This is slightly different than the outboard discussion but I wanted to share this project as it may be of interest to some of you.
Mike
Electric propulsion for Pearson Electra
Well the hot summer, health issues and family matters have delayed the project some. We have abandoned he electric outboard as the weight was too heavy. We will still test the 6kW outboard but it will be removed an not used except as a demo platform. (note that a 4kW motor will push this boat with good authority)
The inboard system has been specked out and positioned in the boat behind the steps and mounted in the open access cutout out on the small platform under the steps. The motor has the shaft and propeller pulley below the hatch and now aligns up with a 12 inch cutout at the end of the keel that will house a 10 X 8 X 3 blade propeller.. (note a 2 blade would be appropriate for an ensign.)
The shaft is at a very low angle of less than 15% and the propeller cut out is only in the keel with the rudder in its original angled position. The top of the cut out is longer than the bottom and the propeller, at center, will fit about 4 inches from the front of the rudder, at the bottom about 2 inches and at the top about 6 inches,
I have ordered a 7/8 inch shaft of 26 inches and a G10 fiberglass tube that will hold the bearing. We are not using a stern bearing housing at the recommendation of several boat builders. The bearing will be mounted directly into the tube with a little portion of the tube extending into the opening to allow set screws to hold the bearing in place. A traditional packing gland will be mounted on the inboard side of the tube. We are using the traditional packing gland rather than dripless as the boat will be out of the water most of the time..
The rudder will then be remounted after a small bit of reconditioning with new all threads screws replacing the old one. The rudder will then have a new coat of high gloss finish - can anyone make a recommendation for what to put on the rudder for a boat that will live on the trailer and spend only two weeks at a time in the water?
I have documented the entire project and will be sharing pictures with this group along with the Ensign user group.
Mike
Electric Yacht Pacific
www.electricyachtpacific.com
Mike Gunning
Electric Yacht Pacific
Mike@electricyachtpacific.com