Electric motor pods, any one using them?

[2MeterTroll]

As i run down the systems I want on the next boat I keep running into propulsion options. the boat will be primarily a sail boat but i want some go for running, docking, and other eventualities.

been looking at motor pods and the associated bric a brak; like generators and such. However i dont offhand have any experience with them.

A nice quiet boat under power is nice to contemplate.

[timo4352]

This Yahoo group may be of some help to you.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electr...guid=411112965

[mcdenny]

How much power do you need. It's pretty easy to cut the business end off a trolling motor and build it into the hull.

My Harmony 25 www.wolfeboats.com has an EPIC Whisper 6 hp pod drive which is very quiet and has terrific thrust with the kort nozzle. I can power load the boat about 2/3 of the way up the trailer! Unfortunately the manufacturer is no longer in business.

[2MeterTroll]

thank you Timo...

how much power. well..... normal rig for the design is twin 9.9 HP out boards. I am assuming you will want something around 100 lbs of thrust. I dont know how the numbers equate between foot lbs, torq, thrust Etc. I have a mikota 70lb thrust trolling motor and am pretty sure its a touch small for the boat i am prepping for.

thanks as well for the web site. interesting to look at. How do you like the pod system? have you had to work on it?

[mcdenny]

Ernie, I've not used the boat except for sea trials as it is new and for sale. The pod works fine but took some (much) fiddling to get it to work properly at the high, for an electric boat, speed the long slippery launch goes. The round shaft would cause the prop to ventilate at about five mph. Deeper mounting, a fairing for the shaft and an anti-ventilation plate fixed the problem got it working fine at 8-9 mph.

I've not had to work on it but there isn't much to go wrong, just an electric motor and a shaft seal.