RoughRiver
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2021
- Messages
- 6
Hi, first post on the boards. I've done a search of the forum and read up on solar boating questions asked but I do have specific questions to a project I'd like to start. I've been watching Will Prowse's videos on youtube for some time now with an interesting in building a solar powered boat. As some background my wife and I live on a 5000 acre lake in Kentucky, I'd like to spend more time on the lake and less time at the marina putting gas in a boat so I'm looking at converting a small boat to run on solar. I have an older 14 foot aluminum runabout I think could be ideal converted to solar although this would be my first solar system of any kind.
I'm not worried too much about speed, 5-8 kns would do, of course the faster the better. I'd like to at some point move up to a small electric outboard but at first I'd like to do some testing with a trolling motor. As far as batteries go I'm definitely going lithium although I'm not sure of the size needed, I'd like to run off the panels as much as possible but the boat is smallish in size and I don't know if I can hang enough panels to do that so there may be some need to run off panels + batteries which isn't a big deal (this is purely 100% recreational).
At this point this is what I'm thinking:
40-50lb 12v trolling motor pulling 40amps max, I could go with a 24v motor if that helps overall. Anyone have advice on good boat motors that work with solar systems? From what I read a trolling motor is limited to 5mph although this can be increased some by use of aftermarket props, anyone ever try these?
A minimum of 4 solar panels, these would need to be at least 3 maybe 4 feet above the boat so weight is a factor. At this point I'm thinking some of the flexible type since they weigh less. I would make a frame either of painted PVC pipe or aluminum tubing.
Batteries, I would hope a 100ah lithium iron battery would work, although I'm not against a 24v system and running 2 if that helps. I've been reading up on the Chinns and SOK batteries as being the best, although I not sure about the 40amp draw requirement. Also being in a boat would I need low temp protection, this is going to be a summer/warm weather project so I'm not planning on sub zero sailing. Is it worth the extra money for this feature?
Anything else a novice is forgetting? Thanks and I hope to get this project started this winter if at all possible.
I'm not worried too much about speed, 5-8 kns would do, of course the faster the better. I'd like to at some point move up to a small electric outboard but at first I'd like to do some testing with a trolling motor. As far as batteries go I'm definitely going lithium although I'm not sure of the size needed, I'd like to run off the panels as much as possible but the boat is smallish in size and I don't know if I can hang enough panels to do that so there may be some need to run off panels + batteries which isn't a big deal (this is purely 100% recreational).
At this point this is what I'm thinking:
40-50lb 12v trolling motor pulling 40amps max, I could go with a 24v motor if that helps overall. Anyone have advice on good boat motors that work with solar systems? From what I read a trolling motor is limited to 5mph although this can be increased some by use of aftermarket props, anyone ever try these?
A minimum of 4 solar panels, these would need to be at least 3 maybe 4 feet above the boat so weight is a factor. At this point I'm thinking some of the flexible type since they weigh less. I would make a frame either of painted PVC pipe or aluminum tubing.
Batteries, I would hope a 100ah lithium iron battery would work, although I'm not against a 24v system and running 2 if that helps. I've been reading up on the Chinns and SOK batteries as being the best, although I not sure about the 40amp draw requirement. Also being in a boat would I need low temp protection, this is going to be a summer/warm weather project so I'm not planning on sub zero sailing. Is it worth the extra money for this feature?
Anything else a novice is forgetting? Thanks and I hope to get this project started this winter if at all possible.