My First Solar Powered Boat Project

[TomCat58]

Hibernation slow down

SolarCanoe : I wish I had something interesting to post but unfortunately I have not managed to do much work on my electric/solar canoe project since the weather got too cold to work outside last fall. I had the room to do some work over the winter but just didn't have the time or energy with working and having a bad heart and generally poor health. The good news is I finally bit the bullet and retired a week ago.


Well I hope retirement agrees with you and that your health improves. I two have slowed down as my garage does not heat very well and it was down to 7 degrees the other night. But YES spring is coming soon and I need to test a few things out that requires being on the water. Everything did freeze up in all the lakes around be and the river thou not frozen is down to far with lots of big rocks showing. The dam down below me will rise the river back up in 6-8 weeks.

I am only doing a few small canoe projects inside by the fire now. Here is one I just finishing up and instead of a water proof case I went with waterproof gauges. Well the center amp/volt gauges were not waterproof till I encapsulated them but the fish finder and GPS are waterproof to 6 meters. The other volt gauge tells battery volts and a arrow up or down to tell if the battery is losing volts or up for gaining volts. One of the encapsulated gauges will tell me volts and amps generated from the solar panels and the other one will tell me volts and amps being used by the trolling motor. Right and left are the fish Finder and the GPS. Hopefully this is all I need for a dash.

Post when you have started up again and we can compare notes.

Tommy

canoe dash.JPGdash.JPG

[SolarCanoe]

Spring is comming!

I wish I had something interesting to post but unfortunately I have not managed to do much work on my electric/solar canoe project since the weather got too cold to work outside last fall. I had the room to do some work over the winter but just didn't have the time or energy with working and having a bad heart and generally poor health. The good news is I finally bit the bullet and retired a week ago.

Since then I did do some work on a prototype motor mount and lift using a linear actuator. It seems to work well and now I just need to try out some steering mechanism ideas. I have two canoes to play with and 3 trolling motors. My current plan is to mount one motor on my Dad's 14ft canoe. I already have the pontoons and mounting for them. I will use this canoe to try out a few ideas for the motor mounting, steering, and canopy design. I will sort out some of my plans on the 14ft canoe which I can then use while I get back to work on the larger canoe with the solar panel canopy. So things should start happening although it is still very cold here but spring is coming soon.

So stay tuned there will be more to come.

[TomCat58]

She looks really great.

I see some snow in the background. Are the rivers free of ice?

Thanks .... Yes the river are free of ice. We are so far having a mild winter and I hope we have a early spring

[SunEagle]

I have made some progress on my Solar Canoe. All system check out and waiting for a good clear sunny day now [ATTACH=CONFIG]3592[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3593[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3594[/ATTACH]

She looks really great.

I see some snow in the background. Are the rivers free of ice?

[TomCat58]

Made progress, ready 2 fine tune in the water now

I have made some progress on my Solar Canoe. All system check out and waiting for a good clear sunny day now P1160134.JPGP1160154.JPGP1160149.JPG

[SolarCanoe]

Canopy Layout

Now that I have a good top view of the canoe I was able to do some layout work for the canopy. The canopy will be in two 8 foot long section. They will also be flexible down the center line so I can fold them down to an 8 ft by 3 ft size for transporting them.

Slide3.JPG

The thwart and ceter seat will get removed. The supports for the outrigger struts will act as thwarts as well as support the tubes the struts will slide out of to extend the outriggers. The canopy will be supported by 4 sliding legs as shown. The 32" linear actuators that will raise and lower the canopy will be at either end.

I hope to get started on the fabrication soon. I'll post pictures as I build the canopy sections.

I'm still puzzling over where to mount the solar charge controller and the control panel. I am tempted to get the solar charge controller up as high as possible to keep it away from any spray. I even considered hanging it right up under the canopy. It would also be good to keep it out where there is good air flow.

I am also thinking of having some decks that extend out the sides. Nothing really big. Maybe 4' long and 3 feet wide. Just large enough for the dog to lay on them comfortably, or to place a cooler or something like that.

Anyone have any thoughts about the battery hookup. Parallel or switched in and out?

[TomCat58]

I kept thinking that there was not going to be much room left in the 16' prospector canoe. Then I saw a listing for a Scott Canoe Makobe on Kijiji. It is only 15' 8" but because it does not taper as much towards the stern it is more like an 18-20' canoe. There was only one catch, it was a good days drive away and I had no place to keep it until next spring. Fortunately I had a friend in the area and he went and purchased it for me today. Here are a couple photos.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3423[/ATTACH]

Now that's a much better platform Its the same width as my canoe at 42" wide and setup for a small motor too. I like it

Thanks for sharing

TomCat

[SolarCanoe]

Bigger Platform

I kept thinking that there was not going to be much room left in the 16' prospector canoe. Then I saw a listing for a Scott Canoe Makobe on Kijiji. It is only 15' 8" but because it does not taper as much towards the stern it is more like an 18-20' canoe. There was only one catch, it was a good days drive away and I had no place to keep it until next spring. Fortunately I had a friend in the area and he went and purchased it for me today. Here are a couple photos.
makobe-02.JPG

[TomCat58]

WOW! Nice paint job!

Thanks, I was going to break out the spray can paint but thought I would try my hand at how the pro's do it. I am happy with my first try at painting with a gun. I used a matt flat clear to knock down the high gloss like a car would have. I am not sure how well it will blend in with its surroundings yet? I am going to help a friend build one and it will be camo paint. He wants it for a hunting boat and he wants his boat to be more of a survival tool and disappear into the local forest that surrounds the lakes and rivers in this area. Anyway one way or another the PVC needs to be covered with paint to block the sun's UV rays from breaking down the Plastic.

Post some of your project pictures when you get a chance..

TomCat

[SolarCanoe]

WOW! Nice paint job!

[TomCat58]

It's not really about speed, although it would be nice to have it if needed. It's more about being able to control this contraption if the wind picks up.

Hey TomCat! How about some photos of your new setup.[/QUOTE]

I am in the middle of painting so the new improved version is not done yet. Here are a few pictures. The pontoons angle needs to be fine tuned in the water but it should be pretty close. When adjusted the pontoons will just be slightly in the water on the back with the front about 4 inches out of the water. The plan is that when weight is added or the water gets rough then more of the pontoons will be in the water.

The pontoons closed are 8 feet wide (Highway Legal) Half extended their 10 feet wide and fully extended their 12 feet wide. Right now you need to use your imagination until its complete and in the water. The frame I painted with Polyurethane paint, The same paint they use on airplanes. The pontoons will be painted to match the frames new paint soon. My inspiration is the many Banca/Pump Boats I traveled in through out the Philippines. OK your turn....share some of your picture too.....
Pontoons in.JPGpontoons out-1.jpgcage painted.JPGPump_Boat.jpg

[SolarCanoe]

2 40 LB thrust motors ! But with 2 motors on yours it seems you will leave me in your wake (dust) LOL

It's not really about speed, although it would be nice to have it if needed. It's more about being able to control this contraption if the wind picks up.

Hey TomCat! How about some photos of your new setup.

[TomCat58]

[QUOTE=SolarCanoe;93009]I am contemplating two batteries and I was wondering if I simply connect them together in parallel or should I be able to switch one or the other in or out of the circuit like reserve fuel tanks?

I would be buying exactly the same two batteries when the time comes if that is relevant.

I picked up another trolling motor off of Kijiji the other day. It is the exact same trolling motor that I already have and it is still in the unopened box!. I am contemplating two possible ways to utilize them.

2 40 LB thrust motors ! My solar canoe is coming back together slowly but surely. I changed 3 things sense my first Columbia River trip. A much stronger frame, A much larger adjustable pontoon system and replaced my PWM morningstar controller with a morningstar MPPT controller. I am due to test it all in the local lake in a few weeks weather permitting and see if what I figure on paper is a reality or not.

I am watch yours and a few other solar boat projects closely and seeing what I might use to improve my project. But with 2 motors on yours it seems you will leave me in your wake (dust) LOL But that is ok as I am not looking for speed so much as 100% off grid. I am already planning out my second leg of the Columbia River. Picking up were I left off and thats just up river from the Grand Coulee Dam and make the run to the next dam down river to the Chief Joseph Dam which is about 55 miles on the river. You will have more speed then me but we may end up with nick names for our two solar canoe projects. "The Tortoise and the Hare" hahahahaha

The link below is a university solar canoe project that 2 of the guys took down the Mississippi and interesting to read about. With the PWM I was making as good a time and speed as they did. I guess if my next test are successful I will set my dreams on completing the Columbia River down to the Pacific Ocean.

I look forward to your updates

TomCat

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2RzY5aKBJ2o/T8y2752GGUI/AAAAAAAAIj0/A0dw5U53myw/s1600/calysollaunch.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.firstelectricnewspaper.com/2012/06/local-solar-canoe-takes-first-shakedown.html&h=1269&w=1600&sz=473&tbnid=kyPmlJmlg3huaM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=113&zoom=1&usg=__uEoJnsk1vLi4fX57HG5BIPoRtQs=&docid=_N2CVtyAFXy2dM&sa=X&ei=hCmZUtSvAoGbiALx-IGQCg&ved=0CDgQ9QEwAw

[SolarCanoe]

Two Batteries in Parallel?

I am contemplating two batteries and I was wondering if I simply connect them together in parallel or should I be able to switch one or the other in or out of the circuit like reserve fuel tanks?

I would be buying exactly the same two batteries when the time comes if that is relevant.

I picked up another trolling motor off of Kijiji the other day. It is the exact same trolling motor that I already have and it is still in the unopened box!. I am contemplating two possible ways to utilize them. The most maneuverable configuration would have one on the front and one on the back of the canoe (push-me-pull-you configuration). This would allow turning in place, moving sideways, as well as the usual forward and reverse. It would also require the most modification to the motors and work to design and build mounts and a steering mechanize and of course motorized motor lifting mechanisms. The other approach would leave the trolling motors unmodified and require next to no additional effort to mount them. This approach would have the two motors mounted ahead of the rear captains seat so that you don't have to reach behind to control the motor and steer. I would mount a motor on either side of the canoe reaching out on a 45 degree angle to get them as far apart as possible. Think of a row boat with trolling motors instead of oars (rowboat configuration). This arrangement would not allow sideways movement but it would allow turning in place as well as moving forward and back. The steering would be done by varying the thrust of the motors, like pulling harder on one oar than the other. Aside from being the simplest configuration the rowboat configuration does not preclude the possibility of implementing the push-me-pull-you configuration in the future. The rowboat configuration also takes advantage of the Minn Kota Traxxis trolling motor's easy stowing, so I will not bother trying to implement a powered motor lift. So given the simplicity and advantages, I think I will go with the rowboat configuration for next summer. If it does not work out all that well, then I can always fall back on the push-me-pull-you configuration as a project for next winter.

Cheers, let me know what I should do about the two battery connections.

[TomCat58]

I received the linear actuators the other day. The 32" ones for the retractable outriggers were very slow at 10mm/sec. I contacted the supplier and ordered another pair that are 24mm/sec. I mentioned this to a coworker and he suggested I use the slow ones to make the height of the canopy variable. He pointed out that if we lowered the canopy once in the canoe that would lower the center of gravity. So I put on my thinking cap and came up with a design that I think will work well. It will allow me to have the canopy as low as 3 ft above the canoe to almost 6 ft. My design will also allow me to tilt the canopy front to back. This will allow me to get more direct sunlight on the solar panel when traveling North or South.

Out of curiosity I did some hunting online and found that Scott Canoes make a 20 ft canoe. I also found there is a company in my home town of London Ontario that makes an 18 ft prospector canoe. So if this works out well but we find it a little cramped in the 16 ft Prospector Canoe we have some options for the future.

I hope to get started on the canopy construction soon. I'm running a little short on funds right now but I should be able to scrape together enough to buy some of the aluminum tubing I need to get started. I think the only big expense left now will be the batteries. I understand that if putting two batteries in parallel it is best to get two of the same batteries and get them at the same time. I'll keep an eye out for sales and hopefully I can get two batteries for a reasonable price.

There is no shortage of electric boat manufacturers on the net. I found a site with a 19' electric canoe for sale. I don't think my first effort will be quite that elegant but I'll try to make it look nice as well as be functional.

Share some pictures when you get the actuator up and working OK.

TomCat58