Removable boat tail

[snydertalon]

first off, yes I searched

Prius Removable Kammback
Trailer Hitch Boat Tail?
Boattail on a Prius

on to the question.

I drive an accord and my wife drives a ranger (solid toneau cover). I would build a seperate on for both of us. I would use mine daily, and my wife would be wife like and complain, but use it on long trips. The design, however, will be similar because the trailing edges are close.



I would want it to be just slightly shorter than my trunk and extend maybe 2ft on the outside, but structurally limited to how long it could get. This would make it arched with a point at the end, and an angle of just over 45 degrees. For the accord I was thinking of some sort of 'u' shape to hold on to the trunk and then use magnets as a little bit extra.

Issues I will have is it would be right over my license plate on the accord. The truck has both a hitch and a tailgate that can be dropped to provide support.

Thanks for the help

[aerohead]

Do a search for 'Aerodynamic Streamlining Template:Part-C,low fineness-ratio tuft study,on page 4 of the thread.-------- You'll find a photo of one of my boat tails under test.------- You'll notice that fenestrations have been designed into the tail which allow the truck's tail lights to be visible from the rear.The license plate is moved to the back of the tail and lamps are provided for it via an electrical umbilical and quick-disconnect.The tail lights are under Plexiglass ( hard to tell from photo ) and extra reflectors are added for extra visibility.----------- I've driven it in 6-states and have never been hassled by authorities.--------- The tail picture gives an extra 1.7-mpg hwy,my van got 4-mpg better,and CRX even more.---------------- Watch your angles! They must be very gentle at the onset of curvature.At 24-inch length don't consider anything over 10-degrees on top and 7-8 degrees,sides,2.5-4 -degrees at the bottom.

[KJSatz]

Looking forward to what you do w/ the Accord! I have a Civic sedan so if you see gains I may emulate your strategy .

[snydertalon]

Originally Posted by KJSatz

Looking forward to what you do w/ the Accord! I have a Civic sedan so if you see gains I may emulate your strategy .

its seems that I am reading ur posts as u are reading mine.

I am more intelligence gathering for the boat tail more than anything.

Here is my list of things to do and am in process of

Working on MPGuino, soldering together parts now
Working on Belly pan

install LED to monitor e-fan usage

eyeing things to cover my rims
eyeing things to help me mount mirrors inside my door so I can remove them from the outside

find a car magnet sign to "shave" my passenger side door handle

Figure out how to mount rear wheel skirts

start with a kamma back and go from there
non-invasive

ill see how that all turns out. if its good enough I wont even bother with a boat tail.

[skyl4rk]

Install a trailer hitch receiver and start out with a trailer hitch insert and build a platform out of plywood. The rest can be lightweight coroplast, but at least have something solid at the base.

[itsmedc]

For another mounting option suggest this thread by wagonman76
Non-invasive mounting for kammback
Non-invasive mounting for kammback

And wagonman76's build thread
1989 Chevy Celebrity 4 door - kammback ideas

[brucey]

I've recently started on a hitch based boat tail and am running into more trouble than I anticipated. (aint it always?)

But right now I've got the basic frame layed out, going to work on the sheeting, then the port window, then the lights last.



It connects to the receiver I already had on the car right now, and despite the weak metal and ghetto mounting methods currently used, its quite strong. I plan to go back over the tape with bolts once I get the shape how I like it. I also plan to cut it where the wood piece is instead of bringing it to a full close.

The only connection it has with the car is on the hitch, everywhere else it simply rests against the car or squeezes in a wedge in the panel gaps. Measured it at 14 degrees on top, it looks more int he picture because the front of the car is sitting up a bit.

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by brucey

I've recently started on a hitch based boat tail and am running into more trouble than I anticipated. (aint it always?)

But right now I've got the basic frame layed out, going to work on the sheeting, then the port window, then the lights last.



It connects to the receiver I already had on the car right now, and despite the weak metal and ghetto mounting methods currently used, its quite strong. I plan to go back over the tape with bolts once I get the shape how I like it. I also plan to cut it where the wood piece is instead of bringing it to a full close.

The only connection it has with the car is on the hitch, everywhere else it simply rests against the car or squeezes in a wedge in the panel gaps. Measured it at 14 degrees on top, it looks more int he picture because the front of the car is sitting up a bit.

This looks like a good start. I'm about to begin work on a hatch-mounted boattail that will be removeable with the hatch. Hopefully it'll work out, though it will require cannibalizing a hatch