07/18/2011
Close…So Close to Launch
This shows the fancy Lovejoy coupling, which transfers power to the shaft.
With my August 1 launch date fast approaching the pace of boatbuilding is speeding up. The electrified outboard is complete and so is it’s water-tight well. The batteries are in place and wired up. The steering is complete. All these tasks had glitches, cost overruns and frequent trips for stainless steel bolts but they’re done.
My artistic daughter and her boyfriend are taking charge of the exterior hull painting. The third and final coat is about to go on. Earlier today I shimmied under the boat to paint the bottom. What joy.
I ordered custom lettering from the internet and the letter transfer onto the transom of “Eleccentricity” and “Lamoine, ME” should take far less time than painting the letters.
Thanks Dave and Amelia (Photo by Amelia)
The first 14 inches in front of the transom are reserved for the motor well, but there was room on either side to create two other sealed boxes to house various electrical components. On the port side is an additional 12 volt battery which will power all necessary 12 volt stuff like the bilge pump, stereo, GPS and running lights. I could have tapped into my 36 volt battery bank to get the 12 volts but that would have resulted in uneven battery discharge, which would cause trouble eventually.
In the other watertight box are the 100 amp circuit breaker, the PWM (pulse width modulator) speed controller and 36 volt battery charger. From here two big orange cables feed the motor, which by the way, runs fine and spins the prop just like it should!
I have yet to finish some carpentry; I need to build hinged lids for these boxes and some sort of covering for the motor.
Then it’s time for fitting final hardware; the boaty stuff like cleats, chocks and oarlocks.
Reverse is kind of a last priority. I can either use the existing gear shift (and figure out how to do that from the front of the boat) or do it electrically, utilizing a big expensive high amperage double-pole double-throw relay. This would just reverse the motor rotation.
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Filed under Lamoine, Out on the water by on Jul 18th, 2011. Comment.
Comments on Close…So Close to Launch »
So, do you launch her with a bottle of micro-brew over the bow? She looks great!
I can’t go breaking glass bottles at the Lamoine State Park. Does anyone know if they make Champagne in an easy-break plastic bottle?