Trolling motor made from wood

Discussion in 'DIY Marinizing' started by Bertoa, Aug 19, 2011.

  1. Bertoa
    Joined: Aug 2011
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    Location: Maastricht, NL

    Bertoa New Member

    The basic idea of this trolling motor is the multi functionality of the cordless drill.
    Is the power of a battery drill enough to drive a trolling boat on still waters?
    The answer is yes. I made the trolling motor from wood and some other parts in a
    Clear design with Clean materials and Cheap. So, the 3 C's.
    The outboard is partly inflatable for easy transport. Two nails are locking the hinge
    and the steering handle. All the functional parts are there, motor, propellor,
    hinge with lift, steering handle with trottle and the square drillhead.
    A test with a canoe was convincing although a drill with a low/high switch for getting
    the best thrust on the prop is better. Also li-ion battery's give a longer range.
    It is all by all a fun project between all the high tech. Ready for some enhancements.
    I also used a battery adaptor for connecting an external 12V gel battery of 12AH.
    Enough to navigate for a while. Enjoy!!!
    Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZJTGqmtzBs
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. Manie B
    Joined: Sep 2006
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    Location: Cape Town South Africa

    Manie B Senior Member

    Yes - it's fun
    No - it cant perform

    but clever in a DIY kinda way
    nice one
     
  3. pistnbroke
    Joined: Jan 2009
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    Location: Noosa.Australia where god kissed the earth.

    pistnbroke I try

    dont go anywhere where there is ANY current flowing !!!!
     
  4. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    I wonder how long the angle adapter will hold up immersed.
     
  5. waikikin
    Joined: Jan 2006
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    Location: Australia

    waikikin Senior Member

    Sorry, but when I saw the thread title I immediatly thought............... Oars.......
     
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  6. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Oars would be faster, a lot less noise and you wouldn't run out of charge in the middle of a puddle. I can imagine that contrivance lasting very long under load.
     
  7. FMS
    Joined: Jul 2011
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    Location: united states

    FMS Senior Member

    I wouldn't have guessed the drill itself would last long under continuous load. But the video brought a smile to my face. Reminded me of being young and foraging through my dad's shop. I'd use any parts and scrap wood I could find to build something new for the lake every year when school was out.
     
  8. pistnbroke
    Joined: Jan 2009
    Posts: 1,405
    Likes: 34, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 404
    Location: Noosa.Australia where god kissed the earth.

    pistnbroke I try

    lets go for the no wood eco version ...6ft of 1/4 rod in the chuck and a prop on the end ....long tail version .....

    I undersand they do have races for drill powered boats .......
     
  9. Bertoa
    Joined: Aug 2011
    Posts: 2
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    Location: Maastricht, NL

    Bertoa New Member

    @ postnbroke, Yes there have been races for drill powered boats. To all the skeptics above this let you smile even more. Watch this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t82OL0YObw4&feature=player_embedded
    More detail:
    http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?132054-Beale-Park-2011
    Please, give some tips how to enhance the drill option for boats, rather than going back to the way we always did it (oars).
    This exentric englishmen understand that better.
    The same threat as this but very informative about this topic:
    http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=30945&sid=627725272dd4d8e479ee36c3ce6183b7
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2011

  10. MengWalton
    Joined: Jul 2011
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    Location: United Kingdom

    MengWalton Junior Member

    Great stuff, must have been a good laugh to compete in that :) shame ive missed it
     
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