Pod Drive on a SCAMP

The place to discuss SCAMP (Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project), our 11' 11" micro minicruiser.

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codefoster
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Pod Drive on a SCAMP

Post by codefoster »

I've been loving my ePropulsion motor on my SCAMP, but I got to wondering how great it would be if I had a pod drive that was...
  • centered athwartship
  • just forward of the rudder for great maneuverability in tight quarters and low speeds
  • recessed enough to still allow the SCAMP to land on her feet (skegs) on a beach
  • able to be permanently installed avoiding the donning and doffing of the outboard
  • concealed to deter theft
  • driven by a larger (say 2kW) battery pack that could be creatively installed as ballast in place of some of the water ballast
Does such a recess and installation seem possible? What gotchas am I missing?
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wdscobie
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Re: Pod Drive on a SCAMP

Post by wdscobie »

I've seen such things done to other small craft. In the end they result on added complications and huge amount of drag. One boat I spent years chasing small leaks from the installation.
--
:: Dave Scobie
:: Liveaboard: Baba 30 DEJA VU
:: Owner M6'8" dingy
:: Former SWALLOW - https://saulboatswallow.wordpress.com
:: Former M17 SWEET PEA - https://m17-375.com
:: Former M15 SCRED - https://m15namedscred.wordpress.com/
codefoster
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Re: Pod Drive on a SCAMP

Post by codefoster »

I thought about drag too, but my ePropulsion outboard generates energy from the prop when sailing, so most of the time (except when the battery is full already) I want it to drag. I'm not sure if the pod drives also generate. Regarding the chance of leaks, I would imagine that could be rectified.
My biggest concern was that if the propeller were recessed enough to not come below the skegs, then I wonder if it gets difficult to be sure there's enough flow in front of the propeller. It might require a pretty severe channel be formed in the bottom of the boat.
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wdscobie
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Re: Pod Drive on a SCAMP

Post by wdscobie »

codefoster wrote:
Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:57 am
ePropulsion outboard generates energy from the prop when sailing,
At what speed? SCAMPs ain't the fastest boats and IMO your assumptive average speed needs to be 3kts sailing.

The power generation assumptions of manufacturers are really greatly overstated. The minimum speed is really high. Read the fine print as in power generation mode there may be a power DRAW so if you are going to slow you are draining the battery.

Still, IMO, don't hack the boat to make it an inboard.
--
:: Dave Scobie
:: Liveaboard: Baba 30 DEJA VU
:: Owner M6'8" dingy
:: Former SWALLOW - https://saulboatswallow.wordpress.com
:: Former M17 SWEET PEA - https://m17-375.com
:: Former M15 SCRED - https://m15namedscred.wordpress.com/
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