Alberta Land Rover Enthusiasts Club Forum
General => Non Technical Discussion => Topic started by: lropchan on April 06, 2017, 03:07 PM
At the meeting yesterday we had some interesting discussions about floating a Land Rover down a river. For those that think/thought it is crazy, I thought I share Land Rovers long history of doing just that.
Summary of Land Rover amphibians
http://www.lr-mad.co.uk/index.php/en/amphibious (http://www.lr-mad.co.uk/index.php/en/amphibious)
1963 - Amphibious Series IIa 109"
http://www.4wdonline.com/Mil/LandRover/APswim.html (http://www.4wdonline.com/Mil/LandRover/APswim.html)
(http://www.4wdonline.com/Mil/LandRover/PiCs37/APswim02.jpg)
(http://l450v.alamy.com/450v/ar3w7x/historic-1963-apgp-amphibious-land-rover-with-flotation-bags-swimming-ar3w7x.jpg)
(http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000GlAVfKjqg4E/s/600/480/HGW-LR98B137D.jpg)
(http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000jix.U6otWRc/s/600/480/HGW-LR98B222D.jpg)
1989 - Amphibious Defender 90
(http://www.capetocape.org.uk/images/Amphib1.jpg)
TopGear: Driving Land Rover's 'Floating Ninety' Defender... on a Scottish loch
https://topgear.com.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2966:driving-land-rover-s-floating-ninety-defender-on-a-scottish-loch&catid=35&Itemid=176 (https://topgear.com.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2966:driving-land-rover-s-floating-ninety-defender-on-a-scottish-loch&catid=35&Itemid=176)
2004-7 - Cape to Cape Expedition
http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Vehicles.htm (http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Vehicles.htm)
http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Tong.htm (http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Tong.htm)
(http://www.capetocape.org.uk/images/Amphib/Amphibious%208.JPG)
2007-8 - Bering Strait Crossing
http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Bering%20Strait%20expedition.htm (http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Bering%20Strait%20expedition.htm)
(http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Album/July%2008%20Diomede%20to%20Wales%20by%20boat/slides/!cid_2AD807DA-0D11-4647-88C3-E6B2C67894FE@local.jpg)
http://www.capetocape.org.uk/LR%20Owner%20Int.htm (http://www.capetocape.org.uk/LR%20Owner%20Int.htm)
Camel Trophy 1992 - Guyana
(https://columnm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Land-Rover-Heritage-Camel-Trophy-Discover-1990-Raft-1024x659.jpg)
(https://columnm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Land-Rover-Heritage-Camel-Trophy-Discovery-Over-Water-1990-1024x674.jpg)
(http://www.cameltrophy.org.uk/history/1992/Guy14.jpg)
Camel Trophy 1993 - Sabah-Malaysia
(http://www.cameltrophy.org.uk/history/1993/Sab7.jpg)
(http://www.cameltrophy.org.uk/history/1993/Sab8.jpg)
(https://a.d-cd.net/a6a9ebes-960.jpg)
(http://www.auto-news.de/webcore/data/content/Auto_ClickTrick_STD/27707_1281514377118.jpg)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ8OpfASCZk/VbO_EpJIs-I/AAAAAAAAB0s/0Y_bgNIWmK8/s1600/raft979_b.jpg)
Overland Expo 2012 - Floating a Camel Trophy Discovery
(http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/Other/Overland-Expo-2012/i-SpJhCmH/0/M/IMG3383-M.jpg)
More food for thought.
(http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/attachments/boat-design/96114d1417320968-trailerable-unfolding-houseboat-myark_folding_barge_car_ferry.jpg)
(http://maxxonpontoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/maxxon-pontoons-pt-16-25-inch-tubes.jpg)
Ferryboat - http://newatlas.com/inflatable-ferry-hovercraft/40499/ (http://newatlas.com/inflatable-ferry-hovercraft/40499/)
(http://img-3.newatlas.com/inflatable-ferry-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=clip&h=670&q=40&w=1000&s=44189a5a687409dece2daf124d927ca1)
Or, how about using just a tarp?
Quote from: lropchan on April 06, 2017, 03:07 PM
Overland Expo 2012 - Floating a Camel Trophy Discovery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2sucFsB6M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2sucFsB6M)
(http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/Other/Overland-Expo-2012/i-SpJhCmH/0/M/IMG3383-M.jpg)
I was there for this one!
There is something about LR owners though...there seems to be a disproportionately large segment that visualize them as both a land and sea going craft. Quite unique. :)
Quote from: Trevor on April 06, 2017, 10:07 PM
There is something about LR owners though...there seems to be a disproportionately large segment that visualize them as both a land and sea going craft. Quite unique. :)
Must be the English seafaring heritage built into every Land Rover.
Don't forget the Darien Gap Range Rovers!
Quote from: lropchan on April 07, 2017, 10:28 AM
Quote from: Trevor on April 06, 2017, 10:07 PM
There is something about LR owners though...there seems to be a disproportionately large segment that visualize them as both a land and sea going craft. Quite unique. :)
Must be the English seafaring heritage built into every Land Rover.
That's gotta be it!
At the meeting we didn't doubt you could float a LR. The biggest hurtle might be without the backing of Camel or the UK military, being able to afford something suitable to the task. This one might be a good contender, price wise anyway. http://newatlas.com/inflatable-ferry-hovercraft/40499/
Maybe some of the other examples are in mothballs and you can purchase one for a song. He He
Quote from: camo388 on April 08, 2017, 01:49 PM
At the meeting we didn't doubt you could float a LR. The biggest hurtle might be without the backing of Camel or the UK military, being able to afford something suitable to the task. This one might be a good contender, price wise anyway. http://newatlas.com/inflatable-ferry-hovercraft/40499/
Maybe some of the other examples are in mothballs and you can purchase one for a song. He He
The cost is a factor for sure. When a barge costs $2k to ship a car vs a $$$$ to float a car.
The inflatable ferry is practical in the sense that it can be deflated and stored behind the seat. I was not able to find its cost though. It's coming out of Slovenia. I am sure it can be copied by a Chinese company for cheap too.
Canadian Geographic has a new issue about the North. There is a lot of wild country up there to off-road and fish in.
Will see how far e get this summer with the planning.
Emad
It was $10,000 usd for a one man ferry. ::)
From down near the bottom of the article it states,
" Prices will start at €6,000 (about $6,889) for the smaller basic model and at €10,000($10,648) for the larger model. The type of material used (PVC or Hypalon), and the number of layers, chambers and accessories required will affect the final price. Hovercraft expects to start shipping the Ferryboat sometime in 2016."
The article was dated Nov, 2015 so maybe Bill has the current price. ;D
What did the LR guys on the Canol trip, do with their raft? Norm might know who to contact about this otherwise put out the question on Rover-Landers forum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb852qcXlQU
Nah. You can float a Land Rover for cheap. All you require is a large tarp and a group of folks that don't mind getting a bit wet.
I noticed this webpage about someone who went around the world online seriously rigged Land Cruiser http://www.amphibear.com/
Then I saw this crazy getup from a craigslist advert from 3-4 years ago.
Then I wondered if it would be possible to get some aluminum pontoons and found a manufacture in Quebec http://www.buildaboat.ca/ with pontoon boat kits starting at less than $3,000 -- maybe this would be the best way to go.
Man that thing looks tippy.
that Latvian unit looked pretty comprehensive, fast and heavy!!!!!
Those pontoons in Quebec for 3000 bucks....what's the cost of shipping to Edmonton then....I'll bet they won't be cheap!
The dollar figures still sound very high. I think a recon trip this summer overland to Wiggly is due to asses the potential of land travel to Norman Wells during summer time. Local knowledge of trails does not make it to the internet.
A drive north in the fall would be nice....once the bugs have been zapped by frost. Getting to Wrigley should be pretty straight forward as it's all highgrade shale road. But I'm not sure about the rest of it as there's a big parking lot just out side of Wrigley that is the chain up spot for the transport trucks. Since the RCMP detachment in Ft Simpson is responsible for Wrigley maybe you should give them a call and see if it is legal to be on the ice road in the off season.
I know the trucks will get an $800 fine for driving on the closed road. So it my be good to check into.
On a side note....I wonder what state the all weather road is at.....There were prepping to build it 10 years ago when I was up there....but not sure anything as been done since then.
Quote from: Trevor on April 09, 2017, 06:29 PM
Man that thing looks tippy.
If you look at the photo of the LC closely you will see that the pontoons have mounting posts hanging down, when they come off the roof the posts are inserted into the front and rear bumpers much like the Latvian rig, only without all the hydraulics. For the propulsion a propeller is attached to the rear PTO.
Quote from: binch on April 09, 2017, 09:05 PM
Those pontoons in Quebec for 3000 bucks....what's the cost of shipping to Edmonton then....I'll bet they won't be cheap!
Probably not but, I'm pretty sure you could get all your money out by selling it in Tuk. ;D
Well, it looks like there will be an all season road all the way to Tuk opening in November this year.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/multimedia/driving-to-the-top-of-the-world-exploring-canada-s-new-arctic-highway-1.4073615
That doesn't mean we can't float a rover from Devon to Edmonton just for giggles. ;D
I've been to both Dawson City and Tuk. Dawson is definitely worth visiting...Tuk, well, it's a bit less exciting. :)
Going via the Dempster and the new road would be the way to do it though for those that were wanting to do the trip. Saves a lot of mucking around with boats.
Yes, it would be an adventure! More of an endurance test unless they fit more comfortable seats and can play loud music to deaden the noise of a Land Rover. ;D
I drove Inuvik to Edmonton, 5 days and as there were 4 of us, we could change drivers and average 12 or more hours driving each day.
Mind you this was after working 4.5 months in Tuk, so keen to get home and we were not stopping long to sight see.
To drive all that way and do some sightseeing, I'd recommend a month for the round trip.