Amps from an outboard??

Amulet

Amulet

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On a small boat like mine you're always struggling for amps. No space to carry a generator. Lots of us carry outboards on the pushpit. Can't help wondering whether the outboard could be used to drive an alternator when it's not driving the tender. Must be a silly idea?
 
Don't know how you'd do that. Cooling would be a problem if its water cooled.

My main outboard has a rectified output for battery charging but its pretty useless. On a good weekend it does not run for long enough or fast enough to contribute very much therefore I have fitted a small (5watt) solar panel. It is large enough to recharge the battery during the week.

I'd suggest you fit a battery that is large enough to supply your needs and a solar panel or a wind turbine that is large enough to recharge the battery in the space of a few days.
 
I was simply speculating. I had an air cooled Honda. My notion was that the motor could be used to drive a serious alternator instead of the dinghy when needed. My boat is tiny and couldn't accommodate a sensible wind generator or solar panels. It's not an issue of battery capacity - no matter what size I still have to put as much in as I take out. Despite my diminutive boat, I have an ambition to chill beer and run the autohelm for tens of hours.
 
Well just speculating but you would have to fit an alternator with a belt drive from the flywheel. Be careful this is a fairly big step up in speed if you use the original alternator pulley and can get a belt onto the outside of the flywheel.
It would have to operate without the o/b cover and would have to be in the water in neutral for water cooled o/bs.
All in all not a elegant solution. As Vic says solar arrays and big battery. I remove my solar panel before sailing so it does not get in the way. It sits on top of the boom cover. Or a removable wind gen might give you enough charge over the week for weekend activity. good luck olewill
 
Many years ago in the PBO there was an article from a chappie who placed a LRA 100 above the pull cord on a SeaGull outboard. He if I remember correctly removed the prop and dunked it when charging. Very cleverly done I thought. Dont know if there is an archive index of Precomputer days. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I know a boat that is 25 ft sailing boat with outboard and runs a small well insulated fridge on a solar panel and battery. I can attest to the coldness of the beer! Down side of this is that it’s expensive system to install but if you want to know more talk to Penguin refrigeration (http://www.penguinfrigo.co.uk/) . IIRC There was an article in the September 2007 PBO on this boat.
http://www.penguinfrigo.co.uk/
 
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Many years ago in the PBO there was an article from a chappie who placed a LRA 100 above the pull cord on a SeaGull outboard.

[/ QUOTE ]

For the price of a good alternator alone you'll get a cheap 2-stroke petrol genny which'll be more rugged, look less agricultural and run just as quiet as a seagull

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Mmm.

Yes I can get 12 volts out of an outboard, but if I could use ALL the power to drive an alternator I could rustle up 30 amps off a 2HP motor even if 2/3 of the power was wasted. I could also buy a cheapo portable genny, but I was trying to find a solution which minimised the space requirement by reusing the outboard's motor to charge the batteries.

I think my insane ramblings are wasting everybody's time. Next logical question would be - can you use a portable genny to power your dinghy?

Thanks everyone who humoured me in my ramblings. I'll get back to work now.
 
I read a story on here about a guy who adapted a petrol garden strimmer to push his dinghy. Apparently at full revs and about 200 decibels the dinghy was just nudging one knot /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Next logical question would be - can you use a portable genny to power your dinghy?

[/ QUOTE ]
Are now that is much easier to do. Electric outboard and portable genny to charge the battery!

Work? Whats that?
 
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