Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:54 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 47 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:02 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:10 pm
Posts: 11
Location: Norway
Hi
I am planning to add an outboard.

Either the smallest 4 stroke (Honda 2,3HP as an example) or an electric outboard.
The electric in the smallest size, driven by an litium-ion battery with 22 ampere hours should give me a couple of hours ride.
The battery weights just 1,5 pounds (3kg) and will be easy to install.

In the aft of the AI there will be a solar panel mounted on a tri pod above my neck (30watts, marina version,light weight)

Am I crazy?

(Do not worry, I am an electronic engineer, I think this works....)

So, petrol or electric?
Any out there one with experiences?

Thanks
Jan


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:47 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 4:26 am
Posts: 46
Location: the Netherlands
Jan :shock:

You must be a pioneer and a rolemodel upthere in beautiful Norway!

You can`t turn that beautiful craft into a Stinkboat :cry:

If any, go electric.

the leccie motors come in sizes, the smallest can even be tilted through the Mirage Drive scupper

http://www.eastcoastkayakfishing.com/ho ... ayaks.html

But there must be more ways on the A1

PF

_________________
hobie Quest


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:30 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:36 am
Posts: 837
Location: Gippsland Lakes Victoria Australia
http://www.eastcoastkayakfishing.com/ho ... ayaks.html
Very neat - almost looks like it's meant to be 8) :wink:
Now with all the propulsion options that the AI offers - including a motor - maybe I could transport myself to Tonga on it :lol:

_________________
Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:43 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
peddlefisher wrote:
the leccie motors come in sizes, the smallest can even be tilted through the Mirage Drive scupper

http://www.eastcoastkayakfishing.com/ho ... ayaks.html

PF


Someone needs to get one of those suckers and compare its performance to the Mirage drive. If the motor is much better, it may be a useful bit of safety equipment, particularly for those who sail a long way offshore. Otherwise, why bother? (rhetorical question).

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:22 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:07 am
Posts: 619
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Why bother? The Adventure Island is cool because of its two main modes of propulsion. Why splice on another one, when it has two perfectly good ones?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:34 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Tom Ray wrote:
Why bother? The Adventure Island is cool because of its two main modes of propulsion. Why splice on another one, when it has two perfectly good ones?


Careful Tom, someone might take you for a Luddite :wink:

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:58 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:07 pm
Posts: 405
Location: CLEARWATER, MN
Paddle/Pedal/Wind/Electric...I wonder if a small rocket or
jet engine could be mounted on the stern...LOL.

I am amazed at the creativity of Hobie and AI owners,
not too many other means of propulsion are there?

So I am going to throw in my two cents worth...
Why not install an autopilot? I have an autopilot on
my sailboat but don't use it very often...I wonder if
it could be adapted to the AI?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:07 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
I wrote:
If the motor is much better, it may be a useful bit of safety equipment, particularly for those who sail a long way offshore. Otherwise, why bother? (rhetorical question).


I just thought of another use for the motor. It could be great for people who can't pedal due to a disability.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Electric Boogaloo
PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:16 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:06 pm
Posts: 45
Location: Toledo, OH
I can see the value of having a powered option, but I have a few concerns about the 'thru the scupper' scheme ...

1) I don't like the idea of losing use of the mirage drive
2) There doesn't appear to be a way to handle beaching, very shallow water, or as is very common in my voyages - lots of seaweed.

So how about mounting it on one of the AKAs instead? Yeah, I get that it would be off center, but is that really a big problem? That way it could be easily tilted out of the water as needed, and wouldn't interfere with sailing or using the mirage drive.

Rudder issues - since we are talking about an electric motor near the center or front of the craft - would it work best in a fixed position with the rudder exclusively controlling direction (as is the case when using the mirage drive), or would it overpower the rudder?

If the motor is scupper mounted - it will be well forward of the center of the boat - pulling it through the water - so a steered motor will automatically have the boat turn into whatever direction it is pulled - would that make the rudder unneeded?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:32 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
The pictures on the website seem to be showing a tiller attached to the motor, so I guess that's how you would steer. The motor is clearly less versatile than the Mirage drive, but it might have a role if it was much faster or more powerful against current or if you had a problem with pedalling. You could always swap it with the Mirage drive as required.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:39 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:39 am
Posts: 858
Location: Bairnsdale, Victoria Australia
Tom Ray wrote:
Why bother? The Adventure Island is cool because of its two main modes of propulsion. Why splice on another one, when it has two perfectly good ones?


I'm with you on this one Tom. KISS. If you want a powered solution, go buy a power boat.

How do these electric thingies handle being submerged or pounded with spray anyway?..Pirate


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:49 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:07 am
Posts: 619
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
trolling motors can operate in a pretty harsh salt water environment around here, out on the front of a flats boat banging around at 40 knots. They're tough enough, but I can't see putting one on an AI. There are already kayaks on the market with trolling motors built into them. I have always wanted to make a kayak that had a trolling motor that could roll down out of the hull for use, then roll back inside flush and fair for paddling. Just not on an Adventure Island. ;)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:46 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:34 pm
Posts: 139
Location: Northern VA
Tom Ray wrote:
I have always wanted to make a kayak that had a trolling motor that could roll down out of the hull for use, then roll back inside flush and fair for paddling. Just not on an Adventure Island. ;)


Short of custom molding your own hull, I'd guess that the Mirage Drive well is probably the closest you're likely to get to that. Maybe you can adjust the trolling motor such that the power head recesses up into the well. Of course, that leaves the control portion sticking up in the way above deck.

- Jim L


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:54 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:32 am
Posts: 1807
Location: Terrigal NSW, Australia
Wouldn't you just lift it out of the well when not in use? Same as removing the Mirage drive.

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:31 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:06 pm
Posts: 45
Location: Toledo, OH
Jim_L wrote:
Maybe you can adjust the trolling motor such that the power head recesses up into the well. Of course, that leaves the control portion sticking up in the way above deck.


And that is why I was wondering if it needed to be steerable or if you could just count on the rudder. If the motor works as a fixed thruster (like the mirage drive) you don't need the steering mechanism, just a throttle control - which you could wire at seat side.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 47 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group