Building the Electric Sternwheeler Tesla's Revenge

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by minaret

Yes, and they tend to use trolling motors for that. Which tend to be electric....

Sure but they don't expect to cover any significant distance or maintain more than 1/2kt of speed. While I think electric is a silly application, if the OP is set on it, an electric outboard makes far more sense...which is exactly what a trolling motor is.

Then again, it's not uncommon for them to go full bore with the big motor in less than a foot of water (not always the smartest option but I've seen it done plenty of times).

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

I think you should persist with the paddle wheels and go wood fired steam on the drive system. Flash boiler and direct drive from the steam cylinders without any gearing. The fuel is a renewable the technology fairly simple and the project maximises the romance factor. If you want to get fancy and high tech do the steam metering with a computer system and solenoid control of the inlet and outlet valving.

I don't know enough about steam engines to recommend one, but I found a 10hp steam engine for about $2,500 online. And quite obviously they work andhave the energy density to carry enough fuel to be meaningful. Add I need the exhaust that can be routed to heating the cabin... it could be a fascinating option.

[hafa]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Right, seems as though I remember a company a couple years back that was developing a strictly solar powered boat. They had done testing and said it had unlimited range. The large cabin top was all solar panels. Anyone else recall?

That would likely be the Tûranor PlanetSolar. Another thread discussing fully solar-powered boats may be found here.

[wildshore]

Just had a very interesting email from a group in Scotland that ran until recently a solar/electric excursion boat. The stats seem pretty much exactly what we've been discussing Here:

640 watts of solar panels
1600 watt draw from the two motors (it is a twin paddlewheel) at full speed (around 5 kts)
400 watt draw at cruising speed (around 3 kt)
A little over 4500 watt/hours of storage
The builders say they got about 1.5 hours of full speed travel (new batteries, full charge) and 4-5 at cruising speed.

This seems to be right in the range of what we are proposing.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by wildshore

If anyone is interested in participating in the project, we are now live with our crowdfunding campaign here.


https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/t...e/x/15817163#/

Pretty sure that is not allowed here.No attempts to get money please, unless it's a dire emergency.

[wildshore]

Originally Posted by minaret

Pretty sure that is not allowed here.No attempts to get money please, unless it's a dire emergency.

Removed the post.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by wildshore

Removed the post.

Hey, you might ask a Mod. I am most certainly not one.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by StuM

Frayed knot! I did my calcs in my earlier post on that same 8x20 estimate.

8' x 20' = 160 sq ft which is about 15 sq meters.
At 1000W /m² insolation that is 15000W.
At 20% solar cell efficiency that's....... 3000W

Yeah your right, I did it another way and used panel dimensions and my number was less than yours, closer to 2500 W.
Who would have thought my 4 250W panels took up so many cu ft.?

[Blue Stocking]

How many posting here have worked on a paddle-wheeler ? I have.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

How many posting here have worked on a paddle-wheeler ? I have.

I rode on one at Disneyland once; many, many years ago.
Looking after the kids could be classed as work. Does that count?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

How many posting here have worked on a paddle-wheeler ? I have.

Several, but only one that was "real", ie actually paddle driven instead of just free wheeling for show. Done steam too, in fact one steam vessel we built from scratch for a Boeing engineer, he built the engine from scratch as well.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

How many posting here have worked on a paddle-wheeler ? I have.

I actually have built a couple in the past. Human ( kid) powered but yes I have.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by minaret

Several, but only one that was "real", ie actually paddle driven instead of just free wheeling for show. Done steam too, in fact one steam vessel we built from scratch for a Boeing engineer, he built the engine from scratch as well.

Wouldn't have been my father in law Ken Graves would it ?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Wouldn't have been my father in law Ken Graves would it ?

Don't remember the old gent's name, this would have been about '95. I DO remember him finding out the hard way that his pressure relief valve wasn't set right, and filling the entire engine room with super heated steam will he was in there. Ouch!

[wildshore]

Got some of the math done on the paddlewheel set up, with many thanks to some engineering friends:

Diameter: 48"

Buckets (paddles) 18" X 7"

Number of buckets: 12

RPM @ 6 kts: 50

ft/Lb thrust/bucket 55