1/8 scale Apache 47' design and build

[chrispellegrino]

I'm at the tail end of completing this in CAD (I use SolidWorks for those who are curious). The proportions are bugging me because it's real close but I still find areas that don't quite line up with images. It's difficult to get the angle and perspective right though to make a good comparison. Trying to go back in the CAD history and tweak something creates errors that can take a few hours to fix. I think I'll leave this where it is and start cutting the plugs. LOA is 70.5", 12.7" beam. The beam is too big (from what I've found these were 8' in width), but I'm not going back at this point. This is one of the things that is really bugging me.

I have a smaller sized CNC router so I'm going to have to make the plug in sections.



Perspective is wrong in these next ones because it's actually at 1/8 scale in CAD at this point and the perspective doesn't work well. The center drive is supposed to be shorter and they're a little fat in proportion simply to get gears in there that will hold up.




This was a portion of the first layer for the plug but after going back into CAD and updating a few things this will change.


The beginnings of an outdrive. Again, proportions are off but I have no choice. I'm going to see about making gears out of stronger material to get the proportions closer.


I do have a family and of course a job, so I can't guarantee frequent updates. I am itching to get this going though.

 

[john v]

Looks nice
Please keep us posted

 

[Mike Bontoft]

Nice work! I think she looks good.
As you mentioned they list the beam on a 47 at 8’2”. All the Cigarettes I have measured are slightly wider mid ships than the transom, most likely carried over to the Apache hulls also.
I can probably get more measurements on the Apaches if needed.
A few I have done over the years, 38 Bertram, 35 Cigarette.

 

[chrispellegrino]

Nice work! I think she looks good.
As you mentioned they list the beam on a 47 at 8’2”. All the Cigarettes I have measured are slightly wider mid ships than the transom, most likely carried over to the Apache hulls also.
I can probably get more measurements on the Apaches if needed.
A few I have done over the years, 38 Bertram, 35 Cigarette.

Thanks Mike - nice work! I actually looked at the beam measurement again and originally I had taken into account the bonding lip that goes around the perimeter of the deck lid. Not sure if this is accounted for in full size boats. If I only look at the hull itself, the beam works out to 8'3".
One detail I did miss is the transom being a bit narrower. I had a feeling that might be the case and thought I had it in my model but missed it. If it really starts bugging me enough I might go back and take that into account.

 

[chrispellegrino]

I'm getting a bit ambitious with the drives. (By the way - I made a mistake earlier, the outer drives have the shorter lower units on the full scale boat. I think they are the #5 drives and the center drive is a #4.)

The plan is to have trim capability on its on channel, but haven't worked out a nice way of doing that yet.







The drives can be built for either rotation direction.

 

[chrispellegrino]

Does anyone have access to and/or have overall dimensions for the Mercruiser M6 drive? I want to make these as well for this boat. I know Arrow Shark has a version of these, but they seem much bigger than 1/8 scale.