Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Fun weekend project: solar assisted electric boat conversion

orange4boy · 07-06-2009, 01:19 AM

Love it... LOVE IT!

It's never a dull moment with you on this forum MetroMPG!

I did something like this a couple years ago... I needed to get my Tornado catamaran in from the buoy to the launch ramp sans sail. About a one mile trip. I don't have an outboard so I got to thinking about my 12V dewalt cordless drill... Hmmm 12V car battery, 1/2 inch chuck... 1/2" stainless rod kicking around. I welded up a prop with some scrap stainless sheet, added a ball bearing so I could hold on to the shaft while it spun and Voila! instant portable aqua thrust. I dropped a car battery into my kayak with wires to my dewalt held the bearing in one hand and the drill in the other and drove myself to the cat. Transferred the battery to the cat and powered her in.

I passed a couple on a skiff, paddling out to their boat.

Them, (incredulously) "Is that a cordless drill?"
Me, "yup"
Them " (laughter) Cool."
Me," I'll see you when the oil runs out."

I've been looking for a cheap trolling motor ever since...

07-06-2009, 01:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
orange4boy Master EcoModder Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Wet Coast, Kanuckistan. Posts: 1,275 The Golden Egg - '93 Toyota Previa DX 90 day: 31.91 mpg (US) Chewie - '03 Toyota Prius 90 day: 57 mpg (US) The Spaceship - '00 Honda Insight Thanks: 100 Thanked 306 Times in 178 Posts	Love it... LOVE IT! It's never a dull moment with you on this forum MetroMPG! I did something like this a couple years ago... I needed to get my Tornado catamaran in from the buoy to the launch ramp sans sail. About a one mile trip. I don't have an outboard so I got to thinking about my 12V dewalt cordless drill... Hmmm 12V car battery, 1/2 inch chuck... 1/2" stainless rod kicking around. I welded up a prop with some scrap stainless sheet, added a ball bearing so I could hold on to the shaft while it spun and Voila! instant portable aqua thrust. I dropped a car battery into my kayak with wires to my dewalt held the bearing in one hand and the drill in the other and drove myself to the cat. Transferred the battery to the cat and powered her in. I passed a couple on a skiff, paddling out to their boat. Them, (incredulously) "Is that a cordless drill?" Me, "yup" Them " (laughter) Cool." Me," I'll see you when the oil runs out." I've been looking for a cheap trolling motor ever since... __________________ Vortex generators are old tech. My new and improved vortex alternators are unstoppable. "It’s easy to explain how rockets work but explaining the aerodynamics of a wing takes a rocket scientist.