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How to drive a electric boat?

Can I use an electric pump as a jet drive on my boat?

  • I am planning to build an electric pontoon boat. I would be using it on a shallow harbour bay with lots of sandbanks, which is why a jet seems like a good idea to me rather than a propeller. As far as I am concerned, the easiest way to build my own, electric jet drive would be to buy a DC pump with something like 4kW and position it cleverly on my pontoon boat, powering it with lead acid batteries. I want to make it electric, because it will need to recharge by wind rotors while moored. I am trying to achieve a zero-maintenance cost boat, or something approaching it. But would that work? And would it be reasonable? Or are there better choices?

  • Answer:

    I have to keep reminding myself that not all questions on this forum are jokes and that I need to be positive and helpful... so that said... The battery bank required to run a DC pump would be so enormous it would be impractical. Furthermore, the number of solar panels required to charge those batteries would exceed the size of the boat. Furthermore, the charge controllers required for those solar panels would even further the already exorbitant cost. Let me say that there is NO such thing as a zero-maintenance boat. Forget about that right now. Try doing no maintenance on your car... and see how far it gets you. Propellers are not going to be a problem for you... if you're in sandy areas you'll be better off with a prop than you would with a pump trying to digest sand. At the speed you'll be doing with an electric motor, you're not going to hurt a propeller. That said, if you need more thrust than a trolling motor and pair of group 29 or 31 deep cycles can provide you, look into a Torqeedo electric outboard. They're made in Starnberg, Germany, and judging from your use of "harbour", they're closer to you than they are to us in the States. Check out westmarine.com.

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And a jet drive is highly ineffiecent. It usually takes twice the horsepower to get the same propulsion as a prop. Why not just buy a trolling motor with one lead acid battery or 2 using the wind rotor? But don't kid yourself, the wind rotor won't put out enough juice to run the motor all day.

danieloneil01

I think it would work. I am a jetski racer and jet pumps need to pump out a lot of water to get things moving, so you need a rather big pump. Its best if the pump is axial type, as jetskis use this, usually with the impeller somewhere around 5 inches in diameter, with the exit nozzle at around 3 inches to pressurize the outlet. The thing is, if you run a 4kw motor, you need a lot of batteries which would be heavy, plus you need a rather big charger too. It would work, but may only run a few minutes and run out of batt. A trolling motor is viable as well, but you might need solar cells and lots of batt.

pablo azcobar

I love all of it! All I would add is the possibility of a few solar panels! They are cheap and waterproof!

Aaron M

It should work..How will you prevent sand from getting in the pump in shallow water ..I have never done this but i have worked on many mechanical items...Any small dirt was the cause of many mechanical failures..You may be able to bring the water through the front of the boat through a filter system..I think you be doing a lot of work...I wish you luck..you may come up with a great idea.

jon

It will require lots of batteries and consequently lots of weight, but on a pontoon boat that isn't such a big issue as long as you are content moving faily slowly. As far as wind rotors, I think that has a lot of obstacles. If you get enough height to get reasonable amounts of wind you will tear the boat loose from its mooring or pull the pier over, etc. Another answer suggested solar which would be perfect if you have a good amount of sun. Build a permanent roof, the size of the boat which leaves plenty of room for solar panels. The occasional use of a boat leaves plenty of time between uses for charging. I am not an engineer and do not know what size pump you need, but for reasonable thrust for say a 20' pontoon boat you will need the equivalent of 15 to 20 horsepower even for modest speeds in head winds. Consider two pumps to help with handling and docking rather than one larger one. Look at Jet Ski pumps and Yamaha Boats also offer twin jet pumps on their 23' boat. They are gas powered but you could learn from their design. Great idea, good luck.

Joe P

I told you! human powered side wheeler

Bandett

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