Trolling motor first test

The manufacturer, or the suppliers, of your OB are not far away from me, well 800km - but that' s just up the road in Oz terms, and in view of how much these OBs cost and how much a Watt and Sea costs I have asked about a reversed unit, one to make rather than use electricity.

I'll post here, or a new thread (if I cannot recall/find this one) here.

Just out of interest, as it may widen my search, does it say anywhere on your unit where it is actually made?

There are a number of 'water generators' that look similar to the pod at the bottom of your unit and I am assuming the motor is in the pod - you get them, submersible pods, for off grid power generation (but the ones I've seen are quite large and a bit agricultural) in streams/small dams and I vaguely recall they might have them as an appendage on yachts (but I might be imagining that). But I don't think the technology is in any way new. We will see.

Jonathan
 
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What I take from this thread is that a 20lb thrust motor could conceivably be ok for my little Avon redwing? Or perhaps the next size up 30 lbs?
Previous reports and calculations by forum members led me to think that we needed much more power?
Using Solent clowns test then an electric motor could well be the answer to the replacement for our seagull! ?
A big question to resolve is the battery situation. In an ideal situation the outboard battery could be part of the boat bank and always charged but easily taken off line to use with the dinghy. Perhaps worth spending more on a specialist battery? And of course it's horses for courses .....how often used? Long or short trips etc?
 
Would be interested to know if this handy trolling motor could be powered by a Halfords type jump start battery ? That battery on board looks quite a few kg and just wonder how easy to winch up onboard without a crane or a Mrs SC to assist ? Looks a great idea though for price if you can keep the battery charged(by solar panel?)
 
ashtead said:
Would be interested to know if this handy trolling motor could be powered by a Halfords type jump start battery ? That battery on board looks quite a few kg and just wonder how easy to winch up onboard without a crane or a Mrs SC to assist ? Looks a great idea though for price if you can keep the battery charged(by solar panel?)
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I have a small jump pack I could try. That was a ridiculously big battery, I only used it as it happened to be to hand.
 
Maybe think golf cart or mobility scooter lithium batteries.
Might be worth spending the bit extra over an ordinary lead acid.
 
pcatterall said:
What I take from this thread is that a 20lb thrust motor could conceivably be ok for my little Avon redwing? Or perhaps the next size up 30 lbs?
Previous reports and calculations by forum members led me to think that we needed much more power?
Using Solent clowns test then an electric motor could well be the answer to the replacement for our seagull! ?
A big question to resolve is the battery situation. In an ideal situation the outboard battery could be part of the boat bank and always charged but easily taken off line to use with the dinghy. Perhaps worth spending more on a specialist battery? And of course it's horses for courses .....how often used? Long or short trips etc?
Click to expand...

It5 was fine in good conditions, marginal in that crazy wind and tide. If you anticipate ever going out in a bit of weather, I would go for the bigger model, which is around £80.
Calculations are all well and good, but getting out and trying things, empirical feedback is useful. If the weather sorts itself out I will attempt a trip from the Itchen to Hamble point with it next week. I will bring an outboard as a spare ;-)
 
Good for you SC - trying is much better than guessing!

I was a bit twitchy about the size of the battery you used, so thanks for the background. It did seem odd to have such a small power unit and that monster battery!

And thanks for being the guinea pig (no insult intended :) )

Jonathan
 
ashtead said:
I was just thinking you might have been putting Mrs SC into training for your next project . A golf cart battery would be a great idea if it worked out .
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I did put her through her paces the day we first tested. As well as that battery we had another battery, a tool box, a 4.5hp outboard and a load of other stuff to take out to the swing mooring. She is only ickle but stronger than she looks.
 
Some of us have been using these for a while but having been told they do not work or are useless.
We stopped talking about them.

I have been using one for about 4 years. It is not fast but will push our inflatable with 2 people the dog and other stuff against the tide in Pwllheli even with the plastic launching wheel's down.
I use a small size 55amp the hour.lead acid deep cycling battery. About £25 from eBay.
 
Mister E said:
Some of us have been using these for a while but having been told they do not work or are useless.
We stopped talking about them.

I have been using one for about 4 years. It is not fast but will push our inflatable with 2 people the dog and other stuff against the tide in Pwllheli even with the plastic launching wheel's down.
I use a small size 55amp the hour.lead acid deep cycling battery. About £25 from eBay.
Click to expand...

How long does the battery last? I assume you never do long enough trips to flatten it in one anyway?
 
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