Robert Q. Riley Enterprises: Product Design & Development

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HydroRunner was featured in Oppular machanics Magazine

Hydrorunner resting low in the water

VIDEO CLIP

Video of HydroRunner in action

 

 

Plans Include...

 Six 17x22 inch
     drawings

 36-page book

Price... $39

Shipping and guarantee info

 
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HydroRunner

Outboard Powered Fast Fun on the Water

HydroRunner Was Featured in Popular Mechanics Magazine
and Sparked a DIY Boomlet in Personal Watercraft

Order HydroRunner Plans  - $39
(order a second item to get a discount & free shipping)


How to order HydroRunner plansAt rest, HydroRunner sits low in the water like a Cheetah poised in deep grass. Squeeze off a handful of throttle and she leaps onto plane and skims across the water at 40 mph. On plane, the tunnel-hull design gives a sure-footed stability that is unmatched by PWCs with conventional vee hulls. Turns are flat like a hydroplane.  Stability comes from the super-wide beam, which is camouflaged by her patented tri-hull design.  In reality, HydroRunner's hull is about half as wide as it is long.

       HydroRunner leaps aheadUnlike conventional personal watercraft, HydroRunner does not heel into turns. Instead, she turns flat, more like a hydroplane. For a quick turn, back off on the throttle, crank the handlebars to one side, then apply full throttle. HydroRunner will swap ends and head off in the opposite direction almost within her own length. At high speeds, wake is normally taken with a giant, airborne leap. But hit a wake at speed on the down side of a jump and she'll go straight through it, rather than over it.

        Power can come from any short-shaft outboard of 25 to 30 horsepower.  The throttle lever is a standard bicycle brake lever attached by a cable to the engine's throttle mechanism. Releasing the throttle lever returns the engine to idle. A standard shut-off lanyard is attached to the rider's life jacket so the engine will immediately stop in the event of an unexpected departure from cockpit.    During tests, the engine stops as the rider is leaving the cockpit and HydroRunner comes to rest only 3 or 4 meters away.  The prototype was put through the US Coast Guard safe-powering pylon tests to document that she can handle the high power.   Every new high-powered small watercraft also has to pass the same tests.

       Most of the expense of building her is in the cost of the engine. New, the engine can run $3,000 or more. A used engine can be purchased for $600 - $800. Figure another $700 for enough plywood, fiberglass, and fixtures to finish the craft.  HydroRunner is made primarily of 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch plywood, which is then covered with a layup of fiberglass. Most of the fixtures are standard boat items.

       The tunnel hull wetted area was designed by Ron Ehde.  If you're a fan of tunnel hulls, you've probably heard his name  Ron designed the tunnel hull boats for Eliminator Boats.  And his tunnel hulls held the National Championship in drag boat competitions for ten years.  He was invited to join the project early on, as soon as Popular Mechanics decided they wanted to go ahead with the HydroRunner concept.  Ron is undoubtedly the nation's top tunnel hull designer.

Plans include lots of photos and detailed drawings and instructions. 

Specifications
Length: 105-1/2 inch
Width: 54 inch
Height: 26-1/2 inch
Empty Weight: 350 lbs
Engine: 25 hp to 30 hp short-shaft outboard
Top Speed: 45 mph
Construction: Fiberglass reinforced with wood monocoque
Build Time: 125-150 hours

 


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To Order Plans

  • Mail: Use the online Order Form to automatically calculate shipping charges and provide a total amount. Click on the "Order HydroRunner Plans" link above, then press "Add Item to Cart." Fill in your shipping information. You cannot proceed to the Confirmation Page (for freight calculations) without making entries in the credit card fields. If you prefer to enter your credit card information later, simply enter a series of spaces in the Credit card fields then press "Proceed to Confirmation." Print the Confirmation Page and enter any missing information.  Mail your confirmation page to us, along with your check, money order, or credit card information. (Outside the U.S., please make payment in U.S. funds using a credit card or International Money Order.)

  • Order by Phone: Weekdays 8:00 am to 6:00 pm MST: 480-685-3225.

                     Shipments to U.S. destinations go by First Class or Priority Mail (depending on weight).
                     Shipments to destinations outside the U.S. go by mail: "Airmail, Letter-Post."
                     Arizona residents, add 10.2% sales tax.

Robert Q. Riley Enterprises, LLC.
P.O. Box 14465
Phoenix, AZ 85063-4465
Phone:  480-685-3225

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P.O. Box 14465, Phoenix, AZ 85063-4465
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