I'm guessing that you're talking about the small pedal boats often found for rent on small lakes, but even if you're not, the concepts should be the same. On the pedal boats that I have used, the pedal crank is the same axle that the paddle wheel turns on, so adding auxiliary electric power will drive the pedals too. Not a problem, just an observation. If there is already a chain drive, the project is even easier.
The good part of this project is that humans have a hard time producing as much as 1/2hp for more than a few minutes, and regular people produce much less. So if the boat typically has two people pedalling casually, a 1/2hp (350-400W) motor should work at least as well. This size drive suggests one of the many electric bicycle conversion kits, with a motor, controller and other wiring bits. Installing this type of kit would take some fabrication to transmit the motor power to the padle wheel drive shaft, but a simple chain drive should be fairly straight forward.
The conversion kit will describe the kind of range (duration) that is available from different battery sizes. Assuming a full power draw of 360W, 24V will mean 15A, and two group 27 deep cycle batteries should provide over 4 hours of full throttle on a single charge. Higher voltage kits will take more, smaller batteries, but they should be in the same cost and performance range.
This seems like a fun project, let us know if you decide to tackle it.
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "james" <james_dugger47932@...> wrote:
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> Boat that is pedal powered.. was on one of thes today with the wife and she loved it but I was more or less thinking and condidering getting one for an an electric conversion for those small lakes that are electric powered... but first what size motor should one use an ahow many batteries would one really need to go out on the lake an enjoy oneself for an all day long excursion... it has paddles to propell it an we used it for an hour no stop annit paddled eassily this way... Is the efficinecy at risk here using this sort of propulsion from an elecrtic motor to propel it Using pan paddle wheel? I am realy Curious about this, an if I did what type of controller would one use on it an motor? I , an how many batteries would one need to do this? I really liked this set up well.. thanks guys..Jim
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