Some awesome fab, there, guys! I would've gone with the belt drive, however, specifically a toothed or synchronous system, similar to what is used on motorcycles. First, it's an expendable weak link, and will slip or break if the prop seizes or fouls, saving the tranny and/or the motor, unlike the chain. Second, it's efficient and quiet, and works until it needs to be replaced, with no added maintenance. The chain is noisy (as you discovered), adds vibration, is less efficient, and needs constant lubrication. It will also stretch as it wears, and I noticed you've made no allowance for tensioning. It will get noisier, and will wear the teeth on the gears as it stretches. You'll need to change it more often than you would like. I'm sure you weighed the pros and cons as well, but that's my take. If you aren't learning, you're not living... Loved seeing Uma cast off, even if it was just for a short toodle around the marina! Exciting!
+Lazy Jacques I am not sure, but well maintained chain should be a little bit more efficient than toothed belt. However it is by small factor and is definitely not worth the higher noise.
+Ülari V Interesting. I was looking at the system in isolation, without factoring in that you need more preload tension on a synchronous belt system for it to work properly. This creates more friction, and hence less efficiency. However, the tests I've found demonstrating this are for applications with bicycles and motorcycles, where initial acceleration load is very high and requires proportionally high belt tension. Not sure how it would work driving a prop, where loads should be lower. Either way, though, as you pointed out, the difference would probably be negligible in terms of power budget.
Exposed steel roller chain down in the bilge; not too bright. And they had no means of aligning the two shaft, which is probably why the set up is noisy.
Your design and fabrication skills are pretty amazing, no wonder why you never seem daunted with some of your projects. I started watching the other day with your first video and have really enjoyed seeing you two bringing Uma back to life.
Great stuff guys, another display of your awesome skills as welders, fabricators, designers, videographers, sailors. Oh, and architects! So much talent. Good luck with the mission, really enjoying the journey.
found your channel a couple of years ago and been watching ever since, but felt the need to come back and remember where you came from, your camera work and editing skills have come along way, but this was fantastic content to get so many addicted to following you two on your travels, Fair winds🙌
Hi guys, Your engineering and fabricating skills are really something, as is your "Make do" ethic and your unwillingness to settle for nothing but the best solution to the problems you encounter. I'm still a little nervous about the keel attachment, but based on the thoroughness with which you have addressed all your other challenges, I would say your boat really looks good and hope she will take care of you both as well as you have taken care of her. All the best. Al
Love seeing all the design work, problem solving and fabrication. Challenging but looks like fun and very rewarding. An architectural education is such a great foundation for whatever you choose to do. And thanks for sharing the great videos.
Will you guys ever do a live Q and A session where your followers can ask you questions on your sailing advice and experience ie your boat redesign, electric motor, recommendations for beginners wanting to adopt your zero diesel approach etc? Your maintenance seems to be the best in the sea faring youtube community from what I can see.
30 years ago Harley Davidson went to belt drive for many reasons. And those belts on those bikes are still holding up to this day. There quiet, reliable, no chain stretching, no sprocket rounding, no oiling and really no maintenance. But either way you kids are doing a great job.
Great job guys..... When cruising one can find themselves in strange conditions like going under bridges with the tide running out at 6 knots and rocks on the side. I always install a diesel about 15 hp above recommended. I have been in situations where my life could have been lost with out the extra h.p. I saved a family once from going under a bridge and being dismasted by throwing a line to them and throttled down with black smoke coming out of exhaust . If I were just day sailing this would be a great set up. But out in forgotten cruising grounds I like a strong diesel and my guns. I hope u won't have to reflect to this comment. But I really like u guys and respect u for all your hard work. 40 yrs cruising here
This video made me smile!! So happy for you two, congratulations on making this work. I hope that many others follow your lead and move away from gasoline.
i recommend a cog-tooth belt at some point, they don't stretch at all. cheap, very quiet. motion industries will send a rep to your boat for free and spec. all.
One of the best things about an electric drive is the decreased noise. I love your determination. I love your inventiveness. You are, literally, an inspiration. But, something tells me going chain drive to propeller shaft is going to be loud. Edit: Right. Chain drive loud. Also, 5% drain on lead acid batteries... To keep that bank healthy, the charge should never go below 50%. I hope you were able to upgrade that bank to AGM or Li. Pricey, but well worth it long term. Especially considering the dramatic increase in available power.
Looks great , just a note, when you increase the power will the trans bracket and 2 mounts be sufficient to transfer thrust to boat bearing in mind a normal set up has at least 4 mounts , it would not be difficult to add 2 more mounts. Remember in a seaway the thrust from the prop will vary considerably . Just a thought.
WOW! I am so impressed. LOVE the concept of electric vs diesel. Can't wait to see how efficient it really is. Keep going UMA. Hope you untie the lines soon.
I freakin' love this project, guys! I'm currently looking into buying my own sailing boat and now that I've bingewatched how you switched from a diesel to electric motor, looking into that too! I have sailed before (motorized boats) but never sailed sailboats. That would be a whole other skill to learn! Take care guys! Bon Voyage!
Congratulation to your working motorsystem. I´m following your steady progress since the beginning and i´m very impressed of your ideas and skills. Thumbs up and nice greetings from germany. I can´t wait for the next episode ;)
Good to see you guys ended up putting the transmission back in. I know you guys probably think people are dogging on you sometimes but most people are trying to save you from problems and frustrations later down the road when they comment and make suggestions on your videos.
+Chadd Thompson Funny you mention that . most of our comments come after we already make the necessary changes (since we are always about a month ahead of the videos) . But doesnt mean we dont appreciate it :)
Absoloutely brilliant work. Dan you may be an architect bu you sir are on hell of an engineer and craftsman! That was pretty freaking successful design. I salute you and your partner in sailing crime. Fair winds Uma.
You could put a small shroud around the chain and enclose it. Then have the bottom cog pick up motor oil on the chain from an mini oil pan. Or even just spray a bit of chain saw bar oil. Good luck.
My only gripe with your motor installation would have been to have the motor higher in the bilge or off to the right or left of the transmission to keep it out of any water but I realize there are limitation for what you're doing. Another nice thing about using a chain is you can very the size of the sprockets, giving you different gear ratios and a chain won't slip if it gets wet like a belt would. Oh, if make a suggestion or something, don't take it the wrong way. I can't say enough how much I admire you kids.(I've got daughters older than you guys) So many kids nowadays won't get off their a$$ and do thing, go places, live life to the fullest. My hat's off to you two, you're like a young Jules & Suzie on "Sailing Emerald Steel"!
Just catching up on episodes. I think you need a downward force on the chain, but the motor mount push up on the motor. This might already be addressed, but just saw this. Really impressed with your DIY attitude. Inspires me to go out and tackle all those jobs that I didn't think I could do.
I'm pretty sure Ben is a genius! Skills like he's got will come in so very handy! As far as your solar, look into the Solar Stick. It's a combination solar/wind generator all self contained into one unit.
Well done. Don't listen to the naysayers remember there are plenty of sailboats without any engine whatsoever and they manage. You have the start of a good installation I am sure you will be making incremental design modifications.👍😉
You are very lucky to have welding skills. As a steel boat sailor, I recommend your take the brackets back out, clean them down to bright shinny steel and apply marine 2-part epoxy, then you won't need to worry about it for 10 years.
+Voyage of the Sea Quest yep, we painted it with the same epoxy barrier coat that wet used on the hull, then added a coat of paint (same uses on engines)
good stuff!! you might want to add some kind of chain adjustment to your set up they stretch alot over time. And regular lubrication, and a way of catching the lube that flings off to keep things clean. but awsome glad it works. the gearbox is a good addtion
Good looking install and thanks for sharing some of the process. When we see you guys in an anchorage going to have to ask to take a look. Have you looked at the bottom since splash anything growing?
Awesome, awesome vid...the boat she moves...yes. You truly will be able to handle any problems down the road, since your the engineers. I would have been sourly tempted to go with a belt for noise reasons, but don't know how well it would wear or what salt water might affect a belts breakdown.
+tazmun Yes, we've just seen to many alternator belts and other engine belts blow, preventing movement. BUT, we may end up going with a belt if we can't minimize the noise significantly.
+Sailing Uma Nice job so far. You need a chain adjuster in the system as the chain will soon become slack causing more noise. Best put a twin belt system in place but you will still need an adjusting idler to keep the belts at the correct tension. Its much easier to change a belt at sea than repair a broken chain. If a chain lets go it can cause all sorts of damage. With the belts you have a safety valve effectively. Fair winds. regards from the UK
What you two have accomplished is pretty fantastic! Kudos and a couple virtual pats on the back for each of you. With your chain noise issue, I would suggest trying a raised frame for the motor and a simple coupler between the shaft of the motor and transmission. I would think that it would get rid of all of the noise as well as allow for full recharge capabilities off of the prop while sailing (I am thinking the chain may be a slight drag/resistance?) It should be a simple matter to craft legs for your attachment points to raise the motor. Keep up the fantastic work! Can't wait for the next vid! Oh... will you doing a full tech write up of the entire motor/charge system when complete?
Great job with the motor. I would be too intimidated to do my own installation. It's great to see Uma off the dock even though just in the marina. I hope you get to start your cruising adventure soon.
Awesome fabrication. Yep my vote is a Harley or other used toothed motorcycle belt system. Reduced vibration and noise and. You may experience the gears being eaten by the chain unless alignment is spot on (ask me how I know). How much space do you have in the bilge? How many inches of water before the motor gets wet? Keep up the amazing progress, and best of luck.
+madogblue Yes, we maybe going with a belt. As for the water in the bilge. We can take on about 100 gallons of water before the motor starts to get wet. But even then, if it gets wet, as long as not electricity is going through it, we can just soak it in fresh water and dry it out and it will work like new. The important electronics are mounted high up on the bulkhead away from any water.
Great job and a very instructive video, I am sure you are going sand blast and paint these fittings, make them salt water protected! Cannot wait to see it all working!
Don't worry about the drivetrain noise, as long as the alignment is good just apply sound proofing to the area ( don't forget ventilation). Either way , it's still quieter than a gas or diesel motor.
well done guys! thats a big step forward, going by your DIY abilities you no doubt have it sorted, but please tell me you'll get some protective coatings on all that bear metal, and how high is the motor off the bilge? saltwater and electrics don't mix.
Nice... ingenious... Maybe you should consider rubber bushes around your bolts at the back of the motor mount. In this way you don't need to alter your mount a lot.
While I like the idea of having an electro motor for various reasons, I'm interested in the backup plan when you hit something in the water and you are depending on a reliable power-source for your bilge pump for many hours.
Hey Guys! Another great vid! Having just (almost) completed a MASSIVE refit over 4 years (like you guys, just me and my girlfriend) I see what you do and feel every bit of the work! Stick with it, there will be the day when you can leave the marina and not come back :) I just have a couple of questions.. Why did you build the brackets out of steel like that? I would have thought making it from fibre glass or 316 stainless would be the go as I would be concerned of your engine bay very quickly becoming a pit of rust! Im sure you have your reasons, but yeah I just know how fast steel rusts... Keep it up you 2 little geniuses!!
+surfynic Hey, yes, steel rusts. But A) It's super cheap and easy to work with. B)Doesn't flex like glass. and C) We'll be painting it to prevent it from rusting once we have a finalized bracket assembled.
You have also created a generator for power from the prop!!! If the prop will allow free wheeling then you will get back AMPs from the DC motor if the shaft spins. You may need to add a break to stop the spin. Some props "fold" and never free wheel.
Man, we'd love to have a system like this on our boat - we're just missing the space for solar panel/wind generation, and a shit ton of batteries. Maybe in the future. So cool you guys!
That is a great moment, moving under own power! Well done! Is you prop running at the right speed? Is it the right size and speed? That motor wil give way more torqe at close to Zero RPM than any Diesel ever will.
I am SO glad you went away from that original direct coupling design! I did kind of think you weren't going to be happy with the chain noise... but that's just the nature of those types of chains. The easiest thing to do would be to insulate the engine bay pretty well. Also spread some of that anti-seize you have on the chain rollers, that will quiet it a little. That's one thing we used to do on the chain drive of street sweepers with chain that size, ought to work even better in your application in an enclosed space. Just every once in a while dab a little more on.
OK I am impressed. You have not let me down yet. I take it you were using flux core wire in your welder. I don't know if you can use a big spool ( 35 lbs ) in your welder but many years ago I found that the Lincoln electric flux core was very reasonable and worked better than anything else that I tried and you could get it at home Depot. I don't know where you learned to weld but from the sound that I heard you have it down. You always want it to sound like sizzling bacon. To save on mess from lubing the chain, there are lubes that are paraffin based that stick to the chain and don't sling and make a mess. I have seen it at Wal mart in the bike section. We used to make our own Battery chargers years ago for charging the batteries on our race cars. On the on board radios of our race cars we used aircraft 14 volt batteries and never had a problem, one of the reasons we made our own chargers. That was a long time ago so I can no longer remember how we did it but some one must know how to do it. We scavenged the parts from something cheap and I am still using them after thirty years.. Just an idea to kick around. I applaud you on what you have done, and I know you are not impressing us yet. Keep them coming. With the chain drive and sprockets you can change gear ratios without a great hassle.My friends tell me I am not easily impressed, I'm impressed.
+Uncle Muir Thank you for the awesome comment. You have a lot of interesting notions in there, my brain is starting to come up with all sorts of new plans nos. Thanks for the ideas. Dan.
+Sailing Uma I was wondering if you are planning on putting a temperature gauge on the motor. You may have done that already and I missed it. I stopped by a forklift repair shop and asked them a few questions today. Heat isn't a problem for them because they have a lot of air flow.The motor has that built in fan but that is minimal. You may be able to make a fan on your driveshaft to improve airflow. One guy thought you may have to under drive the prop to keep motor RPMs up to keep it cool enough. I don't know enough about that to know if they are right or wrong, just thought I would give you some thing to kick around. By the time you get your system perfected you may find yourselves having a business that will take you around the world to demonstrate to sailors everywhere. A tough job but someone would have to do it.
+Uncle Muir I can see why you sent me the link to this couple. We have known each other for over fifty years and this is the first time I have heard you that excited about something in a very long time. You know I am still using using one of those chargers you built for the Can Am cars. I know you have been taking care of your Mom but I am still surprised you haven't flown to Florida to help out these kid out. I will never forget how many times I would run a problem past you and your answer was I will get back to you ,what motel are you at and you would show up the next morning after flying your plane all night to help us out. You are right these two kids give faith that the world is in good hands.
Excellent practical engineering. What about one of those flexible couplers; we've used them on stirrer shafts for chemical reactors; they allow for a couple degrees misalignment. Available in steel or aluminum.
Impressive work there. Have you looked into belts? They have come a long way with them. Just thinking a Harley drive belt or a engine blower belt are very strong and durable.
+RAN Sailing Tricky question to answer. We have 6 deep cycle batteries, all about 120A at 12V. But our motor runs at 48V, so 4 of them are in series and 2 parallel. Better answer is that we have 8.6kW of energy storage. Hope that helped without being to technical.
+Sailing Uma It made perfect sense. Have you looked in to getting lithium batteries? They have come down quite a lot in price nowadays, still expensive though. Keep up the good work!
+RAN Sailing Yes, the joy of a system like ours is it's infinity upgradable. So LiFePO4's are definitely on our wish list. Are you guys someplace warm yet? It looked awfully cold is some of your earlier videos.
+Sailing Uma We are currently on Guernsey Island in the English Channel, so it's a bit warmer but still quite cold. We have around 8-10 Celsius at the moment. We hope we can make the passage to Spain any time now, but we won't take any chances. The Bay of Biscay can be really dangerous, especially this time of the year. When do you think you're going to be in the Caribbean?
+Sailing Uma I think you may be disappointed in the actual Amp Hours from your batteries. The 120 figure quoted by the manufacturer is measured at a very low rate of discharge (6 amps?). I would use half the rated capacity for calculations. Not sure that the two extra ones in parallel with 2 of the 4 series batteries will help that much. You will soon find out by running it though. I'm sure you are planning on fitting more battery if it all works out. Do monitor the individual battery voltages and the current and let us armchair engineers know.
Seems like the belt/pulley alternative to your chain method would've offered the benefit of galvanic isolation from the marina water and better lightning strike protection...
Great video guys! While waiting for your solar, would you consider building a wind turbine generator out of a salvaged washing machine in the meantime?
Hi, looks great with the electric engine, but I can't see why you need the chain from the engine to the propeller? Is is possible to have the engine direct to the propeller, to not lose any power and also remove any chain noise/maintenance?
I love this electric motor. And man you are doing awesome with the metal work. Have you considered looking for a spare motor to have on hand if you are out of the country and your current one breaks down? I realize you can probably rebuild the one you have provided it doesn't burn up, or actually have a breakage. I'm just thinking that more out of country marinas would be more inclined to have repair services for diesel or gas engines, rather than electric motors.
+insaynbcr Spare motor? No. But we could easily fix that motor in any country. We will carry spare brushes for it, But everything else can be fixed with very basic materials.
Nice work.. I fully remember what y'alls mission is, but perhaps a revenue stream is opening up? UmaDrive, the next Generation Yacht propulsion system!
Awesome job guys. Seems like ages between your vlogs. I missed you. Once you get out in the open ocean against currents, swell and waves etc, can you let me know how your motor goes please. I am really curious to see if Uma will be under powered.Thanks guys. Kind regards, Shane
Nice! I used to use Solidworks quite a bit back in my engineering days. Anyways - I enjoyed the video quite a lot. Always great to see how things are progressing with the motor, your videos, and the journey. Take care fellas!
![Diving in Cozumel Mexico / The BEST Dive Spot we’ve ever seen- Sailing Uma [Step 22]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/X17gUzetuDo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Diving in Cozumel Mexico / The BEST Dive Spot we’ve ever seen— Sailing Uma [Step 22]](/img/tr.png)
![Our New Electric Motor is TOO LOUD!- Sailing Uma [Step 222]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CiRH3rZvJRw/mqdefault.jpg)
Some awesome fab, there, guys! I would've gone with the belt drive, however, specifically a toothed or synchronous system, similar to what is used on motorcycles. First, it's an expendable weak link, and will slip or break if the prop seizes or fouls, saving the tranny and/or the motor, unlike the chain. Second, it's efficient and quiet, and works until it needs to be replaced, with no added maintenance. The chain is noisy (as you discovered), adds vibration, is less efficient, and needs constant lubrication. It will also stretch as it wears, and I noticed you've made no allowance for tensioning. It will get noisier, and will wear the teeth on the gears as it stretches. You'll need to change it more often than you would like. I'm sure you weighed the pros and cons as well, but that's my take. If you aren't learning, you're not living... Loved seeing Uma cast off, even if it was just for a short toodle around the marina! Exciting!
+Lazy Jacques I am not sure, but well maintained chain should be a little bit more efficient than toothed belt. However it is by small factor and is definitely not worth the higher noise.
+Ülari V Interesting. I was looking at the system in isolation, without factoring in that you need more preload tension on a synchronous belt system for it to work properly. This creates more friction, and hence less efficiency. However, the tests I've found demonstrating this are for applications with bicycles and motorcycles, where initial acceleration load is very high and requires proportionally high belt tension. Not sure how it would work driving a prop, where loads should be lower. Either way, though, as you pointed out, the difference would probably be negligible in terms of power budget.
Exposed steel roller chain down in the bilge; not too bright. And they had no means of aligning the two shaft, which is probably why the set up is noisy.
Your design and fabrication skills are pretty amazing, no wonder why you never seem daunted with some of your projects. I started watching the other day with your first video and have really enjoyed seeing you two bringing Uma back to life.
Great stuff guys, another display of your awesome skills as welders, fabricators, designers, videographers, sailors. Oh, and architects! So much talent. Good luck with the mission, really enjoying the journey.
found your channel a couple of years ago and been watching ever since, but felt the need to come back and remember where you came from, your camera work and editing skills have come along way, but this was fantastic content to get so many addicted to following you two on your travels, Fair winds🙌
Hi guys,
Your engineering and fabricating skills are really something, as is your "Make do" ethic and your unwillingness to settle for nothing but the best solution to the problems you encounter. I'm still a little nervous about the keel attachment, but based on the thoroughness with which you have addressed all your other challenges, I would say your boat really looks good and hope she will take care of you both as well as you have taken care of her. All the best. Al
Its really coming along, you have made the idea a reality, it was great to see the boat move on its new electric motor.
Love seeing all the design work, problem solving and fabrication. Challenging but looks like fun and very rewarding. An architectural education is such a great foundation for whatever you choose to do. And thanks for sharing the great videos.
Awe, thanks Ted! Yes, they teach you how to problem solve in Architecture school.
Will you guys ever do a live Q and A session where your followers can ask you questions on your sailing advice and experience ie your boat redesign, electric motor, recommendations for beginners wanting to adopt your zero diesel approach etc?
Your maintenance seems to be the best in the sea faring youtube community from what I can see.
Awesome Uma Crew! This is exciting to see and you guys always show your innovative side.
30 years ago Harley Davidson went to belt drive for many reasons. And those belts on those bikes are still holding up to this day. There quiet, reliable, no chain stretching, no sprocket rounding, no oiling and really no maintenance. But either way you kids are doing a great job.
Wow. You all are brilliant! I have seen so many talents - and attention to detail. Wonderful!
Great job guys..... When cruising one can find themselves in strange conditions like going under bridges with the tide running out at 6 knots and rocks on the side. I always install a diesel about 15 hp above recommended. I have been in situations where my life could have been lost with out the extra h.p. I saved a family once from going under a bridge and being dismasted by throwing a line to them and throttled down with black smoke coming out of exhaust . If I were just day sailing this would be a great set up. But out in forgotten cruising grounds I like a strong diesel and my guns. I hope u won't have to reflect to this comment. But I really like u guys and respect u for all your hard work. 40 yrs cruising here
The coolest thing I’ve seen in ages. You both jumped in and made this. WOW
This video made me smile!! So happy for you two, congratulations on making this work. I hope that many others follow your lead and move away from gasoline.
i recommend a cog-tooth belt at some point, they don't stretch at all. cheap, very quiet. motion industries will send a rep to your boat for free and spec. all.
That was awesome to watch your process as you developed that drive from scratch. Great job.
So nice to watch people that use thought and creativity. Keep up the great videos!
How truly amazing your knowledge and the right tools allow you to accomplish whatever you want.
One of the best things about an electric drive is the decreased noise. I love your determination. I love your inventiveness. You are, literally, an inspiration. But, something tells me going chain drive to propeller shaft is going to be loud.
Edit: Right. Chain drive loud. Also, 5% drain on lead acid batteries... To keep that bank healthy, the charge should never go below 50%. I hope you were able to upgrade that bank to AGM or Li. Pricey, but well worth it long term. Especially considering the dramatic increase in available power.
Nicely done...looks like she works great.
That electric engine is freaking awesome! Great job
Glad to see her finally moving under her own 21st century steam! Truly great work guys!
Looks great , just a note, when you increase the power will the trans bracket and 2 mounts be sufficient to transfer thrust to boat bearing in mind a normal set up has at least 4 mounts , it would not be difficult to add 2 more mounts. Remember in a seaway the thrust from the prop will vary considerably . Just a thought.
I'm really amazed by the DIY on this channel. You are also an inspiring couple.
Thanks for sharing your journey :)
WOW! I am so impressed. LOVE the concept of electric vs diesel. Can't wait to see how efficient it really is. Keep going UMA. Hope you untie the lines soon.
I freakin' love this project, guys!
I'm currently looking into buying my own sailing boat and now that I've bingewatched how you switched from a diesel to electric motor, looking into that too!
I have sailed before (motorized boats) but never sailed sailboats. That would be a whole other skill to learn!
Take care guys! Bon Voyage!
Congratulation to your working motorsystem. I´m following your steady progress since the beginning and i´m very impressed of your ideas and skills. Thumbs up and nice greetings from germany. I can´t wait for the next episode ;)
Mad DIY skills, Dan! ⛵️
Good to see you guys ended up putting the transmission back in. I know you guys probably think people are dogging on you sometimes but most people are trying to save you from problems and frustrations later down the road when they comment and make suggestions on your videos.
+Chadd Thompson Funny you mention that . most of our comments come after we already make the necessary changes (since we are always about a month ahead of the videos) . But doesnt mean we dont appreciate it :)
Sweet work on the fabrication of your mounts. Another great video and I look forward to keeping track of your progress.
Absoloutely brilliant work. Dan you may be an architect bu you sir are on hell of an engineer and craftsman! That was pretty freaking successful design. I salute you and your partner in sailing crime. Fair winds Uma.
Just wow on the fabrication - mad skills!
You could put a small shroud around the chain and enclose it. Then have the bottom cog pick up motor oil on the chain from an mini oil pan. Or even just spray a bit of chain saw bar oil. Good luck.
My only gripe with your motor installation would have been to have the motor higher in the bilge or off to the right or left of the transmission to keep it out of any water but I realize there are limitation for what you're doing. Another nice thing about using a chain is you can very the size of the sprockets, giving you different gear ratios and a chain won't slip if it gets wet like a belt would.
Oh, if make a suggestion or something, don't take it the wrong way. I can't say enough how much I admire you kids.(I've got daughters older than you guys) So many kids nowadays won't get off their a$$ and do thing, go places, live life to the fullest. My hat's off to you two, you're like a young Jules & Suzie on "Sailing Emerald Steel"!
+Reg Pettinger Awe, thank you so much! We watch Emerald Steel too. It's cool to find others out there with a drive to DIY.
Just catching up on episodes. I think you need a downward force on the chain, but the motor mount push up on the motor. This might already be addressed, but just saw this. Really impressed with your DIY attitude. Inspires me to go out and tackle all those jobs that I didn't think I could do.
Outstanding accomplishment you two neat human beings.....
Wow! Awesome job on that mirror and transmission installation!
Nice vid. You guys are excellent practical engineers. :)
i am very excited.
I'm pretty sure Ben is a genius! Skills like he's got will come in so very handy!
As far as your solar, look into the Solar Stick. It's a combination solar/wind generator all self contained into one unit.
Well done. Don't listen to the naysayers remember there are plenty of sailboats without any engine whatsoever and they manage. You have the start of a good installation I am sure you will be making incremental design modifications.👍😉
Very few that are cruisers and it is a special type of suffering to do so.
Great video again guys, she's a very beautiful boat, great lines.
+Sailing Madrigal Thanks, yeah we love her too.
Great work you two. Looking forward until you hit our shores xx love from Greece
Love the Auto Cad my guy looked beautiful
For the life of me I do not understand why there isn't a commercial version of this..... Great job guys!
+D Holtman There are a couple of them out there.... but for $ 15- 30k
You are very lucky to have welding skills. As a steel boat sailor, I recommend your take the brackets back out, clean them down to bright shinny steel and apply marine 2-part epoxy, then you won't need to worry about it for 10 years.
+Voyage of the Sea Quest yep, we painted it with the same epoxy barrier coat that wet used on the hull, then added a coat of paint (same uses on engines)
good stuff!! you might want to add some kind of chain adjustment to your set up they stretch alot over time. And regular lubrication, and a way of catching the lube that flings off to keep things clean. but awsome glad it works. the gearbox is a good addtion
Great workmanship guys, I think toothed belt or direct drive may be a better way to go but its work in progress, good results so far.
Good looking install and thanks for sharing some of the process. When we see you guys in an anchorage going to have to ask to take a look. Have you looked at the bottom since splash anything growing?
Awesome, awesome vid...the boat she moves...yes. You truly will be able to handle any problems down the road, since your the engineers. I would have been sourly tempted to go with a belt for noise reasons, but don't know how well it would wear or what salt water might affect a belts breakdown.
+tazmun Yes, we've just seen to many alternator belts and other engine belts blow, preventing movement. BUT, we may end up going with a belt if we can't minimize the noise significantly.
+Sailing Uma Nice job so far. You need a chain adjuster in the system as the chain will soon become slack causing more noise. Best put a twin belt system in place but you will still need an adjusting idler to keep the belts at the correct tension. Its much easier to change a belt at sea than repair a broken chain. If a chain lets go it can cause all sorts of damage. With the belts you have a safety valve effectively. Fair winds. regards from the UK
What you two have accomplished is pretty fantastic! Kudos and a couple virtual pats on the back for each of you.
With your chain noise issue, I would suggest trying a raised frame for the motor and a simple coupler between the shaft of the motor and transmission. I would think that it would get rid of all of the noise as well as allow for full recharge capabilities off of the prop while sailing (I am thinking the chain may be a slight drag/resistance?) It should be a simple matter to craft legs for your attachment points to raise the motor.
Keep up the fantastic work! Can't wait for the next vid!
Oh... will you doing a full tech write up of the entire motor/charge system when complete?
+Wirednoodle Yes, there will be lot of info up on our website once we get some free time to put that all together.
Thx for showing us this vid...
+usa you are very welcome :)
Great job with the motor. I would be too intimidated to do my own installation. It's great to see Uma off the dock even though just in the marina. I hope you get to start your cruising adventure soon.
+Vaughn Herren Yes, we can't wait to get our and sail her!
Awesome fabrication. Yep my vote is a Harley or other used toothed motorcycle belt system. Reduced vibration and noise and. You may experience the gears being eaten by the chain unless alignment is spot on (ask me how I know). How much space do you have in the bilge? How many inches of water before the motor gets wet? Keep up the amazing progress, and best of luck.
+madogblue Yes, we maybe going with a belt. As for the water in the bilge. We can take on about 100 gallons of water before the motor starts to get wet. But even then, if it gets wet, as long as not electricity is going through it, we can just soak it in fresh water and dry it out and it will work like new. The important electronics are mounted high up on the bulkhead away from any water.
Great job and a very instructive video, I am sure you are going sand blast and paint these fittings, make them salt water protected! Cannot wait to see it all working!
+dtonvista Yes. We're still testing and finalizing the mount. No point painting it yet if we're just going to weld up something else.
Impressive, Dan.
Yay! Good use of Sketchup!
I so love this story.
Fantastic work, great skill and workmanship
Sean in Ireland
Don't worry about the drivetrain noise, as long as the alignment is good just apply sound proofing to the area ( don't forget ventilation). Either way , it's still quieter than a gas or diesel motor.
+Mazda rx7 Absolutely
Awesome work you guys!!! You must be very excited!
I would have just put a CV joint between the motor and propeller shaft. No alignment necessary. Regardless, I think your pursuits are commendable!
It looked like their space was too tight for that.
You guys are always fun to watch and your videos well edited. I also love the choice of music. I wish you every success in pursuing your dream.
+Hammer Rocks thank you.This means alot
well done guys! thats a big step forward, going by your DIY abilities you no doubt have it sorted, but please tell me you'll get some protective coatings on all that bear metal, and how high is the motor off the bilge? saltwater and electrics don't mix.
+Sailability Auckland Yes, it will be painted or coated in the next step most likely.
Nice... ingenious... Maybe you should consider rubber bushes around your bolts at the back of the motor mount. In this way you don't need to alter your mount a lot.
While I like the idea of having an electro motor for various reasons, I'm interested in the backup plan when you hit something in the water and you are depending on a reliable power-source for your bilge pump for many hours.
Hey Guys! Another great vid! Having just (almost) completed a MASSIVE refit over 4 years (like you guys, just me and my girlfriend) I see what you do and feel every bit of the work! Stick with it, there will be the day when you can leave the marina and not come back :)
I just have a couple of questions.. Why did you build the brackets out of steel like that? I would have thought making it from fibre glass or 316 stainless would be the go as I would be concerned of your engine bay very quickly becoming a pit of rust! Im sure you have your reasons, but yeah I just know how fast steel rusts...
Keep it up you 2 little geniuses!!
+surfynic Hey, yes, steel rusts. But A) It's super cheap and easy to work with. B)Doesn't flex like glass. and C) We'll be painting it to prevent it from rusting once we have a finalized bracket assembled.
By the way... Melt some grease in a pan and dip the chain in it soak the chain good in the grease and lube it regularly.
You have also created a generator for power from the prop!!! If the prop will allow free wheeling then you will get back AMPs from the DC motor if the shaft spins. You may need to add a break to stop the spin. Some props "fold" and never free wheel.
Man, we'd love to have a system like this on our boat - we're just missing the space for solar panel/wind generation, and a shit ton of batteries. Maybe in the future. So cool you guys!
Excellent vid...enjoyed it....good job!!!
That is a great moment, moving under own power! Well done! Is you prop running at the right speed? Is it the right size and speed? That motor wil give way more torqe at close to Zero RPM than any Diesel ever will.
I am SO glad you went away from that original direct coupling design! I did kind of think you weren't going to be happy with the chain noise... but that's just the nature of those types of chains. The easiest thing to do would be to insulate the engine bay pretty well. Also spread some of that anti-seize you have on the chain rollers, that will quiet it a little. That's one thing we used to do on the chain drive of street sweepers with chain that size, ought to work even better in your application in an enclosed space. Just every once in a while dab a little more on.
+MISTERComaToes Great idea. Probably wont make as much mess as chain oil too.
OK I am impressed. You have not let me down yet. I take it you were using flux core wire in your welder. I don't know if you can use a big spool ( 35 lbs ) in your welder but many years ago I found that the Lincoln electric flux core was very reasonable and worked better than anything else that I tried and you could get it at home Depot. I don't know where you learned to weld but from the sound that I heard you have it down. You always want it to sound like sizzling bacon. To save on mess from lubing the chain, there are lubes that are paraffin based that stick to the chain and don't sling and make a mess. I have seen it at Wal mart in the bike section. We used to make our own Battery chargers years ago for charging the batteries on our race cars. On the on board radios of our race cars we used aircraft 14 volt batteries and never had a problem, one of the reasons we made our own chargers. That was a long time ago so I can no longer remember how we did it but some one must know how to do it. We scavenged the parts from something cheap and I am still using them after thirty years.. Just an idea to kick around. I applaud you on what you have done, and I know you are not impressing us yet. Keep them coming. With the chain drive and sprockets you can change gear ratios without a great hassle.My friends tell me I am not easily impressed, I'm impressed.
+Uncle Muir Thank you for the awesome comment. You have a lot of interesting notions in there, my brain is starting to come up with all sorts of new plans nos. Thanks for the ideas.
Dan.
+Sailing Uma I was wondering if you are planning on putting a temperature gauge on the motor. You may have done that already and I missed it. I stopped by a forklift repair shop and asked them a few questions today. Heat isn't a problem for them because they have a lot of air flow.The motor has that built in fan but that is minimal. You may be able to make a fan on your driveshaft to improve airflow. One guy thought you may have to under drive the prop to keep motor RPMs up to keep it cool enough. I don't know enough about that to know if they are right or wrong, just thought I would give you some thing to kick around.
By the time you get your system perfected you may find yourselves having a business that will take you around the world to demonstrate to sailors everywhere. A tough job but someone would have to do it.
+Uncle Muir I can see why you sent me the link to this couple. We have known each other for over fifty years and this is the first time I have heard you that excited about something in a very long time. You know I am still using using one of those chargers you built for the Can Am cars. I know you have been taking care of your Mom but I am still surprised you haven't flown to Florida to help out these kid out. I will never forget how many times I would run a problem past you and your answer was I will get back to you ,what motel are you at and you would show up the next morning after flying your plane all night to help us out. You are right these two kids give faith that the world is in good hands.
Excellent practical engineering. What about one of those flexible couplers; we've used them on stirrer shafts for chemical reactors; they allow for a couple degrees misalignment. Available in steel or aluminum.
dude you are a total badass with tools.
Impressive work there. Have you looked into belts? They have come a long way with them. Just thinking a Harley drive belt or a engine blower belt are very strong and durable.
Congrats on installing the motor! Good job! How many amp hours do you have on the batteries?
+RAN Sailing Tricky question to answer. We have 6 deep cycle batteries, all about 120A at 12V. But our motor runs at 48V, so 4 of them are in series and 2 parallel. Better answer is that we have 8.6kW of energy storage. Hope that helped without being to technical.
+Sailing Uma It made perfect sense. Have you looked in to getting lithium batteries? They have come down quite a lot in price nowadays, still expensive though. Keep up the good work!
+RAN Sailing Yes, the joy of a system like ours is it's infinity upgradable. So LiFePO4's are definitely on our wish list. Are you guys someplace warm yet? It looked awfully cold is some of your earlier videos.
+Sailing Uma We are currently on Guernsey Island in the English Channel, so it's a bit warmer but still quite cold. We have around 8-10 Celsius at the moment. We hope we can make the passage to Spain any time now, but we won't take any chances. The Bay of Biscay can be really dangerous, especially this time of the year. When do you think you're going to be in the Caribbean?
+Sailing Uma I think you may be disappointed in the actual Amp Hours from your batteries. The 120 figure quoted by the manufacturer is measured at a very low rate of discharge (6 amps?). I would use half the rated capacity for calculations. Not sure that the two extra ones in parallel with 2 of the 4 series batteries will help that much.
You will soon find out by running it though. I'm sure you are planning on fitting more battery if it all works out. Do monitor the individual battery voltages and the current and let us armchair engineers know.
Seems like the belt/pulley alternative to your chain method would've offered the benefit of galvanic isolation from the marina water and better lightning strike protection...
Good job guys!
Great job! and great video. keep them coming.
Great video! Too bad it's so short, because I could watch those engineering videos for hours on end. :)
I think you should mount the motor up higher so when you get water in your boat it does get to the motor so fast you could do it on top position
Great video guys!
While waiting for your solar, would you consider building a wind turbine generator out of a salvaged washing machine in the meantime?
Good skills on that bracket sir..
Thank you. It took many attempts (I think 6 or 7 in total) But we finally got one that worked well.
Nice job with the chain. Drive shaft coupling or flex disc would be even better. Like the one on VW or Audi cars. Quiet and it would last many years.
Belts vs. Chains. Been there and done that. Neither are perfect. Make sure you have a plan to keep the chain lubricated; bt&dt also...
Howard White - Belts ARE quieter and today's toothed belts last forever.
nice job. now pull it all apart and have it hot galved.
great vid
Hi, looks great with the electric engine, but I can't see why you need the chain from the engine to the propeller? Is is possible to have the engine direct to the propeller, to not lose any power and also remove any chain noise/maintenance?
good job guys!
I love this electric motor. And man you are doing awesome with the metal work. Have you considered looking for a spare motor to have on hand if you are out of the country and your current one breaks down? I realize you can probably rebuild the one you have provided it doesn't burn up, or actually have a breakage. I'm just thinking that more out of country marinas would be more inclined to have repair services for diesel or gas engines, rather than electric motors.
+insaynbcr Spare motor? No. But we could easily fix that motor in any country. We will carry spare brushes for it, But everything else can be fixed with very basic materials.
+Sailing Uma Burned out windings?
Nice work.. I fully remember what y'alls mission is, but perhaps a revenue stream is opening up? UmaDrive, the next Generation Yacht propulsion system!
Epic metal working skills!
+Grant Green An epic thank you to you :)
Inventors !!
this is great
Awesome job guys. Seems like ages between your vlogs. I missed you. Once you get out in the open ocean against currents, swell and waves etc, can you let me know how your motor goes please. I am really curious to see if Uma will be under powered.Thanks guys. Kind regards, Shane
Brillant !
That's pretty amazing work!
That is very impressive!
Hi guys. Another great video. One step closer! I wanted to ask - what kind of CAD program are you using to mock-up your motor installation design?
+Sailboat Story Thanks, We use both Sketchup for the quick models and ArchiCAD for the detailed work.
Nice! I used to use Solidworks quite a bit back in my engineering days. Anyways - I enjoyed the video quite a lot. Always great to see how things are progressing with the motor, your videos, and the journey. Take care fellas!
Great job...well done. I was wondering if you are going to paint or use some other barrier coat on that bare steel?
+captainandthelady Yup! Although, It's core 10 so technically we could just let it rust.