Current Situation in Middle Tennessee!

[Electro Dan-O]

Thanks for the add! This looks like my kind of place!

I've been playing with low budget solar powered floats for the last couple of years. Started off with a little paddle boat so I could get out on the water while my hot rod boat was down, but I instantly got hooked, started upgrading and wanted more! I scored an old 17' sailboat earlier this year so I could take this project to the next level and it's been everything I thought it could be! All with super low budget parts. Again, thanks for having me. Looking forward to keeping this project/learning going! So much fun!

Oh, here's some pics of the paddle boat and the new ride: "Current Situation"!

 

[svetz]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[chrisski]

I'd love to her some specs on the boat like 2 X 100 watt panels charges the 100 AH battery bank and you get 2 hours a day off the trolling motor.

 

[Hedges]

Can you tilt up that bimini top and catch the wind if you get skunked by the sun?

An Amazing Story: How a Sub Sailed the Pacific with Sails Made From Hammocks & Blankets

 

[Electro Dan-O]

I'd love to her some specs on the boat like 2 X 100 watt panels charges the 100 AH battery bank and you get 2 hours a day off the trolling motor.

Since I'm basicly starting from the bottom, I was thinking about starting a thread just for this project, but that might be silly. I have a lot of pictures and data. I can keep it here and simple also.

Current setup: 2x "120w" ebay flexible panels(they're horrible!), 20a Epever MPPT controller, 2x used/tired 12v 24 series SLA marine batteries in parallel, and a Minn Kota 30lb brushed trolling motor that is modified with a 40a PWM, 10awg wire(deleted resistors), various model airplane props(currently an 11x6) and a spinner to finish it off.

How's that for cheap and simple? Hey, it works and there's only one way to go from here!

That being said, next upgrade is absolutely going to be getting rid of those horrid SLAs and go lifepo4! Guys, I'm so excited about this, I can't sleep! I've been researching and I'm pretty much sold on "building" my own battery with aluminum casing with around 100ah cells and a 60 or 100a BMS. I'm going to keep it at 12v for now.

I'm ready to pull the trigger anytime, but I'm not in any hurry. I'm having trouble deciding on where/who to buy from. I'd love to get in on a group buy or buy from an experienced forum member so I don't get ripped off. Any advice?

 

[Electro Dan-O]

I'd love to her some specs on the boat like 2 X 100 watt panels charges the 100 AH battery bank and you get 2 hours a day off the trolling motor.

Since I'm basicly starting from the bottom, I was thinking about starting a thread just for this project, but that might be silly. I have a lot of pictures and data. I can keep it here and simple also.

Current setup: 2x "120w" ebay flexible panels(they're horrible!), 30a Epever MPPT controller, 2x used/tired 12v 24 series SLA marine batteries in parallel, and a Minn Kota 30lb brushed trolling motor that is modified with a 40a PWM, 10awg wire(deleted resistors), various model airplane props(currently an 11x6) and a spinner to finish it off.

How's that for cheap and simple? Hey, it works!

That being said, next upgrade is absolutely going to be getting rid of those horrid SLAs and go lifepo4! Guys, I'm so excited about this, I can't sleep! I've been researching and I'm pretty much sold on "building" my own battery with aluminum casing, around 100ah cells and a 60 or 100a BMS. I'm going to keep it at 12v for now.

I'm ready to pull the trigger anytime, but I'm not in any hurry. I'm having trouble deciding on where/who to buy from. I'd love to get in on a group buy or buy from an experienced forum member so I don't get ripped off. Any advice?

Can you tilt up that bimini top and catch the wind if you get skunked by the sun?

An Amazing Story: How a Sub Sailed the Pacific with Sails Made From Hammocks & Blankets

Ha, not likely! I have absolutely no idea how to sail anyway. I'd love to learn sometime, but I'm completely sold on an electric drive boat!

 

[Electro Dan-O]

Wooooo, guys! Member Michael B Caro hooked me up! Upgrade time! Got some brand new EVE 105ah cells to play with! I really only needed four, but what the heck. Double the voltage=double the fun right? Ehh, we'll see. Still lots to do and learn on the 12v setup. Sure did feel good to pull out the heavy old SLA dinosaurs for the last time. Man, I'm excited about this!

Time to get to work!

 

[Electro Dan-O]

Batteries are just about finished up and I'm dreaming about warm weather and some lake time!

 

[curiouscarbon]

nice packs!

the compression springs are a nice touch

nice acrylic cover

may i ask where you sourced your daly lifepo4 bms? i’m looking for one for a 3s headway build.

 

[ArthurEld]

Batteries are just about finished up and I'm dreaming about warm weather and some lake time!

Those are some good looking batteries

 

[Electro Dan-O]

nice packs!

the compression springs are a nice touch

nice acrylic cover

may i ask where you sourced your daly lifepo4 bms? i’m looking for one for a 3s headway build.

Got these from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/DALY-Protect...jLXCQoqwTFCPFr0QUtrTegb88kd3-hZj8jy-QEmw91V1M

 

[Mike Jordan]

Nice. What type/size is your motor?

You can switch over to PWM controller for better gas mileage and more variable speed control. If you had something different than tiller steering, or a tiller extension, a PWM controller would also let you move the speed controls to anywhere, instead of having to stay at the rear on the tiller.

But a remote controlled ESC is dabomb(dot)com in DIY electric boat propulsion

 

[curiouscarbon]

Got these from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/DALY-Protect...jLXCQoqwTFCPFr0QUtrTegb88kd3-hZj8jy-QEmw91V1M

thank you Electro Dan-O

happy wake making ??

 

[Electro Dan-O]

Nice. What type/size is your motor?

You can switch over to PWM controller for better gas mileage and more variable speed control. If you had something different than tiller steering, or a tiller extension, a PWM controller would also let you move the speed controls to anywhere, instead of having to stay at the rear on the tiller.

But a remote controlled ESC is dabomb(dot)com in DIY electric boat propulsion

View attachment 37979

In my earlier posts you can see the motor setup. It's an MK30 with a cheap PWM, APC prop and spinner. The tiller head was just there for steering but it's gone now. I'm going to make a fairing for the motor shaft and probably cut the skeg off for more performance and efficiency but that's as far as I'm going with the MK. I fully plan to build a brushless setup for it soon! I'm sure an RC ESC will be used for that project.

 

[Mike Jordan]

In my earlier posts you can see the motor setup. It's an MK30 with a cheap PWM, APC prop and spinner. The tiller head was just there for steering but it's gone now. I'm going to make a faring for the motor shaft and probably cut the skeg off for more performance and efficiency but that's as far as I'm going with the MK. I fully plan to build a brushless setup for it soon! I'm sure an RC ESC will be used for that project.

Steering will suck without the skeg. Don't cut it.

Complete DIY brushless, or buy a brushless trolling motor and mod it like you have done now?

 

[Loadtoad]

Where did you get those a acrylic top pieces? Did you form them yourself? I am here in Mid Tn also. Near Cookeville. I am building a battery pack for my rv.

 

[Electro Dan-O]

Steering will suck without the skeg. Don't cut it.

Complete DIY brushless, or buy a brushless trolling motor and mod it like you have done now?

I'll probably build my own but I did run across these the other day and that got me thinking about taking the easy way out. I wonder about the quality, but as cheap as they are, I might get one on the way just to play with. I'm sure I wouldn't use the motor or controller, but if the "lower unit" parts can be worked with, that would save me a lot of time vs. making all of that from scratch. Ehh, something to think about...

 

[Electro Dan-O]

Where did you get those a acrylic top pieces? Did you form them yourself? I am here in Mid Tn also. Near Cookeville. I am building a battery pack for my rv.

Oh, cool! I've spent a lot on time in Cookeville. The tops and baseplates are actually from an old SXS windshield I hacked up!

 

[Mike Jordan]

I'll probably build my own but I did run across these the other day and that got me thinking about taking the easy way out. I wonder about the quality, but as cheap as they are, I might get one on the way just to play with. I'm sure I wouldn't use the motor or controller, but if the "lower unit" parts can be worked with, that would save me a lot of time vs. making all of that from scratch. Ehh, something to think about...

Your pic did not come through so I don't know what you are looking at. Interested to know though.

I was going to build my own brushless motor. But I have searched the interwebs for more hours than I will admit to. None of the marine motors or props or combinations thereof, have any thrust data. I don't get it. Those things get pricey quick. So I am not inclined to spend a bunch of money for something that doesn't work. But if you find something that works, post it.

 

[Electro Dan-O]

Here's a link to one. Yeah, impossible to tell much about it...

Oh, I've been looking myself. Haven't seen anything yet that I'm sold on, especially for the price for some of them.

I'm confident that, while time consuming, I could build my own that will be powerful, very efficient, and a fraction of the cost of most.

If you haven't already, check out William Fraser on youtube. He's getting this stuff figured out!