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.

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.

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.