Last leg of Amphibear journey

Martin from Scan Shipping notified me on Monday, I can pick up my car at 29 April from Muuga port in Estonia. At port it took some time for entrance and wasted time for waiting in wrong place. In right place we took pictures of sealed door and opened the container. There she is, Amphibear without pontoons, but with all the rest of equipment.

Started happily to release Amphibear from his sea voyage prison. After half an hour jumping on the lever was not so happy any more. Strong fastening!

Front was easier, just to get there was tight. So we towed the released Amphibear out of container.  Opened up the car and all boxes and called for coastguard. Soon patrol came, checked only the body number and said, as registered in Estonia it needed no control at all. Just to drive out of port territory their control paper is helpful.

For last Amphibear journey drive from port to home some more preparations were needed. As surprise both car key batteries had lost their power. So, we started our drive like alarm vehicle, but soon system recognized the key. All the rest worked as before and twenty kilometers to home were uneventful. Now Amphibear is at home and I start with cleaning, repairing and storing all equipment.

Amphibear drove on its own from Tallinn to Cabo Verde islands with Gibraltar crossing and Atlantic crossing from Senegal to Cabo Verde on the way. Then after few hundred kilometers in Atlantic pontoons were broken, Amphibear was rescued by Geoholm and shipped to Rio De Janeiro. In hope for new pontoons Amphibear traveled little more in South America, up to Lima. This was remarkable journey. It was possible because of help of so many people.

You were always with me in you thoughts. Thank you!

SincerelyYours,
Mait Nilson.

Võrtsjärv 2013

Test concluded in 11-12 June 2013

This time there were four main reasons for the test. First, filming of the car on water and road. Second, have two persons overnight sleep in the car. Third, test extra inflatable pontoons attached to car for more stability of heavy loaded vehicle. Fourth, launch kitesurf kite and test how it would be sailing the amphib. As a lot of time was spent on filming (look at video sections for some of it) then almost no pictures.

Wind was again over 20 knots, so driving required attention. It is easy to lose your focus, when cameraman on passenger seat and makes interview with you. As usual for me, I trusted navigation devices instead of common sense. So we ended up on some gravel roads and road renovations. Film crew was happy and car dusty.

At arrival local boaters announced that due to heavy storm they can not come with small boat they planned for film crew. Were seriously doubting to come with bigger one also. After lengthy preparations for water I finally saw what they meant. Their boat did turn the nose up to the sky several time in severe angle. Amphibear was more stable as waves were quite short compared to Amphibear full length. But I imagine how it will bounce around in raising storm on any sea as this 15 foot boat did on the lake.

After film crew left we started to install and inflate the pontoons. In theory these should help. In practise there are needed solutions for two problems. Supporting and attaching the pontoons, as if these provide buoyancy then there are serious forces involved and a lot of attachments needed. Sharp metal edges can be problem also, as inflatable pontoons are flexible and move around then they can be quickly worn by any small sharp metal object. And there is a lot of  kind at the car of stainless steel frame and aluminium pontoons. Made my remarks for homework.

Inflatable pontoons form also some more deck area. Must be secured seriously. This is just shape test.

Kite we started to test at dawn and we discovered two things. It can be launched from Amphibear. We could lay it over the car and have wind to form the right shape of kite for flying. We can not do it any more, as there was left only about 6 knots of wind. We packed it again and drove to river mouth anchorage for sleeping test. 

To have idea of this sleeping conditions take your grandmothers old clothes closet, lay it down on the floor. Drop in some mattresses, sleeping bags and two persons, close the doors and start preparing your bed for the sleep. First you need a lot of patience as all things can be done one person at a time. Second you need acrobatic skills, as setting up, reaching up and changing place requires to take positions good for posters in some niche magazines. But sleeping itself was uneventful. Ventilation from mosquito netted rear windows was sufficient. As usual, all windows got steamed (I was too lazy to set up all nice curtains for all windows, what my wife sewed for the car). In the morning it was easier, as no mosquitos we could open all doors and clean the mess we created. 

I am happy with the test results, as usual long list of needed improvements, but nothing too dramatic.

Series of short test drives

Some pictures of test drives in Baltic Sea, Ihasalu bay in 30 July and 9 September 2012. Purpose was to test some modifications in July and load bearing with waves in September.

In July with companion again, so some more outside pictures.

Preparing the chain for hydraulic pump.

Setting up pontoons.

Experienced seaman Borge from Norway - first time with the car on the sea.

Set up for shallow water, sterndrives in middle position.

Ancoring is important even in shallowest water - with river flow and wind drag you can easily lose your position.

What happens to ball bearing in winch block. I did know, it is weaker than needed. Still wanted to give a try. Here you see the outcome. Slide bearings stand more force, restored as was.

Second test was war hitting the storm and testing Amphibear with 600kg additional load. Storm we almost missed. When we exited the bay, the waves were about 1m high with wind about 20 knots. As you would expect, rolling with the waves in normal manner. Nothing special. Wave statistics of the period.

The extra load was water on top of pontoons in boxes for cement mixture. Load did not change behavior or stability of Amphibear. However, if I want more load to add, I need to use some additional inflatable pontoons for increased stability. For pontoon boat one pontoon should be able to carry full load of the boat plus some extra. Otherwize it is easy to find yourself upside down as result of small decline.

Lake Peipsi

On Lake Peipsi 29-30 September 2011. My goal was to test Amphibear for longer trip and some waves. As electric system was malfunctioning the trip became shorter than needed. Due to strong wind I got some 0,5m waves to test at least.

Already last year, I made extra trip to the shore for finding the entrance place. There is nice hotel on Northern side of the lake, and host Sergei was happy to let me into hotel territory. Before the trip I called to Sergei, but without response. On hotel site, old lady was gardening, and she explained to me sad story. Sergey had affair with two women. One of women found out about other relation and stacked Sergei with knife. Sergei died, one of his loved one went to prison...

But the old lady kindly opened the gate and I got to hotel territory. What a luxurious entry place, asphalt to 5m of the water and later nice sandy beach. Prepared the car. It takes about one to two hours, because of all these safety ropes I attach for road. Entered the water. But there were underwater sand dunes. So I had to propel the boat to the next dune, over deeper waters just rope holding the car, then drive the car and so several times. Everything went well. When on the lake already, it is nice place to be. Started my cruise to the southern part of the lake.

Even with cloud cover the lake is beautiful

Wanted to do some trolling, but my lures were not meant for the speed of 5 knots. And at much lower speeds autopilot does not hold course.

Small waves sometimes splashed rear wheels

And sometimes even the cook bridge

As it was September, day was short and 19:25 I set for anchorage close to shore. This time more peaceful sleep, as I had one anchor, was close to the windward shore and used to car more. In morning front winch did not work, just spliced the rope and left the problem for later. Started the way back, and had visitors. Local fisherman took pictures with their mobile phones and shouted for explanation "Nobody believes us"

The car started to malfunction. First, it almost shut down the engine several times. I thought that some wiring is loose, but did not find the fault. Then engine shut down several times. But started again. When I finally smelled - something is burning. Immediately started running around like chicken without head. First to distinguish the fire, then disconnect the car batteries. Anchorage quickly, not to cross Russian border as wind wanted to carry me. Then finding several, some glowing red, some just hot places to cool down. Then took my time, thinking how stupid one can be. Had the warning, but misinterpreted it. Started to restore wiring to get car running and some winches to work again. As I have several long wires for winches, the restoration was not too difficult, but to be honest, my hands were little shaking. Planned closest exit point, nice one. As later discovered, it was some farm private backyard.

Drove home and figured out sequence of the events. First the front winch relay has had some water long time ago and rust built bridge to short circuit main wires. When it got wet again, and i tried to winch, is was short circuited.

Then winch wires heated main switchboard for winch disconnection to the level, that bolt melted through the plastic to short circuit the car batteries directly to body.

Then the real damage only started, as main ground wire from car to frame was thinner, it melted and the the engine was the main grounding point. All connections from the engine started to act like wires and all items touching hot wires were melting also. 

Finally I had to restore/rebuild front winch controls, all main ground wires, several winch wires, engine starting wires, some light wires, fix air conditioning system as one pipe had melted hole in it. As result, I got little bit better car now. For positive surprise, batteries survived, all the rest of electronics survived, engine had no other fault. Sturdy car - gives some confidence for difficult situations.

In total covered 377 km on land and 65 km in water. Learned a lot about car electrical system. Found out that wind drag and influence to speed is really minimal.

Keri Island in Baltic Sea

Two day test 24 - 25 June 2011 on Baltic Sea

I have avoided salty seawater so far. But finally discovered nice mouth of the Jägala river you can acess and head out to the sea. There I can enter to fresh water and exit from fresh water. This way I can postpone serious rusting of the car to more serious travel time. Keri is small island in one third of the way from Estonia to Finland. 

Some modifications needed testing also: bridge between pontoons made of two connected sand ladders, motorcycle scottoiler series modified chain oiling, replaced side camera and other smaller modifications.

Meeting point of Jägala River and Baltic Sea.

In search for deeper water and avoiding rocks. It is always serious task, as no map shows rocks on so shallow water. I have hit some during the initial test with the pontoons and resulting bends teach to be even more careful.

Careful driving in the water.

Co pilot Paul did provide great help.

Only occasional splashes on calm sea.

Followed by dark clouds and rain.

Keri host Peep Rada introduces the island.

Amphibear anchored with two anchors, between rocks on all sides.There is no port at Keri. It was tricky task to get anchored. First to find wide enough safe place between rocks. Then getting in seaside anchor to right spot. Of course I misjudged the distance. Then got anchor rope around one propeller. Finally managed to get to the place, one anchor at sea other on shore around one big rock.

Keri Lighthouse.

Lighthouse interior.

Stairs

Some building from old times servicing the lighthouse. All Keri was Army base during Soviet era.

Good morning trip around Keri. I slept in the car, to guard it against hitting rocks during the night. Sea was calm, just some residual waves. I got asleep and then suddenly somebody was pulling my bed with great force away from me. It was the shore anchor with rigid Dyneema line. Waves pulled the car slightly, until the line got fully tensioned on some waves. It continued through the night as you can see from my face.

Back to home on incredible sea,

where the only waves were the ones Amphibear created.

 Amphibear first Sea journey on the map.

Distance covered on land 74 km. Distance covered on sea 58 km. Fuel used 37 l. By test results some bridge fixing modification needed, chain oiling main control unit failed, and more seriously support on the roof of car needs strengthening.

Lake Võrtsjärv

A short report on test results on lake Võrtsjärv on May 5-6, 2011. As you may have noticed, there was long gap between the first and second cruising tests. The time was spent on paperwork! It took 14 months to register the car as rebuilt and find solutions for all road safety agency requirements (new bumper, lights, hood modifications, etc). Also, a small portion of the time was spent for improvements after the initial test.

Cruising is planned, speeds, fuel consumption calculated, Also, I gave sleeping in the car a try.

Ready to start.

Driving to the lake was easier than planned. Just follow the road. It was flooded due to spring runoff.

Arms akimbo. This is the position to enter the water. Even if you misjudge depth, you still don't sink the car totally and can raise the pontoons.

I had enough water to test speed. Normal cruising speed: 5 knots. Maximum: 8 knots. Minimum was about 2 knots. Shown here at cruising speed.

Amphibear's wake. A good design means waves generated from pontoons meet in different phases.

Wave patterns between pontoons tends to raise peak to meet rear differential.

At cruising speed land is lost quite quickly.

To enjoy the moment you have to stop and let things settle.

Getting from one pontoon to another is acrobatic task, need some bridge.

First night in the car. There is enough room for a tall, thin man (me) to sleep. As usual, sleeping depends on your mood. Do you listen to all the creaks and cracks of the vehicle? Are you ready for 2 degrees Celsius at night? I woke several times and finally heated the car with the Webasto system. But the hardships are bearable when can wake to a beautiful sunrise.

Beauty of evening.

Heading home.

Distance covered on land: 337 km. Distance covered on lake: 29 km. Fuel consumed: 54 liters. Major improvements needed: chain oiling, waterproofing cameras, stern drive rising change and bridge between pontoons.