electric motors for the classic boat

[Boones]

I am sure as a purist the thought is revolting but I have been wondering if anyone here is running a larger electric motor instead of their vintage outboard. its quieter, no gas price escalation or more environmentally friendly. I was looking on line at what is available. my lake prefers the electric over gas but its not required.

what are your thoughts on them and is there any good ones out there

[sparrowhawk]

Overall I don't see a real cost advantage with electric motors. Sort of like buying a new small car to save gas costs. Your original vehicle was getting fewer miles per gallon but you weren't making the payments. The payments would have fueled the original vehicle for a long time. From a conservation standpoint I can see an improvement over old two cycle motors but most of that can be gained with a vintage four stroke at far less cost. This also improves fuel economy. I'm not against the concept of electric motors and in fact have been looking into some electric driven "kit" cars that I find very interesting but I don't think with today's batteries etc. the cost justifies the end result. Of course that is based on how and where I want to use my boat. If I was only going to use it on a small lake and not have a lot of distance to cover it might be more appealing but dealing with the batteries is not something I want to do.

[Motorhead]

Its my understanding that no one has been able to create a viable all electric boat motor with existing technology. To do so would require enough batteries to sink an aircraft carrier. Remember, Boats requie far more power to maintain a given speed than a land vehicle does. If boating at speeds up to 2 mph is your idea of a good time, go for it. :rolleyes:

[Hoggar]

Hey Boones here is something to think about but its a bit pricey

http://www.torqeedo.com/us/hn/home.html

http://www.matbase.com/revolutionary_boat_drive_Torqeedo_Travel_Base_wins _HISWA_Amsterdam_Innovation_price_2007

http://oceanlines.biz/2008/11/new-torqeedo-might-be-the-green-go-for-your-dinghy


Hoggar.
http://www.TheOldGlassBoats.com

[Helmar]

Hi Hogger.
I noticed your website under your handle so I went to your site.
I did not see a link back to our Site/forum.
Can you please see that one is added. www.classicboatclub.com (http://www.classicboatclub.com)
We can do the same for you.

[McSkagit Tim Jones]

Electric boat propulsion has been around a long time. Electric launches from the 1910-20 vintage. WWII submarines. Check out Duffy Electric Launches.

I'm gambling that the system I've built will push the 5 ton Saratogan to six knots and run about three hours at five knots, six hours at 4 knots. I've put-off buying the batteries, but looking at about 500 amp/hr at 24 to 32 volts deep cycle lead acid.

The next big thing in transportation will be lithium Ion batteries and rare-earth permanent magnet brushless motors. The motors use technology similar to that which inverters use (electronic switching tied to armature RPM). They are very efficient and powerful.

I've seen pictures of electric outboards that would push a small hydro to 50 mph.


McSkagit

[Boones]

I forget about the range of boats on here and probably should have noted that I was making my note about the smaller boats (less then 16') that might did not require a bigger more powerful engines.

I think an electric has its place as short distance cruising along the lakes edge to view the sights where as a gas motor will provide hours of fun and speed

[Yardman]

Hi Boones, I get most of my time on local lakes and I use my small, 30 lbs thrust electric troller, for a 16 ft. BellBoy. Now of course a little larger one would be in order if there is any wind . I tried it in the river on our recent Snohomish River cruise, Not much doing going up hill but coming back(down river) it worked great. They are silent and I can keep the crew entertained with tales of daring-do! With out having to talk over the motor.
As far as the purist look, I run a Homelite that I like a lot, but it's nice to run the electric on a slow troll or cruise around the shore. - Ross

[Boones]

yardman, how to you steer and control the speed. I have a small electric for a rowboat but you have to sit next to it to control the speed and more the stick to make it turn. can not imagine that working out to well on a 16 ft boat.

If I get something I would like to be able to hook up the steering (which should be easy) but most do not seem to run a remote steering or even some sort of cable throttle. would like to be able to sit in the captains chair and still drive it

[Yardman]

I use a remote steering that is like this. Somtimes if conditions warrant I take over my self! This is the first-mate model and her name is Sue... _ Ross

[Helmar]

That works too.
I would try innovative fabrication myself :rolleyes:
Got to be a way to tie that to the big motor without too much work.
But then again, its a Bearcat, turn down the idle for trolling :D

[Tim McCrain]

I use a remote steering that is like this. Somtimes if conditions warrant I take over my self! This is the first-mate model and her name is Sue... _ Ross

Wow. An actual back seat driver! :D

[Boones]

I have a steering set up like that also. just not sure she wants to be the pilot..

I have thought about hooking up a pulley to the twistable stick and find a way to use cables to activate. I have a size 40 electric on my current lake boat (dingy) I have looked at and I think I could rig something up the more I look at my boat. I am going to do more looking around and see what I can figure out. but I really want to be able to use my boat on my lake after work for a nice sunset cruise.

[Hoggar]

Hi Hogger.
I noticed your website under your handle so I went to your site.
I did not see a link back to our Site/forum.
Can you please see that one is added. www.classicboatclub.com (http://www.classicboatclub.com)
We can do the same for you.

No problem Helmar Im working on a more organized link page and will be adding
NWCB as well as GSG to my links section no offense was intended I add my
URL to my sig every where I post if its boat related. If you would like me
to omit it here I will gladly comply.

Hoggar.
http://www.TheOldGlassBoats.com

[Hoggar]

Hi Helmar

Just wanted to give you a heads up that I finely finished my
Link page redesign and have added NWCBC to the page.
Have a good Day

Hõggar.
http://www.TheOldGlassBoats.com

[Sammamish1]

This isn't an electric boat per se, but I intend to use electric power on the stiletto I am slowly reconditioning.

It is intended as a dedicated fishing boat. I will be using outboard power to reach the spot where the fish are and a Minkota to troll once I get there.

I intend to add a solar charging system to the forward deck to keep my battery charged and to extend the time I can use the motor.

[Tim_Mattson]

Hey All,
I always think of Norm Boddy`s stunt on Green Lake in Seattle when he set the World Eletric speed Record back in the day.....72 mph both ways,then got ticketed but had it thrown out when he proved it was with batteries and not a combustion engine.
He put a 32 volt Diesil starter in place of a 115 Starflite powerhead and plopped a 32 volt battery bank in the lower regions of his 3 pt hydro.....then figured out a rheostat contol of some sort is my guess.Heat is what cooks fast electric model engines so todays computer over hardware controls could make this a reality.
Big ships almost all use Electric drives and generators to charge the banks and I just was given an article about 22` cruisers now using it to speeds in the teens.Small Biofuel Gens kick on ONLY when banks are drawn down.
Using battery weight as ballast and with a shaft and prop and main drive motor being all you need( after the huge electroniscs cost of course) there are some real space and comfort gains.
I have several V-4`s lined up for when it gets cost-effective to pay for a bushing to connect a Golf cart motor or huge Cat starter to a lower unit shaft. Someday........I just heard Norm is getting sicker,hope he is still ok.
TimM