My budget solar/electric full size boat project.

Something I've been playing with for a little while. Thought you guys might get a kick out of it. I started playing with a small paddle boat and added a trolling motor and a couple of solar panels to it. It really worked out well, but the small size and horrible hull shape became a brick wall. I wanted to take this project to the next level so I picked up a 1976 Newport 17' sailboat. Now we're talking! We now have an RC rescue boat that can carry ALL of our gear, charge batteries, take us to islands/calm water and you can even sleep on it! All built out of simple, low budget parts. Here's some pictures of our new float "Current Situation".

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Best... Recovery... Boat... Ever.

what is the power setup in there now?
What batteries and Solar equipment?

Here's the current setup. Not breaking any speed records, but it's efficient and get us where we want to go even in a little wind and current.

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Minn Kota 30lb that has been gutted and redone with a 40 amp PWM and 10 awg wire. Using APC model airplane props and a spinner. Still playing with different ones, but the 11x6 seems to be a good balance between speed and efficiency.

Solar power is two 120 watt flexible panels in parallel and a 20 amp MPPT controller.

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Batteries are two 24 series lead acid deep cycles in parallel. Tucked under the seats.

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