45 watts isn't much. If you lived in Virginia near me, during the summer you'd get 5 hours of "full sun." Your panel is rated at 45 watts under "full sun." So each day you'd get 225 watt hours of electricity on average per day (some days you'd get basically nothing some days a bit more.) If stored in an appropriate battery you could run a regular 60 watt light bulb for about 3 hours after system inefficiencies. However, a 5 horsepower electric outboard can draw up to 4800 watts (48 volts at 100 amps is typical.) So a day of charging with a single 45 watt panel would run this motor at full speed for about 2 minutes.
On the other hand, as a trickle charger to to overcome the battery's self discharge you could probably just attach it directly to the battery after you'd charged it from shore power or a generator and come back 6 months later to find your battery fully charged instead of dead.
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "Louis Amato" <louisa@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
>
>
> I just joined the group in the hope of learning about
> electric boats for a project I have in mind.
>
> Having reviewed some of the posts, I can see that I have a
> lot to learn and my "project" is pretty modest in comparison with that which
> all of you are working on.
>
> I purchased some solar panels (45 watt total) with a charge
> controller from Harbor Freight. I recently purchased an identical system,
> together with a 12V deep cycle battery and an AC inverter to electrify a
> garden shed and it seems to be working well.
>
> I was planning on installing the new panels on the roof (in
> lieu of the bimini top) of a very small pontoon boat to run an electric
> outboard motor of some type. We live on a lake and I just wanted something
> to hop in and putter around in without the disappointment of dead batteries
> and stale fuel. Our lake is 1.5 miles across so speed and distance are not
> big concerns.
>
>
>
> This is the type of boat I have in mind:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> This partipular vessel is 10', an empty weight of 465 and max. gross weight
> of 1025. The triple hulls certainly would increase drag but with a 7.8' beam
> should take the weight of the batteries well.
>
> Could anyone suggest the recommended thrust I should have for the motor, the
> type of system (12, 24, 26 vosts) and point me in the direction of where I
> could get wiring diagrams for the solar charger and batteries?
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Just remember, I don't know my volt
> from my watt!
>
> Many thanks and best regards,
>
> Lou Amato
>
> Louis X. Amato P.A.
> P.O. Box 1242, Frostproof, FL 33843
> Main Tel. (863) 635-2000
> Fax (863)635-2022
> <mailto:louisa@...> louisa@...
> Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy by the American Board of
> Certification, accredited by The Florida Bar.
>
> Louis X. Amato intends that this message be used exclusively by the
> addressee(s). This message may contain information that is privileged,
> confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Unauthorized
> disclosure or use of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have
> received this communication in error, please permanently dispose of the
> original message and notify Louis X. Amato immediately at 863.635.2000.
> Thank you.
>
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