My First Solar Powered Boat Project

[Mefa]

What a supurb thread, what started off as a seemingly impossible task has through hard work and actual experience resulted in a triumph for solar powered watercraft. Solarcanoe, are you still tinkering with solar watercraft? If so have you a site that's dedicated to it, utilising people's experience actually making real working boats. I have been considering building a solar powered craft but after reading lots of threads it came through loud and clear that it is not a viable form of propulsion. Thanks again for persevering, innovating and proving that solar propulsion is within everyone's grasp.

[vudu]

I had to take some time off from the solar boat project while we moved to a home in the country with a waterway running through the back yard. I have the solar canoe back in the water and I have started to put more thought into the bigger catamaran project. I have 1280 watts worth of solar panels that will make a canopy about 14 ft long and 7 ft wide. I have two 55 pound thrust trolling motors to mount on the back of the pontoons. I plan to bow mount a 45 pound thrust motor. There are some tricky passages between some of the lakes so the bow mounted motor will allow me to stand at the bow to navigate through the rocks.

I have three 160 watt panels that will form the center section of the canopy for the catamaran, but in the meantime I am going to mount them on the canoe canopy to replace the 200 watt folding panels I have been using. This should give me 10 or more amps of solar power alone. I also ordered one of the Kipawa Propellers to see if I can get more speed out of the 45 pound thrust motor.

So the adventure will resume and I will post some photos and results of upgrading the panels and prop.

I've read this whole thread and it has been a heck of a lot of fun to see what/how you guys approach this. I wonder about a hybrid approach - perhaps using a small sail where appropriate. But I guess that's not the point. In any case, Ahoy!

[noviasolar]

yes I hope you can immediately finish the project you're doing. if you can you for photos of your project.

[SolarCanoe]

Back in the water again!

I had to take some time off from the solar boat project while we moved to a home in the country with a waterway running through the back yard. I have the solar canoe back in the water and I have started to put more thought into the bigger catamaran project. I have 1280 watts worth of solar panels that will make a canopy about 14 ft long and 7 ft wide. I have two 55 pound thrust trolling motors to mount on the back of the pontoons. I plan to bow mount a 45 pound thrust motor. There are some tricky passages between some of the lakes so the bow mounted motor will allow me to stand at the bow to navigate through the rocks.

I have three 160 watt panels that will form the center section of the canopy for the catamaran, but in the meantime I am going to mount them on the canoe canopy to replace the 200 watt folding panels I have been using. This should give me 10 or more amps of solar power alone. I also ordered one of the Kipawa Propellers to see if I can get more speed out of the 45 pound thrust motor.

So the adventure will resume and I will post some photos and results of upgrading the panels and prop.

[noviasolar]

Hello All!

I am in the early stages of putting together an electric boat. I have searched the net to get some answers to questions I have but I am still not sure I am on the right track. I am an electronics technologist so I do understand the basics of Ohm's Law etc. I finally decided I would have to join a forum and outline my plans and get some feedback on my plans so far.

Background Info: My wife and I purchased a trailer in a seasonal campground and now have access to a very nice lake to go canoing on. We have a little 12 ft canoe that has been in the garage for 15 or more years. While we liked the opportunity to spend some time on the water we found the canoe less stable than we remember and decided to make some sort of outriggers. While researching that I ran across examples of people using trolling motors to power their canoes. Thus began this new project.

My plan is to make a very light weight canopy to keep the sun off of us, so naturally I started looking into solar panels. Long story short, I made a very low offer for 8 50 watt semi-flexible solar panels off of ebay and much to my surprise it was accepted so now I have 400 watts worth of solar panels for my canopy.

I plan to get a Minn Kota Enduro Max 40 trolling motor. It can produce 40 lbs of thrust and given 1 amp per lb thrust could draw as much as 40 amps full out. The current drops off quite quickly and at more moderate speeds will be down around 10 amps or less. This motor employs a maximizer circuit (ie, PWM) speed control that can extend battery life significantly over a conventional speed control on lower speeds. At full speed the currentt draw is the same.

I have found a 40 amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller on ebay, Tracer 4210RN, that is rated at 40 amp maximum battery current and 20 amps maximum load current. This does not seem like it is adequate since the motor can draw up to 40 amps and the max load current is only 20 amps.

I have also found some nice retro round analog amp and volt meters on ebay. I thought I would go for a nostalgic aircraft cockpit look and have an amp meter on the solar panels, battery, and load. The battery meter will have to be a +/- 0-50A meter and the other two can be 0-50. I know I probably don't need 50A range but the next range down is 20 amp which is probably too low. I would also add three voltmeters.

Equipment Summary:

Solar Panels 400 watts (8 x 50 watt).

Minn Kota Enduro Max 40 Trolling Motor (40 lbs thrust, max 40 amps).

Tracer 4210RN 40 Amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller.

Some retro round meters to monitor current draw and voltages.


My Questions:

1. I have already ordered the solar panels. 8 50 watt panels. I decided to go this way so that a panel failure represents less of the total. Vm=18V Im=2.78A (Voc=22.19 Isc=3A). Should I simply connect them all in parallel, or would there be an advantage in connecting them as 4 groups of 2 in series then all the groups in parallel to up the Vm to 36V? If I stick with the 18v parallel arrangement will a regular charge controller be almost as good as a MPPT type?

2. Should I connect the trolling motor to the battery or the load connectors on the charge controller. If the motor is connected to the battery will the panels supply current to the motor once the battery is dead? If the battery is fully charged and the solar panels can supply enough current to drive the motor will the battery remain unused until the solar panel power drops due to a lack of sunlight? Should I try to find a charge controller that can handle a 40 amp load?

3. Give the overkill of solar panels I am thinking I won't need a very large battery, maybe a 75 Amp Hour deep cycle battery would be enough. Assuming a battery rated at 75 AH is really only good for about 40 amp hours and that I would keep the motor current under 20 amps I assume that gives us about two hours to get home if we stay out after dark. Are these reasonable assumptions?

4. I'm sure I have forgotten something so please bring anything else I should consider to my attention.

Thanks in advance for any answers and comments

Todd

400W Monocrystalline Boat Kit 12V may be a suggestion for your Boat project. will be more simple and easy process.

[TomCat58]

Very nice project!

Dimitri, Solar Panel Talk is most likely the top forum around for solar information but a few of use are posting about small boats and it didn't seem to fit well in this forum. So if you or anyone wants to join in and follow along on our builds and adventures of little solar boats, We can be found at a yahoo group forum.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LittleSolarBoats/info

Tommy
Serenity Solar Canoe

[inetdog]

Very nice project!

Hello Dimitri and welcome to Solar Panel Talk!
You can introduce yourself to us with more information about yourself in the "New members introduce yourselves" topic area.

[Dimitri]

Very nice project!

[TomCat58]

Solar Wings Serenity Canoe

I did some testing on the lake the other day with full sun this time. The new slide out wings worked out really nice. I liked my original design and with the slide outs I was able to add 200 watts more to my system without taking up space in the canoe. Have a look at a few more pictures and a short video cruising on a local lake.

As always feed back and new ideas are most welcome

Tommy

https://sites.google.com/site/serenitysolarcanoe/

Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neXoylRmvwQ

3 Solar Panels.JPGbuilding slide out solar wings Re.jpgSolar Wings in slide in position - re.jpgSolar Wings extended out. - re.jpglaunching canoe to test new solar wings - re.jpg

[TomCat58]

Welcome to this thread,

I hope you can find some ideas that will help you in your solar boat build. A few of us continue to improve our canoe/boats and for solar systems you are in the right place. But our day to day postings about anything from trailers, canoes, wiring systems and any others items including lake outings is mostly posted on a little yahoo group forum.

Come and join us if you want more info on little solar boats

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LittleSolarBoats/info

New videos and pictures posted weekly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJVG6iZ2olw

Tommy

[Pelleplutt100]

Now I also want to build one....

Going to read the complete tread now in hope to get some learnings before project start.
I have and old sailing trimaran hull that could be a good starting platform.

[TomCat58]

I am look forward to seeing your new build. I will be doing some changes to my solar canoe also. Not a new build like you but a major addition.

Tommy
Serenity Solar Canoe

[SolarCanoe]

Once the new house is under control . . . .

It's been a hectic winter so far and there is no sign of things letting up for a few more months. Once we get this condo sold and move to the new house, we have a couple more months of renovations. Unfortunately that means I can't get working on my next generation solar boat until mid summer. Luckily we will be able to enjoy the trial solar canoe we had at the cottage last fall.

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I can't think of a more ideal place for solar boating and kayaking than a slow moving river that gives access to a chain of small Canadian Shield lakes. Here are some photos of the backyard water access we will have at the new house:

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I can't wait to get back to the new build using these gorgeous pontoons:

DCP02744.JPG

The first they need is a good epoxy paint job. Any suggestions for color?

[Sleeman]

Thanks

Hey guys I just needed to post so I could view images. I have read through the forum and have enjoyed watching the progress. Thanks for all the great ideas

[inetdog]

I am very interested in doing something like this.

Welcome to Solar Panel Talk, pnut!

Keep reading and float your ideas before you start to buy or build.