In the vastness of the CIS countries there are a lot of domestic-made craft, which people make legends about: the famous boat "Kazanka" or "Ruff" is heard by many fishermen and tourists. But none of them can be compared with the motor boat "Crimea", which all water-motors do not call otherwise than "eternal". The focus of this article is the Crimea boat: technical specifications, advantages and disadvantages, owner reviews and recommendations for improvement.
History reference
Perm shipyard "Kama" back in 1970 launched the production of motor boats "Crimea". A distinctive feature of them was the color painting - a yellow hull with a red deck. Also on the water, the boat is easy to recognize by its characteristic straight glass with triangular sidewalls. Such unique differences were conceived by the inventors in the design bureau known throughout the USSR “Neptune”, which during its entire existence has produced thousands of unique projects that are still in demand.
The boat "Crimea", the photo of which takes pride of place in the product catalog of Neptune Design Bureau, received a high status for a reason. Its main purpose is tourism, fishing and walking along the rivers, reservoirs and coastal zones of the seas at a distance from the coast to three kilometers with a wave height of up to 75 cm.However, quite often, this swimming tool was used by travelers to overcome very large distances. An example is the famous water run "Astrakhan - Moscow", which was attended by representatives of many factories and design offices involved in the manufacture of boats and motors.
Housing Features
It is no coincidence that a water vehicle is called eternal, because the Crimea motor boat has the technical characteristics of the hull, which no ship in the world of the same class can boast. First of all, this concerns the material of which the hull of the motor boat is made - an aluminum-magnesium alloy marked AMg5. As you know, such an alloy is used in the manufacture of products that will work in aggressive environments where increased corrosion resistance is required - industrial refrigerators, air conditioners, gas stoves and the like. For a motor boat, this property of the metal opens up the possibility of exploitation in sea water.
The thickness of the bottom sheathing is 2 mm, and the deck and sides are 1.5 mm, as with other boats, however, all parts are made by means of argon-arc and resistance welding. Also in the design, stamping of sheet parts is used.
About hydrodynamics
Hydrodynamics is the second advantage that the Crimea boat has after corrosion resistance. Technical characteristics of maneuverability on water provide it with convex-keeled contours of the bottom with a zygomatic splash guard. According to the set of the hull, it is customary to distinguish among the owners of small boats three modifications of the Crimea boats: ordinary, modernized, and sports.
The hull set of the very first modification, introduced in 1970, was made according to a mixed system: with longitudinal frames and stringers. But the rest of the models: the modified boat “Crimea - M” and the athlete “Crimea - 3” - had a bottom, supported by stamped frames with a U-shaped profile. However, this improvement did not eliminate the problem of hitting the hull against water at high speeds.
Unsinkability - excellent performance
The third advantage that the Crimea boat boasts is the technical characteristics of buoyancy. For each watercraft they are individual. Some boats, picking up water, tilt to one side, others dive with their noses down, there are such vessels that, having collected water to the side, they simply go to the bottom. But not the Crimea boat! A photo of a ship completely flooded afloat, which appeared in the 70s of the last century in magazines devoted to small boats and fishing, immediately attracted the attention of many water-motorists.
The unsinkability of the craft is due to the presence of special buoyancy units, which are made of foam and placed along the stern, and are also present under the aft seats. If you fill the boat “Crimea” with 100% water, then the most important thing will be revealed - the position of the hull will be on a perfectly even keel.
Factory specifications
It will be very interesting to find out what kind of technical specifications the boat Crimea has. The photo that can be seen in this article suggests that the ship is quite large:
- The greatest length is 4 meters and 20 centimeters, with a maximum width of 1.6 meters.
- The side is quite high and is 65 centimeters in the middle.
- In the factory version, the mass of the boat with the installed equipment is 190 kilograms.
- The vessel's carrying capacity is 400 kilograms or five passengers for whom 5 seats are equipped on board.
- The pitching angle of the bottom on the transom is only 4.5 degrees.
The manufacturer recommends using a 20-horsepower engine, with which the boat is guaranteed to show decent results: at full load - 30 km / h, and with one driver - 39 kilometers per hour. But over the long years of operation, many owners come to the conclusion that installing a more powerful motor does not particularly affect the wear of the craft. Therefore, many water motors have long changed the "Whirlwind" to "Yamaha".
About picking
Regardless of the modifications, whether it is a basic, sports or a Crimea-M boat, the technical specifications of the factory equipment are identical:
- A pair of collapsible oars with oarlocks.
- Very convenient scoop with bevels of the hull for the convenience of taking water from the boat.
- Spare bottom buoyancy unit - fully equipped.
- Remote control of gas, reverse and turns for the motor.
- Removable tent tent.
It is interesting that the Crimea-3 sports boat has the same technical specifications, but with a little refinement. First of all, this affected a removable awning, in which there were viewing windows, and the material itself began to be fastened with a zipper, thereby ensuring high thermal insulation. Also, a sports version of the craft has a speedometer and a tachometer.
Direct destination
For tourism and outdoor activities, the boat Crimea has technical specifications that are impeccable. This is one of the few types of water transport that can be called convenient and safe, and the matter is not only in the unsinkability of the vessel.
- The backs of the front seats are folding, in addition, they have removable pillows, which is very convenient when cleaning and drying. Yes, and working with oars is much more convenient if the seats are folded.
- The aft seat is solid and more like a sofa, but this does not prevent it from folding. It’s quite easy to tip the back with one hand in order to gain access to the aft boot.
- And if you need to provide overnight in the boat - this is easy to do, because the seats are easily removed, but more than three people in a lying position can not be accommodated.
And what about luggage, what will please the Crimea boat? Reviews in the media assure that there are no problems with this. In forepeak there is a luggage compartment, it is not very large, but with a surprise. A hidden small locker will allow you to place a pair of camping backpacks.
Boat for yourself
The boats of the fishermen very often undergo improvements, because comfortable fishing is the key to a good rest. Therefore, the improvement was acquired by the boat "Crimea". Tuning with their own hands was carried out regarding a greater degree of appearance than tactical and technical characteristics.
- Replacing a regular awning, which is inconvenient to mount. Many water motors installed a rack system with a lingering mechanism, which, at the choice of the owner, stretches either a camouflage net or a rigid tent on a water-repellent basis.
- Replacing regular seats with rotating mechanisms. A very convenient system for both vacationers and a fisherman. You can also put chairs from foreign cars with electric drive, which, when fully decomposed, will create a soft sofa for relaxing.
- Plywood flooring. Such modernization is often used on boats for outdoor activities, when maximum comfort is required.
- Bomber. Kulibins like to cut a hatch on the bow of a boat. It should be noted that such a modernization is not about unsinkability, if during modernization you do not throw part of the buoyancy unit off board. Indeed, when cutting metal, a part of the foam block is also cut out.
A bit about the flaws
Naturally, any boat has shortcomings, they only need to be found. For the Crimean boats built in the 70-80s of the XX century, the main problem was the spontaneous flooding of the vessel due to the accumulation of water in the engine compartment. This happened in those cases when a passing wave turned out to be just above the side. Later, the problem was solved by upgrading the housing - a drain valve was installed.
The ship’s speed qualities tend to deteriorate from year to year, this is due to the characteristics of the bottom that the Crimea boat has. Tuning is not able to help here, because the anti-corrosion alloy, in contrast to the same duralumin, is very soft. For many years of use, jumping at speeds along the waves, it turns out to be very simple to make the bottom wavy from impacts on water. To extend the life of a motor boat will only help the desire of the owner, who once a year is ready to devote time to his transport and with the help of jacks and a rubber hammer can eliminate the unevenness of the bottom of the vessel.
Athletes are a little harder
As you know, sports vessels are equipped with reinforced motors, the power of which sometimes exceeds the recommended by the manufacturer by 2-3 times, and twin-engine systems are in demand. The Crimea-3 sports motor boat, the technical characteristics of which did not undergo any more modifications, fell under this fate.
As expected, the problem during operation is associated with a soft, corrosion-resistant material, which was used to create the bottom of the vessel. Only at high speeds, instead of curving the bottom surface, does the metal split - this can be observed firsthand, because small cracks appear on the body. There are several solutions to the problem:
- Seal the cracks with epoxy resin with fiberglass. Naturally, this takes time to dry the operation site, and the epoxy dries up about one week.
- The place of damage can be drilled with a six-millimeter drill and, having put flat washers on both sides, put a rivet.
Tuning for athletes
No need to think that if we are talking about a sports vessel, then the topic of tuning will be an increase in engine power. Owners of boats just don’t get involved with motors - it’s easier to buy the right one, with more power and at an affordable price, than to spend time improving the fuel system and increasing the working volume of the cylinders.
Sports modification involves an improved windshield having a complex structure, which the Crimea boat did not have. Tuning in the factory version provided for additional protection against water for the driver and passengers at high speed. However, it was this improvement that led to the boat's tent moving slightly forward, forming a gap between the fastening of the rear tent and transom valve.
Boat owners who want to get rid of water entering the boat during rain need to extend the awning or install additional leakage protection on the rear protection valve. Ideally, a complete replacement of the factory tent with a set of camouflage net with a protective cover from rain and spray is needed.
Accessories and boat accessories
Awning, camouflage net and swivel chairs are more needed for a wonderful pastime, but fishermen are interested in the question of how to more efficiently accommodate several people on a boat so that they do not interfere with each other during fishing. In the media there are a lot of options for placing fishermen on the hull of a motor boat, regardless of the modifications, although in most cases, the Crimea-M boat undergoes improvement.
First of all, it is recommended to weld 7-8 rods for fishing rods on the bow of the vessel, directly in front of the windshield. Stands should be in the form of glasses with a length of 30-40 cm and a thickness sufficient to enter the handle of the fishing rod with a large gap. At the stern and transom it is better not to install such supports, as they will very often interfere. Also, right and left of the windshield will not hurt to weld 20-30 cm of the footboard for more convenient movement to the rods located in the bow of the motor boat.
If a hatch is cut out on the bow of the vessel, many fishermen recommend installing a plastic tub in it, in which you can throw caught fish without polluting the deck with scales. Do not forget about the lighting in the evening and at night - this is a headache for all fishermen on the water. An additional battery and a pair of high-sifting LED lamps will solve the problem.
Finally
As can be seen from the review, the boat “Crimea” has very attractive characteristics compared to competitors in its class of small boats. There are also shortcomings that are more dependent on operating conditions, but in general it is worth paying attention to this motor boat when buying water transport for fishing and outdoor activities.