In the world of domestic water-motor tourism name squirrel It's a boat that has been traversing the Volga, Onega and Ladoga for decades, proving itself to be a viable, not a laboratory, operational challenge. For many anglers and hunters, this project is the first step in the world of self-building or buying a budget-friendly floating craft that doesn't require complex maintenance.
However, despite the seeming primitiveness, this model has a number of nuances, the knowledge of which is critical for safety on the water. Shell designThe stainless sheet duraluminium has a specific wave behavior that needs to be considered when choosing a motor and planning a route. In this article, we will discuss the specifications, look at the drawings and discuss possible upgrades.
You will learn how to properly distribute the load to avoid the different, and which materials are best suited for sealing the seams. Strength of shell So you can't ignore the technology maps when you build them, so let's dive into the parts that make a metal kit into a reliable boat.
History of creation and design features
Project boat Romance It was developed in the Soviet era, when designers were tasked with creating a mass-produced, repairable and lightweight vessel for a wide range of consumers, and the main material was aviation aluminum, which provided the necessary rigidity at minimum weight, which allowed the boat to be transported on the roof of a passenger car or even on a trailer, which was a significant advantage for the time.
The structurally, the body is a flat-kiled shape with a sharp nose and a practically flat bottom in the stern, and this geometry was not chosen by chance: it provided good stability in the parking lot and allowed you to go to the planing even with low-power engines. Welded seams, made by argon welding, create a monolithic structure, but require careful attention to protection against corrosion, especially in the joints of heterogeneous metals.
⚠️ Note: When you build or repair yourself, only use aluminum wire of the same brand as the case. Using steel or copper will cause rapid electrochemical destruction of the skin at the welding sites.
Inside, the cockpit is divided into several compartments, which increases unsinkability. The nose and aft jacks are often used to store equipment, but their tightness is a matter of separate revision. Many owners immediately change their standard covers to more reliable versions with rubber seals.
Technical specifications and dimensions
To understand operational capabilities, you need to clearly understand the weight and size of the indicators. Romance It is a small-size vessel, which makes registration easier but imposes engine power limits, with a standard length of about 4 meters, which is the optimal balance between the internal usable area and the ease of transportation.
The table below shows the main parameters that should be guided when buying or building:
| Parameter | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Longest length | 4,000 mm | No attachments. |
| largest width | 1600 mm | On the zygomatic line |
| Height of board | 600 mm | In the middle part |
| Load capacity | 400 kg | Including the crew. |
| Body weight | 65-70 kg | Depends on the thickness of the sheet. |
It is important to note that loading capacity 400 kg is the limit, and for comfortable and safe operation with the engine, it is recommended not to exceed the load of 300-320 kg, which will preserve the buoyancy reserve in case of water entering or a sudden gust of wind.
The power of the recommended motor varies in the range from 5 to 10 hp Installation of a more powerful engine (for example, 15 hp) is possible, but requires mandatory alteration of the transom and strengthening the aft part, as the standard turret It may not be able to withstand increased vibrational loads.
Materials and technology of assembling the body
The basis of the durability of the boat is the right choice of material. For the hull, duraluminium of the D16 or D16AT brands is traditionally used. The thickness of the sheet usually varies from 1.5 to 2 mm for the skin and up to 3 mm for the power kit (spangouts, stringers).
The assembly process begins with the construction of a slip and a set of frames, and the spangouts are cut into patterns and connected by a keelson and zygomatic stringers. Strength of construction And it's provided by this inner skeleton, which then attaches the sheets of skin, and the joints of the sheets must be on the elements of the set, which ensures reliable pairing.
Features of aluminum welding
Aluminum welding requires high skill. You need to use argon as a protective medium. Before welding, the edges are necessarily cleaned with a stainless steel brush to a metallic shine. Warming up the parts before the seam starts helps avoid cracks in the peri-seam zone.
After the frame is assembled and the geometry is checked, the sheets are clasped, then boiled with a solid seam, special attention is paid to angles and transitions where the stress concentration is high, the quality of the seam is checked by kerosene breakdown or abundant soaping with air purging.
Motor installation and control
Aft part of the boat Romance The height of the transom is usually S (381 mm) or L (508 mm), depending on the modification, and it is critical to keep the alignment of the lower unit and bottom plane in order to avoid yaw and loss of speed when installing the motor.
The control uses a ramper or remote control. In the second case, a place for installation must be provided. steering-machine And the cables are often converted to remote control, which greatly improves comfort when you're on long-distance journeys.
⚠️ Warning: When installing the engine, make sure that the lower unit does not touch the skin elements when changing the steering wheel. The clearance should be at least 5-7 mm along the entire turning radius.
The fuel tank is usually located in the bow or under the seat to improve the weight distribution, the fuel line is laid open or in a protective box, avoiding sharp edges and places of possible friction, and reliable fixation of the tank will prevent it from shifting when hit by a wave.
Tuning and modernization for comfort
Basic equipment Romantics It's spartan, so most owners start making improvements, and the first thing they do is they change the plywood seats to more ergonomic, soft-upholstered seats, and they often install windshields that make them more comfortable in cold weather.
One of the most popular improvements is the installation balloon This makes the rigid hull a hybrid, increasing stability and safety, and if it rolls over, it keeps the boat afloat and keeps it from sinking even when it's full of water.
Fishing often has a bow platform to install the sonar and spinning mounts, and the electrics are displayed on a separate panel with a voltmeter and fuses, and all the wires are hidden in corrugated or cable channels to protect against moisture and mechanical damage.
Operation, care and storage
Aluminum does not rust like steel, but is susceptible to oxidation and electrochemical corrosion. After each release to water, especially in salty environments, the body must be rinsed with fresh water. weld And the bottoms for cracks and dents should become a habit.
For winter storage, it is better to put the boat upside down on a flat surface, eliminating the points of concentration of load. The engine is removed, dried and preserved according to the manufacturer's instructions. The fuel system is completely free of gasoline to avoid the formation of resins.
☑️ Checklist for winter preparations
Storing outdoors without a canopy is undesirable, because UV light destroys paintwork and rubber elements. The ideal place is a dry garage or hangar. aluminum-boat It has been passed down for decades from generation to generation.
Comparison with analogues and conclusions
In his class. Romance It competes with models like Kazanka or Winds, and the main advantage is that it has less weight and can be built independently, but factory counterparts often have better ergonomics and seaworthiness due to more complex contours of the hull.
However, the simplicity of the design makes repairs available even in the field, which can be temporarily sealed with cold welding or reinforced epoxy resin, making the boat an excellent choice for remote areas where there are no service centers.
Romantic Aluminum Boat is the ideal choice for those who appreciate maintainability and the possibility of self-modernization, sacrificing modern comfort for practicality.
To sum up, this vessel remains relevant because it is utilitarian, requiring no expensive parking and no complex maintenance, allowing you to enjoy fishing and cruising at minimal cost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the maximum speed to develop on a boat Romantic?
With an engine capacity of 9.9 hp and one passenger, the boat is able to reach speeds of up to 25-28 km / h. When fully loaded, the speed drops to 15-18 km / h. Record values depend on the state of the bottom and screw.
Do I need to register a boat with GIMS?
Registration is required if the mass of the boat in running order exceeds 200 kg or the engine power exceeds 8 kW (about 10.8 hp). Romance lighter than 200 kg, registration is required only when installing a motor more powerful than 10 hp or at the request of the owner.
Can I use a boat at sea?
The sea is only possible in calm weather and near the shore (no more than 3 miles), the high seas and storm conditions for flat-bottomed aluminum boats of this class are strongly discouraged due to the low stability on the high wave.
What is the best way to paint an aluminum case?
The best results are shown by two-component epoxy soils and polyurethane enamels. Before painting, careful surface preparation is required: stripping, degreasing and applying adhesive soil for non-ferrous metals.