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SD2OR with a trophy fall walleye

Topic: ROV Thruster update- single side mounted.  (Read 1035 times)

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rogerdodger

  • Fish Retriever
  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • roger
  • Location: Florence OR
  • Date Registered: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 1490
Background- my 2021 rudder mounted BlueRobotics T200 ROV thrusters were super fun but defeated by strong paracord like ocean seaweed that summer, out of both Depoe Bay and Sunset Bay. Impossible to clear the seaweed while on the ocean and jammed prop (no longer able to turn with or without power applied) causes drag.



Note- setting aside my ocean seaweed issues, these brushless T200 thrusters are being sold in some commercial kayak propulsion products that I would expect to perform very well, the actual thrusters can be taken apart and put back together really easily and replacement parts can be purchased from BlueRobotics. 

https://bluerobotics.com/store/thrusters/t100-t200-thrusters/t200-thruster-r2-rp/

Thruster Project 2023: simple PVC side mount that hangs one thruster off the side of the kayak. Easy to clear of any debris and can be just pulled out of the water and stowed.



Results: new side mount already worked great on the ocean on March 18 and I gave it a full lake test yesterday, wide open it pushes the 2019 Outback at 3.0mph, with medium effort pedaling and thruster: 5.0mph.  Full day battery test planned Friday at Tahkenitch but initial estimate is my 50amp-hr LiFePO4 battery (11 pounds) will run the thruster for 8 hours at full power without using more than 80% of battery capacity.

Conclusion- the new design Outback hull glides really nice at lower speeds (<2.5mph) but drag really takes over above about 4.5mph, 5mph it hits the wall.  My feeling now is that having 1 thruster is enough, it provides enough speed to be a solid back up propulsion system, works great with pedaling as supplemental thrust and is really helpful while crabbing to hold my position while pulling/dealing with crab traps.

Video from yesterdays test at lake Munsel:   







« Last Edit: April 28, 2023, 06:48:29 AM by rogerdodger »
2019 Hobie Outback (Fish Retriever)



BentRod

  • Rockfish
  • ****
  • Location: Issaquah
  • Date Registered: Mar 2016
  • Posts: 135


rogerdodger

  • Fish Retriever
  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • roger
  • Location: Florence OR
  • Date Registered: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 1490
Pepper and I ran that thruster hard for most of 4 hours Friday on a beautiful sunny day at Tahkenitch (so happy that I passed on the ocean).  50amp-hr battery is more than sufficient, I estimate we used 50% of the capacity, leaving lots more in the tank.

Also confirmed that adding about 100 pounds to the Outback did not change the top speed, 3.0mph with just me on Wednesday, 3.0mph with 100# of extra weight (mostly on the rear deck) on Friday. Same with me pedaling, about 5.0mph top speed both days.

Cleaning weeds out of the thruster was simple, it should be no issue on the ocean.

« Last Edit: May 01, 2023, 09:29:11 AM by rogerdodger »
2019 Hobie Outback (Fish Retriever)