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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 12:13:34 GMT
Well I have finally bitten the bullet and located and bought a decent size pod drive. The idea is to put it between the main engines propellers in a fixed position and use the existing rudders for steering. Most activity will take place using the twin BMC 1.5 units the stealth mode will be for nice days in open bits of River. Just for silently gliding along for relatively short passages. It's a 2.6kw @24v (!!) Intermotor pod. Basically a massively scaled down version of an Azipod you see on ships. Brushless motor in there it's a proper item well made.  And it has a lovely control box which is nicely similar to my Morse twin engine control. Forward and reverse variable with a little screen with data information. None of this colour screen nonsense just a backlit LCD. It looks quite good actually. Not installed yet but already looks like it's meant to be there.   Initial install plan is to put a bracket with just one bolt well above waterline and hang it off the stern then if it all works as planned I will hopefully dock the boat and mount it in the centre between the two rudders where there is a little protection keel already in place. I'm sure Ted had this as an idea when he built the boat. A triple screw vessel with electric auxiliary drive.  The boat can be turned right around out if gear with the rudders so no need to have the pod rotatable, which simplifies the install quite a lot. |
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Post by kris on Feb 24, 2021 12:48:53 GMT
Looks good
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 13:38:26 GMT
But you haven't told us what we need to know - is it a proper bit of kit and / or a nice little unit?
ETA
The hull shape behind the skeg seems to indicate the need for some sort of mounting bracket to allow the thing to sit at 90 degrees. Nothing any decent welder could sort out. Also the cable could be easily let into the hull by first drilling a hole then welding a tube inside that is higher than the waterline. Some support fillets to prevent accidental damage would be good. Maybe something v-shaped in front to additionally protect it from impact damage / reduce drag.
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Post by kris on Feb 24, 2021 14:49:03 GMT
What horse power is that equivalent to?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 14:51:55 GMT
I believe around the equivalent of a 6 or 8hp petrol outboard.
It's quite an awkward comparison.
Not big enough for the only prop but as a summer stealth mode it should be about right.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 15:11:55 GMT
But you haven't told us what we need to know - is it a proper bit of kit and / or a nice little unit? ETA The hull shape behind the skeg seems to indicate the need for some sort of mounting bracket to allow the thing to sit at 90 degrees. Nothing any decent welder could sort out. Also the cable could be easily let into the hull by first drilling a hole then welding a tube inside that is higher than the waterline. Some support fillets to prevent accidental damage would be good. Maybe something v-shaped in front to additionally protect it from impact damage / reduce drag. That's the idea. I would probably look at a rubber block and a welded wedge of some sort to make it level. And yes a tube welded in to run the cables is sensible and tidy as well. I think the centre keel will help protect the prop but might need to be a bit deeper and maybe a couple of struts at an angle to throw debris to the sides. Don't want to upset the water flow around the bulb itself though. As for your first comment yes I did mention these things already. Keeping it off the stern on a hinge arrangement would be ideal in way as it could just be winched up and down to deploy, easy prop clearing and no drag when not in use. But that would not be very stealthy so may be rejected as a permanent solution. A LOT easier though ... My strong preference is for the unit to be completely hidden and permanently fixed. That's what the boat deserves rather than a bodge up. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 15:25:53 GMT
But you haven't told us what we need to know - is it a proper bit of kit and / or a nice little unit? ETA The hull shape behind the skeg seems to indicate the need for some sort of mounting bracket to allow the thing to sit at 90 degrees. Nothing any decent welder could sort out. Also the cable could be easily let into the hull by first drilling a hole then welding a tube inside that is higher than the waterline. Some support fillets to prevent accidental damage would be good. Maybe something v-shaped in front to additionally protect it from impact damage / reduce drag. As for your first comment yes I did mention these things already. My bad. Incidentally the first navy ship to be fitted with a prop had a facility to raise and lower it in and out of the water. But it was only used once since it was a bit of a faff. |
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Post by bodger on Feb 24, 2021 16:42:53 GMT
Keeping it off the stern on a hinge arrangement would be ideal in way as it could just be winched up and down to deploy, easy prop clearing and no drag when not in use. ideal only in as much as it would effectively just be an outboard motor like a Torqeedo Cruise 4.0.
as you know, I like alternative approaches and hope it goes well for you.
my experience with weeds is that it is helpful to fit deflectors to the pod so that weed cannot get wrapped round the prop, but if the prop is not turning it will soon become weeded-up even with deflectors fitted.
Worth keeping a wetsuit, snorkel and mask ready for action.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2021 17:25:16 GMT
Keeping it off the stern on a hinge arrangement would be ideal in way as it could just be winched up and down to deploy, easy prop clearing and no drag when not in use. ideal only in as much as it would effectively just be an outboard motor like a Torqeedo Cruise 4.0.
as you know, I like alternative approaches and hope it goes well for you.
my experience with weeds is that it is helpful to fit deflectors to the pod so that weed cannot get wrapped round the prop, but if the prop is not turning it will soon become weeded-up even with deflectors fitted.
Worth keeping a wetsuit, snorkel and mask ready for action.
Interestingly Dulcinea has weed hatches for both of the existing propellers. Lids on the back deck with square tubes leading down to an opening above the props. A bit unusual but quite a good idea really . If I get this installed properly, as long as the link bar for the rudders is not in the way, then it would be incredibly straightforward to just weld a 6 inch vertical tube above to allow clearing of the prop with a boathook while standing on the deck. I don't think a wetsuit will be needed. Worth having one anyway as it's a good way to fill up vacant space rather than having bags and buckets of random shite one never uses. |
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Post by peterboat on Feb 26, 2021 20:42:34 GMT
I like that morse control Andrew very neat wonder if you can buy it separately?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2021 20:49:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2021 21:00:37 GMT
Also just seen an ad from the 'Thames Electric Launch Company' who say there are having a sale of second-hand bits including that gear. Dollars to doughnuts thats where Andrew went... www.thameselectric.com |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2021 12:51:43 GMT
Have you ever considered fitting bilge keels to Dulcinea?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2021 15:00:15 GMT
Boat doesn't need bilge keels. It's got a low length to beam ratio will take the ground no problem due to the design of the skegs protecting the propellers.
Anyway it's pretty unlikely to see salt water except if the potatoes boil over. Being realistic. Retirement onto the non tidal Thames seems an incredibly probable outcome and it's the perfect boat for the River.
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