Boat Design Forums  |  Boat Design Directory  |  Boat Design Gallery  |  Boat Design Book Store  |  Thanks to Our Site Sponsors

Go Back   Boat Design Forums > Design > Propulsion > DIY Marinizing
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-11-2009, 12:42 AM
bnhk88 bnhk88 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Rep: 10 Posts: 3
Location: phila
homemade electric outboard

anyone ever build their own electric outboard / trolling motor from scratch?

i cant find any info anywhere ???..... so i turn to the best

thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-11-2009, 01:06 AM
BHOFM BHOFM is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Rep: 247 Posts: 458
Location: usa
I have been doing some drawings using a 18V cordless
drill and a 90`drive.

I would like to build a prototype but don't want to spend
a lot on proof of design model. Maybe this winter?

It might be what the canoe, kayak people are looking for?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-11-2009, 02:26 AM
Guest625101138 Guest625101138 is offline
Previous Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Rep: 0 Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by bnhk88 View Post
anyone ever build their own electric outboard / trolling motor from scratch?

i cant find any info anywhere ???..... so i turn to the best

thanks
Here are a couple I have played with:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ul6h...e=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJedBprmSkk

The second one uses a 330g model aircraft motor. The first one has a Mars PMSM but is limited to about 280W by the little 12V batteries. The Mars motor can go up to 9kW with a suitable battery.

There is quite a lot of discussion on this thread:
Efficient electric boat

Rick W
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-11-2009, 04:05 AM
CDK's Avatar
CDK CDK is offline
experimental engineer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Rep: 1316 Posts: 2,145
Location: Adriatic sea
Quote:
Originally Posted by bnhk88 View Post
anyone ever build their own electric outboard / trolling motor from scratch?

i cant find any info anywhere ???..... so i turn to the best

thanks
The answer is YES.
I made one because I had a low rpm brushless DC motor lying around for several years. Made a housing from stainless steel and even a multi-blade prop. Once it was ready I used it behind an 8 ft RIB a couple of times, but the fun was in making it, not using it.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-11-2009, 09:00 PM
bnhk88 bnhk88 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Rep: 10 Posts: 3
Location: phila
i know you said use a low rpm motor but what size/type brushless dc motor would be needed?

what kind of power supply would be most efficient deep cycle marine battery, lithium not really sure of the options.

how do you determine how long the motor will run before all power is lost?

would an electric scooter motor and battery be a viable source for my power plant?

and finally how do you determine what kind/size of propeller to use in relation to the motor? it will be on my canoe. i would like to have a motor on each side.

i just want to make a neat efficient propulsion system for my canoe because my friends are useless when it comes to rowing. i dont want to take the easy way out and buy two trolling motors i like building stuff myself.

in addition my dad owns a auto salvage yard so i have a lot of parts at my disposal. i dont really know what parts if any would help me in my quest to propel my canoe

sorry if im annoying im just a kid with a lot of questions that my teachers cant answer or even point me in the right direction. haha

thanks again you guys are awsome
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-11-2009, 10:00 PM
BHOFM BHOFM is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Rep: 247 Posts: 458
Location: usa
Rick will most likely step in with some tech talk, but a lot
of this is uncharted and you need to do so trial and error
testing, and let us know the results.

I think the scooter motor and battery would be a good
starting place. The gear box is your next hurdle! Flex
shaft is also an option.

They make some large R/C boat props you might look at.

Maybe a heat and air motor from a car??

Or go to Wal Mart and get a trolling motor prop.

For testing, maybe a 90` drill adapter?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-11-2009, 11:22 PM
masalai masalai is offline
masalai
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Rep: 1630 Posts: 7,322
Location: SE Queensland, Australia
If you have a pet idea and an appropriate electric motor, "suck it and see" just for the fun of it... otherwise.... Why buy when there are soooo many commercial options? - If you have absolutely no information, why start here - do some homework (personal research first), then pose some questions....
__________________
Try to be helpful... The trouble with people is to realise and remember that there are at least two sides for every story...
A woman's breasts, one is not enough, - two may be just right, - but dreaming of 3 is a pleasant fantasy...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-11-2009, 11:29 PM
Guest625101138 Guest625101138 is offline
Previous Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Rep: 0 Posts: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by bnhk88 View Post
i know you said use a low rpm motor but what size/type brushless dc motor would be needed?

what kind of power supply would be most efficient deep cycle marine battery, lithium not really sure of the options.

how do you determine how long the motor will run before all power is lost?

would an electric scooter motor and battery be a viable source for my power plant?

and finally how do you determine what kind/size of propeller to use in relation to the motor? it will be on my canoe. i would like to have a motor on each side.

i just want to make a neat efficient propulsion system for my canoe because my friends are useless when it comes to rowing. i dont want to take the easy way out and buy two trolling motors i like building stuff myself.

in addition my dad owns a auto salvage yard so i have a lot of parts at my disposal. i dont really know what parts if any would help me in my quest to propel my canoe

sorry if im annoying im just a kid with a lot of questions that my teachers cant answer or even point me in the right direction. haha

thanks again you guys are awsome
This video clip might give you an idea how a scooter motor works (give it time to download):
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/att..._boat_9kph.wmv

This thread has some some data:
Electric Boat Data

For prop design you can use JavaProp. A model plane prop will be about the best you can get - much better than typical boat prop for these light load applications.

Rick W
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-11-2009, 11:45 PM
masalai masalai is offline
masalai
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Rep: 1630 Posts: 7,322
Location: SE Queensland, Australia
Ahhh now this is a different story, and far more in Rick Willoughby's field, where I would consider him to be an expert, be guided by him.... He is after high efficiency but you could utilise some of the technology to your advantage, like the long flexible external drive shaft (put the electric motor forward in a splash-proof box) - - maybe use a cheaper propeller or make your own 2 blade similar to that used by model aircraft but rotate at 300 to 1000 rpm in the water, salvage a controller from a busted electric outboard or make one up and salvage battery packs from busted electric drills (if the drill is busted the battery pack could still be OK, and the charger... - charge a dozen or so at home and when half are flat, time to head home
__________________
Try to be helpful... The trouble with people is to realise and remember that there are at least two sides for every story...
A woman's breasts, one is not enough, - two may be just right, - but dreaming of 3 is a pleasant fantasy...
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-12-2009, 12:35 AM
BHOFM BHOFM is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Rep: 247 Posts: 458
Location: usa
When messing with the packs from the drills, wear safety
glasses and keep a fire extinguisher handy!

They pack a lot of quick power.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-29-2009, 11:31 AM
CDK's Avatar
CDK CDK is offline
experimental engineer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Rep: 1316 Posts: 2,145
Location: Adriatic sea
This is what I meant in post #4.
Found it in the shed today looking for something else.
I made it at least 15 years ago, maybe 20. At the time it seemed OK, now I would have shaped it a bit differently. There also was a controller with a joy stick, but I'm afraid it went into the dumpster.
Attached Thumbnails
homemade electric outboard-pic00517.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-21-2010, 01:56 PM
armourit armourit is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Rep: 10 Posts: 2
Location: delaware usa
look here for two vintage electric trolling motors. http://vintageboatplans.com/trolling/
you may need to find an alternative to the generator for the motor.

Chuck
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-28-2010, 11:13 PM
ben2go ben2go is offline
Boat Builder Wanna Be
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Rep: 13 Posts: 130
Location: Upstate, South Carolina,USA
Try these.

http://www.sailnut.com/eska-electra

http://www.econogics.com/ev/evboats.htm

https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=474

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/special/etm.html
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-09-2011, 08:52 AM
tinkz tinkz is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Rep: 23 Posts: 20
Location: indiana
I did a little "kids boat" with an electric scooter motor, inboard, direct drive through the skeg. motor was rated 250 watts, 2500 rpm on 24vdc. it did about 1/2 that on 12v.
motor was about 4" diameter (10 cogs per rev = 5 windings?) and big on torque.
shaft was 5/16 stainless rod and the stuffing tube was hard 3/8" brakeline tubing I'd grafted a vertical oiling tube to (gravity fed). clearance between the rod/tube was a happy .005 (about), it pretty well floated. it swung a young T-6 prop.

long story short, those electric scooter motors are pretty impressive.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-11-2011, 12:27 AM
nimblemotors nimblemotors is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Rep: 15 Posts: 38
Location: Sacramento
I built one using an old broken 8hp output, replaced the gas engine with a 2.5hp (at 12v) pump motor that I ran at 36v (7.5hp).

For a little boat, you might just try a cordless drill as-is, attach a prop to the drill and hold it underwater, just might work fine in water. haven't tried it myself.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bnhk88 View Post
anyone ever build their own electric outboard / trolling motor from scratch?

i cant find any info anywhere ???..... so i turn to the best

thanks
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Electric Outboard Fabrication rogerstrube DIY Marinizing 6 11-26-2008 09:51 PM
electric outboard for 28ft catboat. gschuld Hybrid 9 11-12-2007 12:55 AM
Electric Outboard Design LSU SolarSplash Outboards 4 11-18-2006 09:25 AM
Recommendation for an electric outboard? Mohan Pakkurti Sailboats 3 01-27-2005 11:09 AM
homemade outboard prototype Machnumber2 Boat Design 0 05-25-2004 02:50 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:40 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Web Site Design and Content Copyright ©1999 - 2012 Boat Design Net