hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motors

ONERCBOATER

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Oct 11, 2010
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I put this in the pontoon section because, it is going on a pontoon, and it it most applicable to houseboats and pontoons.
The modifications to my 20ft pontoon continue as does the work. A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get a pair of Minn Kota trolling motors,4 swivel seats, and two deepcycle batteries for $70. The trolling motors each had something wrong with them, so I took the newer model endura (less than a yr old) and removed its broken bracket, and replaced it with the good bracket of the other trolling motor, it went to my jon boat.
That left me with two trolling motors...each with damage to the head units but perfectly good lower units and shafts ea with 36#s thrust...
I got to thinking 36x2=72 hmm 72 lbs is enough to push a pontoon boat around nicely.
So a lil research later I found a DC motor control unit that would allow for differential operation of 2 brushed DC electric motors up to 50A continuous and 100A spikes for each unit. the controller can be found here. http://www.dimensionengineering.com/Sabertooth2x50HV.htm
What I am going to do with it is hook 1 trolling motor up to each channel, and place one each behind each pontoon, use a throttle joystick pulled from an RC airplane controller because it has a ratcheted action which will allow me to set it at whatever speed i like. The differential portion of the motor controller will allow me single joystick control...full fwd, reverse with both motors, and tank like turning without moving fwd or backward by reversing one and driving the other in FWD or any combination of the controls. This method should give me a high degree of control at low speed, and as a bonus feature with the flip of a switch I will be able to utilize a radio control system and operate my boat remotely should the need arise such as loading on trailer, or unloading and docking on a busy ramp. The system will have multiple fail safes built in, one for the motor controller (bad, corrupted,or absent signal shut down) one for the radio system (FHSS=frequency hopping spread spectrum, also signal failure or corruption of signal) shutdown of motors to preprogrammed positions. I am also going to fabricate a rack and pinion system to raise and lower the motors automatically when the system is armed/disarmed.

So what do you guys think?

Sean
 
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EGlideRider

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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

As a retired electrical engineer with lots of motor control background, this sounds very interesting and workable. If that amount of thrust will be sufficient for your use, I say go for it.

As always, please keep us informed of progress.
 

ONERCBOATER

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Oct 11, 2010
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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

will keep you informed and provide pics as I go.... I may even link a youtube video when i get her in the water. right now i am stripping paint that was applied to the toons in 1988 very thick epoxy paint..... no fun nasty chemicals...tried sanding it that was a failure.... saving up $$ to buy controller. I had a schematic worked out to build one and would have come in close to 1/2 cost... but this controller has lots of safety features that I think would be wise considering that my loved ones and myself will be onboard... that and it generated a proper square wave and the design I was intending to build from would have generated a delta shaped wave.... i believe square is better in this application.
Part of why i want to do this is the WOW factor... the more important aspect is that my wife is an L3 L4 injury and paraplegic.... we have both gotten bigger over the years and safely lifting her onto the deck of the pontoon boat prior to launch isn't an option now as I have gotten out of shape. Often when launching i will be doing so in wind or current and wanted to have someone on board that could do what i wanted when I wanted... R/C made the most sense at that point. It should also allow me to launch on the far side of the ramp from the dock single handedly without trouble.... that by itself will be priceless as some people think that you launch the boat, then load all your stuff in it...then park the truck,,,, then warm up your engine.... then rearrange things... and finally after 45min clear the ramp and 1st position on the dock so someone else can launch. LOL they are also the same people often found run up on rocks or sand bar....or out of fuel down stream of the ramp....ect..

Sean
 

Huron Angler

Admiral
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Apr 7, 2009
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6,025
Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

Very interesting idea with the remote control:)

The control for turning will be very convenient with dual motors.

My buddy lives on an electric only lake here in MI and there's a guy pontoon with 8-10 Minn Kotas on the stern.

Once they were driving WOT and folks thought they had to be using gas outboards.:D
 

Dkrager

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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May 16, 2010
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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

That's a very interesting idea. Sounds like something I'd try to come up with. Although the electronics end is way over my head. It would make loading and unloading on the trailer an easier one man task, and turn some heads along the way!
 

ONERCBOATER

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Oct 11, 2010
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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

when i get it working, if anyone wants I will post the schematic and instructions for the whole setup. Should essentially be plug and play except for a lil bit of light wiring, no more really than installing a normal trolling motor.. well ok a bit more but still easy enough.

Sean
 

Silvertip

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Sep 22, 2003
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28,771
Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

I feel the steering with the motors operating independently will not be as effective as you expect but it's worth a try. 55# MinnKota V2 on my 20 footer moved the boat around ok so 72 should provide reasonable speed. It is the range that will be an issue but if this is a smaller body of water that too will not be issue.
 

blackberg

Seaman
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Jan 1, 2011
Messages
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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

I was thinking of rigging something similar to get on a lake that allows 2001+ outboards or 4 strokes.
Or electric.
I would be interested on your solution.
I have one 80lb thrust and looking for anohter one :D
-bb
 

ONERCBOATER

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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

not sure yet on the effectiveness of the independent operation...but it seems to me that 36lbs pulling on the right side and 36lbs pushing on the left approx 7.5ft apart should give me 270ft lbs of turning torque at the transom it may not move fast in a turn but it should be the equivalent of a heavy strong person pushing off from a dock.
as far as range...i have an outboard to provide for longer distances...the trolling motors are just for positioning and perhaps trolling :)
Sean
 

EGlideRider

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Dec 14, 2008
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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

Looks like you've done the math and the homework. Seems like it's very workable to me.
 

ONERCBOATER

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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

well I am on track again, got the controller ordered, should be here this week or next. Looks like it is about time to get to making the mounts for the trolling motors, they will have to either swivel up or raise through rack and pinion... swivel looks more promising and much easier to attain at this point, so.... swivel with ball detents to hold position and looks like a window regulator motor to do the swiveling. I am going to pretty them up after I prove/test them and will let you all know how they worked, I am getting ready to start taking pictures cause I am pretty sure this is a different direction than anyone else here has gone. If things work well I will attempt to post a youtube video of it in action as well, and will post GPS speeds just for fun cause it isn't going to win any speed contests. Since I am getting ready to do foam composite walls for the cabin portion... I figure after proving they work, making them look custom smooth and modern will be fun and pretty easy with foam and glass. Thinking they will wind up painted either to match the boat or the outboard... and if i succeed in operation and modifying the appearance, they should look nothing like minn kotas when complete.

Sean
 

ONERCBOATER

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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

mount with hardware down positionb.jpgmount with hardware down positiona.jpg

these are 3d rendering of the mounts I am building to accomplish automated raising and lowering of the trolling motors, I am 3/4 of the way done with one mount at this point and working up a locking mechanism for the down position. Initially I was going to use rack and pinion, then rotary action, after careful evaluation of the forces involved I opted for levers and cable, simple to fabricate no welding needed, brute strong, easy to repair, and swings away from pontoon in an arc as it goes from full down to full up position, with 32" of travel. I will finish fabricating the 1st one then take pictures of the 2nd one as I fabricate it. In typical fashion I have overbuilt the device, using 4" T6 aluminum C channel, and 2"x1/4" T6 aluminum bar stock with 1/2 304 stainless pins to rotate on. my guess is it would likely handle a 5hp or better outboard :) but for sure will handle a 40-100 lb thrust trolling motor with ample room to spare. As a test I and then I am bro in law stood on the end in extended position with the other end locked down on the trailer.... that's about 500lbs total. So what you guys think?

Oh and just to share failures along with accomplishments, my initial measurements for the mount came from putting the trolling motor to the preferred height and then I jotted it down as my measurement.... i forgot to remove the head and prop diameter from the measurement and subsequently built the 1st mount 7" too long :facepalm: .... had to share cause you should have seen the look on my face when I went to test fit :eek:. fortunately the band saw is my friend here and will save me from much hassle, I will just have to mark cut and drill 4 new holes as well. :redface: what a rookie move huh :rolleyes:

Sean
 
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imported_John o

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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

http://www.lencomarine.com/joy_ride/evenakidcandoit.html

Lenco Marine makes a product called Troll n Tabs that does exactly what you are trying to do. (although much more expensively)

The link above should be to a video of their new Joy Ride Dual Digital version of it.

(BTW, Thanks a lot. Now I'm seriously in lust with another expensive toy for the boat.)
 

a1nowell

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May 12, 2009
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ONERCBOATER

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Oct 11, 2010
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Re: hello again, thought i would share a different method of operating trolling motor

a1nowell yes i actually considered that 1st, the reason i opted for this version was two fold, one i like being different :D and two more importantly i wanted to be able to operate the boat remotely.

Imported john o yeah i found that after i started this mission, but so far i have $70 (less if you discount the 4 seats and the battery from cost of trolling motors) and a lil under $80 for the aluminum and steel....and $250 for the square wave PWM unit (this unit should perform better than the minn kota maximizer which is also PWM but i believe delta wave form I should get as much or more battery life out of it as square wave is far more efficient) I will be using #6 well cable for the electrical connections (meant to be submerged and has a secondary protective jacket) and should have the mounts fabricated and proved by this weekend. The cost for the Lenco system blew my mind lol. I seriously considered scrapping my initial design and outright copying theirs... but I didn't want to deal with hydraulics so kept my system.

once i have the system proved in 55 gallon drums... then my bro in law who is a lover of all things shiny will polish them up to a mirror shine, then I am intending to electro etch my last name in fancy script across them for the sheer joy of making people do a double take. my bro in law is arguing that we should chrome them... not sure about that.. maybe after a year of use or so...to make sure that there arn't any surprises or mods that i have to do.

Sean

PS :mad: well i learned another lesson.... when marking out material prior to drilling and putting in the milling machine..... send the 3 yr old out of room.... or go hide somewhere. It appears that children are extreme distractions. as i marked one side exactly opposite what I intended... markings 180* off...... then out to the shop (without jr.... he is too young to be around machine tools) and promptly cut where i marked.... thank goodness it was only one piece... 4" aluminum channel isn't exactly cheap. :facepalm:

minor setback...will have to take off work early to hit metal shop for more aluminum. :redface:

oh well
 
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