T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Want to convert a glasstron 184 to electric. Any advice?

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Re: [Electric Boats] Want to convert a glasstron 184 to electric. Any advice?

I wouldn't do it. A deep V hull is designed to go fast (with a lot of HP) and ride relatively smoothly over waves. Your boat has 165 hp and the engine, I/O and a full tank of gas weigh less than 1000#. It can probably run a couple of hours at wide open throttle, maybe 40 mph. The total boat weight is around 2000#.

165 hp = 120 kW, this much power for 2 hours = 240 kWh. A 60# lead battery holds 1.3 kW and costs $100 to $250. For equal power you would need 185 of these batteries; over 5 tons and $20,000! This is why there are no practical electric speed boats.

If you had around $5000 to spend on an electric drive system, including batteries, you would want a displacement hull, like a sail boat, around 18 to 24 feel long. You would be able to cruise around at 5-6 mph for 5-7 hours on a charge. If that is the kind of boating you want to do electric would be a good choice. There is no substitute for the magic of moving along in near silence but you pay a steep price in speed and range potential.

Denny

----- Original Message -----

From: Stef Mob.

To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:26 PM

Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] Want to convert a glasstron 184 to electric. Any advice?

So, in short words: don't do it?

Is there a equation point? In other words: with a dc motor of xxx hp, it Will be great?

Or do i just need to look for an other (type of) boat.

I thought a V-hull would be great? ( as they make a speed boat of it...?)

How can i compare gas and electric motor power with eachother?

Thanks.

Op 9 okt 2010 om 22:49 heeft "dennis wolfe" <dwolfe@dropsheet.com> het volgende geschreven:\

First do this thought experiment: Take out the old motor (500#?), add 1200 lbs batteries. Now clamp a 10 Hp outboard on. Put on really good ear plugs. At WOT you would get maybe 6-7 mph for 60 - 90 minutes. Maybe 4x run time at 4-5 mph. That's what your electric boat will be like. If that seems good to you go ahead. You are looking at several thousand dollars for a motor and controller that big. You would need a hefty charger too.

Old deep V fiberglass hulls are a dime a dozen but are the worst possible hull form for efficient electric power. A boat shaped like a big canoe (think old sail boat sans keel) is the best design for easy propulsion.

Denny

----- Original Message -----

From: stef

To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com

Cc: stefwesbeek@tiscali.nl

Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:22 AM

Subject: [Electric Boats] Want to convert a glasstron 184 to electric. Any advice?

Hello,
I've been leeching the group for a few months now, and became enthousiast in electric boating.
Currently have a inflatable with an little outboard electric, and i really love the silence, and the ease of boating. (never expected that..)

Now, i can get 32 batteries AGM 12V 80Ah for free from a relative (4 years old, come from a no-break system), so i want to convert a boat to electric.
Currently, i found a Glasstron 184 with a broken engine, but in exellent shape, and overhauled tailpiece.

Can anyone give me advice about motorising this speedboat?
I was leaning towards a 10 to 20Hp series wound dc at 96 volts, with 3 battery banks in parallel, giving me 96V and 240Ah.

Any ideas, or recommendations, before i actually purchase the boat?

Biggest question is if the hull of the boat is capable of being thrusted by electric, instead of the original 165Hp six cilinder inline...

Many thanks!