For a full discussion on electric boats, try a Google search - There is a
ton of info out there!

Here is one site with many links:

http://www.econogics.com/ev/evboats.htm

As a guide - A Minekota 2HP outboard drive requires a maximum of 40A at 48V.
Presumably the 48V is obtained by using 4 12V or 8 6V batteries - about
400AH of storage. But, you should not discharge the batteries below about
50%, so really you have about 200AH to work with. This would give you about
5 hrs with a 2HP motor.

The 6V golf cart batteries will stand up better to the heavy duty charging
cycle but will probably fail after about 5 or 6 seasons. These batteries
would weigh about 500lb - about same as another 3 people on board. 12V deep
cycles would probably weigh about 1/2 as much but perhaps not last as long.

Regarding a portable charger - I believe (from memory) that a 2KW Honda
would put out about 8A of 12V DC, so that won't really cut it. It will also
put out about 1600 watts of 110V A/C which could be used to power an
on-board charger - Still wouldn't replace the total draw, but would give
longer run time. Possibly, y0u could install a 110V motor on an old outboard
drive! (1HP = 746W).

No easy answer! A fuel cell would be best because of much higher conversion
of fuel energy to electric power, but these are not yet readily available.

For most efficient solar power, try installing a mast and some sails

GBM


"cavelamb" wrote in message
ink.net...
Ok, try this again...

This is for a small day sailor - nor a rubber raft.

The previous message was...

The outboards on small day sailers seldom have alternators, which means
no way to charge batteries.
Best of the best seems to be the air cooled 5hp Hondas - but no electrics.

I've wondered about powering an electric motor directly from a small
generator?
I saw a Honda that makes both 12vdc and 120vac - but (at the store)
couldn't
find any info on actually usable output currents.

Retail is often so frustrating...
Outboards are rated in horsepower. No thrust rating?
Trolling motors are rated in pounds thrust. No power rating?

I'm thinking a 60-100 pound thrust motor on a 1500 pound displacement hull
isn't going to win any drag races, but should (eventually?) move out.

The limiting factor is battery charge (as noted this thread).

But with a gasoline powered "battery"?

Somebody want to knock some sense into this idea?


Richard


The one response made good sense.
Convert everything to watts.
I can do the electric part easy.
But I'm not sure how to convert gas power to watts?
Or, as he also pointed out, how closely they will correlate?

I stopped by Northern Hydraulic today and picked up a catalog.

Lots-o gen sets from backpack to ship/shore power.

Pretty much priced accordingly too.

A couple of higher end units could make 20 amps of 12 vdc.
But that's only 240 watts - a SMALL trolling motor?
And several kilo-bucks required to do it?

I think this idea goes back to the drawing board.


Sats

Very cool idea, please let us know what you come up with.
MMC
"cavelamb" wrote in message
ink.net...
I stopped by Northern Hydraulic today and picked up a catalog.

Lots-o gen sets from backpack to ship/shore power.

Pretty much priced accordingly too.

A couple of higher end units could make 20 amps of 12 vdc.
But that's only 240 watts - a SMALL trolling motor?
And several kilo-bucks required to do it?

I think this idea goes back to the drawing board.


Sats

MMC wrote:

Very cool idea, please let us know what you come up with.
MMC
"cavelamb" wrote in message
ink.net...

I stopped by Northern Hydraulic today and picked up a catalog.

Lots-o gen sets from backpack to ship/shore power.

Pretty much priced accordingly too.

A couple of higher end units could make 20 amps of 12 vdc.
But that's only 240 watts - a SMALL trolling motor?
And several kilo-bucks required to do it?

I think this idea goes back to the drawing board.


Sats





40 amps 12VDC to drive a moderate trolling motor will run
over $3000 - off the shelf gen set.

It's going to be a pretty big package too.

FWIW...