Pedals
I've decided to modify the current pedal system. The IceFlyer steering is set up so that when you push on the left pedal the boat goes right and when you push on the right pedal the boat goes left.

I'm a private pilot and this is not the way it works in an airplane. In an airplane when you push on the right pedal the plane goes right and when you push on the left, then left. I decided to redesign the pedals so that the pedal extends through the floor. This effectively reverses the way the current plans specify. I think the pedal system in the IceFlyer plans is fine but was afraid that I might get confused either on the ice or maybe in the air after switching back and forth.

My only concern about the new set up is clearance. I've got the geometry figured out so the levers from the pedals only extend 2.25" below the floor of the boat. There should be enough clearance but I'm not sure how much the front springboard is going to flex. If it doesn't work the worst case scenario for the experiment is to cut the levers off and drill holes in the top of the pedals as the plans specify.

I figured out to get 45 degrees of steering, the arms on the front steering chock needed to travel about 2.8" in each direction. After figuring out how much push/pull travel I needed I was able to figure out how long to make the levers that extend down from the pedals. The levers on the pedals give me a full 3" inches of travel in both directions (a full 6" inches of travel between the levers) I wanted to make sure I had enough lever extending below the floor to give me the required travel but not too much that it became a clearance issue.


You can see the lever extending 2.25" through the floor (red line is the hull) at it's lowest point of travel. Ground clearance gets better as you turn the boat. There is over 6" between the pivot points of the two grayed out pedals.

Also the shape of the pedal lever allows the pedal to be angled back slightly in the neutral position with the push rod attach point at bottom dead center. This allowed me to minimize the amount of arch that was required to extend below the floor.



Here are some wood pedals I made out of some scrap 1/4 luan and hot glue to test my design before I make the final parts out of 1/4" aluminum plate.


Side of pedal showing lever that extends through the floor.



Front of pedal showing lever.



Back of pedal showing lever.



Pedals with full deflection. You can see how it works. When you push on the right pedal it pulls the right lever of the steering chock towards you and turns the boat right.



Pedals with the lever at its lowest point, 2.25" from bottom of hull.



From the front.


You can see the slots in the bottom of the hull. They are long because I still intend on making my pedals adjustable forward and aft. The pedals are at their furthest point of adjustment in these pictures.