Electric Boats

[mthieme]

Okay, I had a stupid thought.
I was watching a TV show which was about two drag motorcycles. One was electric. It did 157 mph at the finish line rivaling it's gasoline competition.

Then I remembered way back when (probably during the 70's gas crisis) seeing solar powered car prototypes (in Australia if memory serves).

So I thought, why not an electric boat. The topside would be solar panels and batteries placed in the bilge (ballast). I haven't given much thought to any more of the overall design but the power plants are obviously feasible.

They could even be hybrids like the latest automotive innovations (using terminology loosely).

 

[JB]

Re: Electric Boats

To make 175mph in a few seconds drains the on-board power source. It means nothing for sustained power to drive a boat.

If you have a light enough boat and an efficient enough troller you can creep around the lake all day, but you aren't gonna plane a ski boat or a bassrocket.

In the 60s I had a little boat, a SportYak II, that I put a small Minn Kota troller on. I modified the power controller to use modulated pulses instead of the power sucking rheostat. I could fish all day from that boat on one charge of the battery out of my car and still start the car when I came back.

Electric boat? Been there, done that. It works as long as you stay within its limits.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Electric Boats

there are some nice ones on the market in europe, they just don't run long.

 

[evinice66]

Re: Electric Boats

i saw one in gran haven michigan this summer, he had a big bimini topthat i thought could have been a big solar panel.... hey jb thats a great idea with the pwm, what size of the pulse with modulator did you use? very interesting.... peace

 

[ED21]

Re: Electric Boats

Their are at least a few compamnies making electric powered boats. Duffy make an electric launch I believe. None of them have a speed much above 6 or 7 mph.
I read an article about an electric drag racer built on a Falcon. He was getting times in the 12's I think. The point he made about electric motors is that they put out full torque nearly immediately once they start.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Electric Boats

My boat turns into an electric boat when I fish on some of the city lakes in my area. With one battery and my Endura trolling motor, I can fish as long as I want with it. I've never run the battery out.

Of course, you don't go fast, but that's OK with me.