the overhang I mentioned earlier to clamp the hose to.
I'll look up that pitch and get you a few pics.
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Melmack
(Timothy)
- Location
- New Braunfels, TX
I don't care where they come from, long as they are built right and cheap enough we can all make a little. I would have someone build them in pieces and them send them stacked together in bulk to be assembled and finished here. The key would be a method of production that is consistent and efficient. I have a shipper that could move about five hulls at once cross country for about $500 if we staked them up. I would need 1 hull per week in groups of 5 or so at a cost of around 1500-2000 each to make this work.