Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

Ok in my never ending quest for a 28' pontoon, I'm still holding out
for one that has a GM 3.0 mercruiser basicly for the 4 cycle economy
over say a 2-cycle 70hp Johnson etc. And I like the size of a 28'
because I want something I can take my brothers and families out for a
river cruise or a good day at the lake.

But one thing I'm wondering is if there would be any type of
practicality to going "hybrid" on something like this. And I dont'
mean a true hybrid but rather an electric alternate power.

Here's how I look at it. A 28'r would provide ample bouancy for extra
weight. I have access to air cooled electric forklift motors up to
about 10 h.p which is actually quite a bit more power than what one
would think. With the automotive engine and plenty of surrounding
room, I can make charging systems up to 64 v. w/no problem. Even
mounting a seperate alternator on the engine is only limited to the
pulley and bracket[s].

My idea would be to mount the electric motor not quite midship,
inboard, and run direct drive to a folding prop, like on some sailboat
applications. in other words, this would be one huge, stationary
trolling motor!

Cruise around on electric, using the mercruiser drive as a rudder,
then when the batteries get low, or you need some speed etc, you start
the 3.0 , use mechanical power and charge the thrust batteries at the
same time.

I dont' really like the idea of 600+ lb. of extra aparatus etc, but
I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It worked on submarines for years. I can't see why it wouldn't work on
a pontoon boat.

comments deffinately welcome.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

On Jul 18, 6:28*pm, Tim wrote:
Ok in my never ending quest for a 28' pontoon, I'm still holding out
for one that has a GM 3.0 mercruiser basicly for the 4 cycle economy
over say a 2-cycle 70hp Johnson etc. And I like the size of a 28'
because I want something I can take my brothers and families out for a
river cruise or a good day at the lake.

But one thing I'm wondering is if there would be any type of
practicality to going "hybrid" on something like this. *And I dont'
mean a true hybrid but rather an electric alternate power.

Here's how I look at it. A 28'r would provide ample bouancy for extra
weight. I have access to air cooled electric forklift motors up to
about 10 h.p which is actually quite a bit more power than what one
would think. With the automotive engine and plenty of surrounding
room, I can make charging systems up to 64 v. w/no problem. Even
mounting a seperate alternator on the engine is only limited to the
pulley and bracket[s].

My idea would be to mount the electric motor not quite midship,
inboard, and run direct drive to a folding prop, like on some sailboat
applications. in other words, this would be one huge, stationary
trolling motor!

Cruise around on electric, using the mercruiser drive as a rudder,
then when the batteries get low, or you need some speed etc, you start
the 3.0 , use mechanical power and charge the thrust batteries at the
same time.

I dont' really like the idea of 600+ lb. of extra aparatus *etc, but
I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It worked on submarines for years. I can't see why it wouldn't work on
a pontoon boat.

comments deffinately welcome.

Of course, ehre's a neater idea.

hmmmm

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

"Tim" wrote in message
...
Ok in my never ending quest for a 28' pontoon, I'm still holding out
for one that has a GM 3.0 mercruiser basicly for the 4 cycle economy
over say a 2-cycle 70hp Johnson etc. And I like the size of a 28'
because I want something I can take my brothers and families out for a
river cruise or a good day at the lake.

But one thing I'm wondering is if there would be any type of
practicality to going "hybrid" on something like this. And I dont'
mean a true hybrid but rather an electric alternate power.

Here's how I look at it. A 28'r would provide ample bouancy for extra
weight. I have access to air cooled electric forklift motors up to
about 10 h.p which is actually quite a bit more power than what one
would think. With the automotive engine and plenty of surrounding
room, I can make charging systems up to 64 v. w/no problem. Even
mounting a seperate alternator on the engine is only limited to the
pulley and bracket[s].

My idea would be to mount the electric motor not quite midship,
inboard, and run direct drive to a folding prop, like on some sailboat
applications. in other words, this would be one huge, stationary
trolling motor!

Cruise around on electric, using the mercruiser drive as a rudder,
then when the batteries get low, or you need some speed etc, you start
the 3.0 , use mechanical power and charge the thrust batteries at the
same time.

I dont' really like the idea of 600+ lb. of extra aparatus etc, but
I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It worked on submarines for years. I can't see why it wouldn't work on
a pontoon boat.

comments deffinately welcome.

Boat US magazine just had a spread on Hybrid boats.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

"Tim" wrote
I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It would gain you some quiet time and redundancy, but probably not much in
the way of fuel economy unless you can come up with some sort of
supplemental charging method so you don't have to do it all with engine
power.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

On Jul 18, 6:40*pm, Tim wrote:
On Jul 18, 6:28*pm, Tim wrote:





Ok in my never ending quest for a 28' pontoon, I'm still holding out
for one that has a GM 3.0 mercruiser basicly for the 4 cycle economy
over say a 2-cycle 70hp Johnson etc. And I like the size of a 28'
because I want something I can take my brothers and families out for a
river cruise or a good day at the lake.

But one thing I'm wondering is if there would be any type of
practicality to going "hybrid" on something like this. *And I dont'
mean a true hybrid but rather an electric alternate power.

Here's how I look at it. A 28'r would provide ample bouancy for extra
weight. I have access to air cooled electric forklift motors up to
about 10 h.p which is actually quite a bit more power than what one
would think. With the automotive engine and plenty of surrounding
room, I can make charging systems up to 64 v. w/no problem. Even
mounting a seperate alternator on the engine is only limited to the
pulley and bracket[s].

My idea would be to mount the electric motor not quite midship,
inboard, and run direct drive to a folding prop, like on some sailboat
applications. in other words, this would be one huge, stationary
trolling motor!

Cruise around on electric, using the mercruiser drive as a rudder,
then when the batteries get low, or you need some speed etc, you start
the 3.0 , use mechanical power and charge the thrust batteries at the
same time.

I dont' really like the idea of 600+ lb. of extra aparatus *etc, but
I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It worked on submarines for years. I can't see why it wouldn't work on
a pontoon boat.

comments deffinately welcome.

Of course, ehre's a neater idea.

hmmmm- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

OOPS, sorry, I forgot to install the link:

http://www.u-fabboats.com/boatkits/electricboat.htm

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

On Jul 20, 5:46*pm, "Ernest Scribbler"
wrote:
"Tim" wrote

I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It would gain you some quiet time and redundancy, but probably not much in
the way of fuel economy unless you can come up with some sort of
supplemental charging method so you don't have to do it all with engine
power.

Ernest, I know what you are saying, but that's what I was pointing
out. say a group of 4-12v deep cycle batteries seriesed on 48v, an
extra alternator mounted on the engine to be dedicated for the 48v
charging system. True, when the batteries are drained it would take a
while to get them charged back, however, the engine doesn't have to
run while using the electric. And I'm not necessarily looking at the
speed of the craft, like the engine is pulling a dual load. But while
using the gas engine you're charging your electric motor system. And I
figure engine load would actually be a minorly questionable
concern,unless speed is configured into the equasion.

Yes, it's a "toy" project, and the time and effort for the extra
batteries motor installation labor etc, wouldn't out weigh the cost of
fuel consumption, but I was looking for a means to not be "totally"
dependant on petroleum.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

On Jul 21, 9:35*pm, "Ed" wrote:
"Ernest Scribbler" wrote in message

. ..

"Tim" wrote
I'm thinking this could be a neat alternate to running straight fossil
fuel all the time.

It would gain you some quiet time and redundancy, but probably not much in
the way of fuel economy unless you can come up with some sort of
supplemental charging method so you don't have to do it all with engine
power.

Cool project but a waste of money unless the boat is running all the time..
Also it will probably have a higher carbon output due to all the extra parts
that need to be manufactured. * Don't get me wrong... i love cool toys but
just make sure you are doing it for the fun and not the $$$.

Also, hybrid boats have been around a long time... they are called bass
boats... most have a 100-275 outboard and a trolling motor or 2 for
slow/quiet operation. * *I saw one yesterday in a sensitive "no combustible
zone" yesterday in the keys... big engine up and off *with the trolling
motor engaged....and the cops left him alone.

My point exactly Ed, only on a uch larger scale.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

"Ed" wrote in
:

Also, hybrid boats have been around a long time... they are called
bass boats... most have a 100-275 outboard and a trolling motor or 2
for slow/quiet operation. I saw one yesterday in a sensitive "no
combustible zone" yesterday in the keys... big engine up and off with
the trolling motor engaged....and the cops left him alone.




There was a pontoon boat going up the river last month that I thought was
perfect for today. Everyone on the pontoon boat was "in the shade" under a
HUGE solar array about 7' over the deck and extending out over the water
maybe another 18 inches. I don't know if it folded or came apart on the
trailer as I never saw them haul it out.

It cruised by so quiet I would have missed it had not one of the neighbor's
boys spotted it and dragged me out to have a look. IT WAS ELECTRIC! The
panels were HUGE!...bigger than the deck by 3' on all sides! I assumed the
large box in front of the "center console" was full of storage batteries,
not a beer cooler. I saw two rudders trailing the pontoons and it also
looked like that's where the propulsion motors were driving it from...TWIN
SCREWS! I couldn't see the controls "in the shade" on the console to see
if he had twin throttles, but I assume he did, making docking ops a pure
pleasure.

It was doing about 8-9 knots going upriver and I didn't see it when it came
back. There were about 7 people aboard totally disinterested in propulsion
systems. No wake and no noise. Amazing...

Run out of fuel? Let her float in the sun...IT'S PARTY TIME!

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

Also, hybrid boats have been around a long time... they are called bass
boats... most have a 100-275 outboard and a trolling motor or 2 for
slow/quiet operation.

I'll have to pull out my 1963 Evinrude "FasTwin" 3Hp soon to put on the
pontoon boat.
I bought it in 1968 when it was 'almost' new.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

OOps, its NOT a Fastwin ( NEVER was fast..)
Its a Lightwin 3Hp

"Rudy" wrote in message
news:Bzehk.125273$gc5.46936@pd7urf2no...

Also, hybrid boats have been around a long time... they are called bass
boats... most have a 100-275 outboard and a trolling motor or 2 for
slow/quiet operation.

I'll have to pull out my 1963 Evinrude "FasTwin" 3Hp soon to put on the
pontoon boat. I bought it in 1968 when it was 'almost' new.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

"Tim" wrote
But while using the gas engine you're charging your electric motor system.
And I figure engine load would actually be a minorly questionable
concern, unless speed is configured into the equasion.

One of those laws of thermodynamics says you don't get any free lunch. To
recharge your battery, your engine has to supply as much energy to put into
the battery as your motor took out. Your engine normally converts gasoline
to noise and propulsion at a rate of X gallons per hour. If you add the
burden of producing charging current to its chores you'll use X plus
something. If what you mean about speed is that you don't have to put energy
back into the battery as quickly as you took it out, there's probably
something to be gained there. The question then is whether or not you break
even on the conversion losses.

Hybrid power (sort of) for a pontoon.
 

On Jul 22, 1:29*pm, "Ernest Scribbler"
wrote:
"Tim" wrote

But while using the gas engine you're charging your electric motor system.
And I figure engine load would actually be a minorly questionable
concern, unless speed is configured into the equasion.

One of those laws of thermodynamics says you don't get any free lunch. To
recharge your battery, your engine has to supply as much energy to put into
the battery as your motor took out. Your engine normally converts gasoline
to noise and propulsion at a rate of X gallons per hour. If you add the
burden of producing charging current to its chores you'll use X plus
something. If what you mean about speed is that you don't have to put energy
back into the battery as quickly as you took it out, there's probably
something to be gained there. The question then is whether or not you break
even on the conversion losses.

Ernest, you are correct. I'm not trying to achieve perpetual motion,
or gain a free lunch as you said. And I agree with what you are
saying.


I suppose what I am trying to convey is that, no I don't need to have
a speedy recovery rate on the batteries, like some monster 325A 24v,
greyhound bus alternator, and the electric propulsion would only be
auxillary power anyhow. But would still allow for "quiet cruise" , and
I just have a feeling that I could get some decent milage out of the
electric with no engine running, and speed/hr.s in this application
would be subjective. I suppose what I'm trying to do is burn less
petroleum constantly.