11 April 2004
I designed second generation of Amphibear. Now universal for any ATV with front and rear metal frame racks. Also: rear and front kits are similar, waterline is lower on ATV and some more updates.

Folded easily
Pontoons now horizontally
Raised position
First floating test

First one revealed, that load strap around float is still needed (not in pictures above). Entering the water, rear pontoon was trapped by shore edge and turned around the fixing. It caused much higher waterline (ATV exhaust was below water, when rear pontoon turned). So I felt like captain of Titanic. But at this strange position everything was stable, and I could make small circle and exit again.


Second floating test

It was success. ATV floated, no problems. A bit disturbing was high degree of pontoon deformation with full ATV load on it, but to rubber it does not matter.

I tested at Pirita river in Tallinn. Water was about 3 degrees C, still some ice at shadow places.

One of things I wanted to see was sideways stability. Easiest to test it is to stand on one footboard. As logic suggested, with elastic pontoon it does not too much trouble. ATV just declines a bit and moves its centre of gravity to opposite.
I was exited to test purchased mud paddles. For my sadness it did not increase the travel speed of ATV, it is still about 2 km/h. However it increased the torque. Against the quite heavy wind meanwhile the movement was slow, but firm. Mud Paddles at work and on ground
To have more power for mud paddles I raised rear axle by winch in water. It helped, but slightly only.
Stopper for pontoon height adjustment I am especially proud of. In right upper corner see kit fixing to carrier – no holes or other damage to ATV. Stopper allows 7 positions in total, 5 of them have secured both sides movement for floating safety.
Load strap tensor can be fixed to carrier tube differently: to shorten strap, use otherwise hardly accessible places or not damage your carrier painting. (Before that you have to turn hook around on tensor)
Corner, that avoids side decline of frame and bag ends tensioned between two metal tubes
Just before second test. See load strap path and how kit position is lowered by positioning fixing below carrier tube (in upper right corner)

Third floating test

I tested Amphibear in different exit conditions in lake Peipsi. More interesting part of test was with 3.3 hp outboard installed. I raised rear pontoon for more room, then fixed outboard to rear rack. You see in the picture, that outboard angle is not the correct one.

Engine has only 1/3 of throttle, as otherwise due to not correct ange outboard sucks air into propeller and can not use engine power. Wheels are not used, as wheels tend to empower ability to suck air. Speed was 3,5 km/h with about 1 hp used. It is more than with wheels.
It seems I need to develop some simple propeller attachment to ATV to get it moving with tolerable speed in water (as 1hp with propeller was already helpful and ATV has 26 hp to use)