Construction of the Vernon C. Ledbetter
Sea Trials
Well, it's that time.............where, as they say, it's time for the "rubber to hit the road"........or, in this case, where the "floats hit the water".
However, before anything could happen, I had to get Vern onto a trailer; I didn't get a trailer when I bought the original boat. Fortunately, one of the residents at the marina let me use his for the launch. Loading may, at first glance, seem like a simple task. Alas, it's not. Lifting almost 3000 pounds off blocks so that it's clear beneath with room for a trailer requires some doing. Fortunately, again, I had some very good help, from friends, and the proper equipment as shown below.
Vern's been 'rigged' and is ready for lifting.
The trailer has been rolled under........there's that strange pattern on the grill of the Power Module again.....digital pictures?
Vern's towed to the launch ramp; since this is a 'safe harbor marina', there's no current to deal with and launching should be a 'piece of cake'............'ham sandwich'................'bottle of beer'..........whatever.
IN HE GOES.....no champagne..........no celebrities...............only a few beer drinkers watching!
I already had Vern running and had to back him off the trailer............it worked and, yes, that's yours truly at the helm.
Ain't mathematics great? I designed Vern to be 'stern high' and............ low and behold...............HE IS! Eleven inch draft at the bow and nine inches at the stern.
Sooner or later I have to dock him.............look out, here I come!
I invited some residents aboard for a ride (really as 'trim ballast')...........although there are only three, one is large enough for two 'average adults'. Also, I had them all stand as far back as they could . I figured that was roughly equivalent to 6 average adults seated around behind me. Notice, Vern's in trim.........wow, what luck?
I drove around for a while then others wanted to go for a ride and I notice something else.
Close observation shows four adults closely around me and Vern's no longer in trim. This started me thinking......again. I placed six chairs in the 'seating area' and, when these were filled with average size adults, Vern was, once again, in trim. Even eight didn't change things significantly. However, what if I only wanted to take one or two with me or 'work him' by myself? Vern would be out of trim and the paddlewheel would be too high. By this time, I had run him enough to confirm that being in trim was important. Stern high resulted in less power and less speed..............just as expected. What to do, what to do?
The solution wasn't really that tough; Vern needed 'adjustable trim ballast'. To this end, I hunted around and found an old metal tank which held, roughly, 50 gallons. I placed this at the stern and built a box around it which doubled as a seat for two. Directly behind the tank, I placed a 12 volt battery and a high volume bilge pump. The pump could fill the tank in four minutes and the tank could be emptied in six minutes via an overboard drain. The 'dry weight' of the added equipment was about 165 pounds (about one average adult) and had very little effect on the light boat. However, when filled, it added almost 450 pounds of ballast aft (almost three average adults). It works. Now, whether one or eight, I have control over Vern's trim and all's well. The picture below shows the ballast tank/bench seating (seat pad removed for winter).
Here's another picture showing the temporary seating used during the sea trials; better, more comfortable chairs will be added later.
Now, for the final report. My original goals were quiet, fuel efficient and unique. The unique part you'll have to judge for yourself. As to quiet, I feel, I fell a little short. The Honda motor is air cooled and makes more sound than a water-cooled equivalent. Also, the hydraulic pump adds some high pitch whine. Probably, if my floats had been 24 inch instead of 22 inch I could have used a water-cooled motor. Nevertheless, the overall noise level is not too bad, but you do have to communicate in a slightly raised voice. Not near as much as with an outboard engine though. As to fuel efficient, I don't believe there's anything on the water that can match Vern short of a canoe or row boat; 8 hours cruising on just over 3 gallons. I'm pleased.
Perhaps I should make a comment or two about speed. Remember, early on, I referred to Vern as a 'pool boat' or 'day paddler'. He was intended to be a vessel to play around with close to home whether it be in a river or lake; not a vessel to take trips in. Therefore, speed was not a 'primary consideration'. I was hoping, kind of, that he would do six or six and a half miles per hour. In reality, Vern does five and a half miles per hour (gps measured). This is quite satisfactory to me although I'll continue to try for just a bit more.
I used Vern for over a month before the weather got too cold to be comfortable. My final opinion; success beyond expectations. The Vernon C. Ledbetter drives like a car..........response is marvelous.........he can even 'back figure eights'. I've faced-up and tied off to work flats and 34 foot houseboats and shoved them around like I knew what I was doing. I've towed boats astern in high winds and in three foot swells; the bow dove underwater and the paddlewheel came clear of the water and shook the whole boat............no problems........Vern just kept paddling ahead. I've even towed small, 16 footers on the side and was still able to control. I've beached Vern on a mud bank close enough that I could step off without getting my feet wet, yet I was able to 'crab crawl' off the bank. Steering and paddlewheel control is good enough that I've been able to maneuver though a close grouped bunch of cruisers and houseboats to pick up and drop off passengers with no difficulty. I've taken Vern though water no more than 14 inches deep and turned, by backing and going ahead, in one and a half times his own length. I've even used Vern as an 'ice breaker' by driving him up on ice an inch thick and letting his weight break down through. I've let other captains operate Vern and they catch on very quickly........he's easy to drive. But, perhaps most important of all, everyone who has seen Vern or has ridden on him has been absolutely thrilled and in awe of how much fun he is to ride and how 'cute' he is. Nuff said.
Introducing the Motor Vessel......... Vernon C. Ledbetter
Now, I need to make the final drawings from my sketches..........bear with me.
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Remember, I can be reached at: gemort@wirefire.com