Inboard electric drive

Guys,
I just got a reply from Elco. They do have a small motor that will work in my boat---$7,000.00!!!! I think I will get good at rowing!

 

there lies the problem ...

most if not ALL electric solutions cost MORE than ICE setups ...

this is completely NUTS ...

ICE setups have a gazillion moving parts ...
require a gazillion more man hours to produce ...
cost more to maintain ...

yet if we "consumers" want free from those chains of bondage we must pay thru the nose ... and are still not guaranteed a functioning product in a few years ... the only exception I have seen in this area is golf carts, standardized off the shelf parts etc ...

 

Since I'm in the middle of golf cart heaven, I'm going to do some research and see what would be needed to convert an off the shelf motor. I know a lot of guys use golf cart batteries instead of marine. I can't believe it can be that difficult to use golf cart parts.

 

I too am next to Sun City, the mecca of golf carts and retirement ...

1 used golf cart has everything included, and around here they go for $100-1,000 used in good shape ...

all the electronics are pre-wired and setup, so no scratchy head wiring stuff ...

looking at most of the working setups of e-drives, they are easily ran from golf cart components ...

I have the plans coming in from Glen-L for their Electric Drive

if it can be successfully done in the 1800's, it surely can be accomplished today, especially considering the advances in battery tech since ..

 

Lo Voltage: http://www.glen-l.com/designs/special/lovoltage.html

How "ED" was built: http://www.glen-l.com/designs/special/elecdr1.html

 

Let's do our "golf cart" research and post our findings here. We might start a cottage industry- who knows?

 

sounds great to me ... was going to post my build project here anyway ...

just ordered plans for the Candu E-Z and the Glen-L Electric Drive this weekend ... but with the holiday and their stated shipping time, it's gonna be a hand wringer over the next few days ... but I did get the tracking number today for the Glen-L e-drive plans, so we'll see ...

 

the Phelix:

http://www.bassfishingnetwork.com/articles/phelix.html

 

these guys use golf cart stuff in their boats:

http://www.ddmotorsystems.com/ElectricBoats.php

 

http://www.duffyboats.com/

 

Cute. Looks like a toy. Where do you use it in the desert?

 

http://www.duffyboats.com/about/

 

a lot of the "lakes" around here are electric only lakes ... along with the "private lake communities" also do not allow gas/diesel anything in their waters ... only a handful without the restrictions ... but the major lakes and rivers are either or for power as long as you're registered and not BUI they could care less

 

I don't know what exactly Elco quoted you (motor only, motor plus controller, motor plus controller plus throttle plus gearing, etc.?), but since you said:

it appeared that you were looking for an off-the-shelf integrated system (well, except for the propeller part, I don't know of anyone who offers that) and were not necessarily interested in configuring the system yourself. In terms of fully-integrated marine systems, $3K - $7K is about the price range you are likely to be looking at.

However, if you are so inclined and are comfortable with DIY electric projects, you could fairly easily assemble your own appropriately sized DC motor (probably 2 kW or less), a PWM motor controller, throttle and shaft gearing for less than $1K. To that of course you would need to add the cost of the shaft itself, the propeller and the batteries.

 

Shaft, prop etc can be had for under $100 US or less if salvaged from a i/o gas engine that has a bad/blown top ...