My little mod over the Christmas/New Year break was the addition of a outboard motor mount for my AI. Took it for a little spin around Pittwater to test it out and it performed well. The main motivation for adding the motor was for longer distance transits to destinations of interest. For example launching at one end of Cowan Creek where you might be at the mercy of wind and tide.
The Honda 2.3D (short shaft) is an air cooled outboard with built in 1 Litre fuel tank. I bought couple of 1L fuel containers for spare fuel if required but I found a combination of motoring, sailing and pedaling I used less than a tank. At quarter throttle the AI was pushed along at about 9 Km/h (4.9 knots). It is also far enough back to not interfere with the side scan transducer on the port side.
The mounting was based on existing design found on Youtube done by RUDYAKAHALIBU77. His excellent video can be found here-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c8v2pn04K8[/youtube]
Here's a couple of pics from the test cruise-
Some info/pics added (7 Jun 2014)
Most of the stuff came from Bunnings. Used 40mm Vinidex PVC
Straight DWV 40mm
4x 45deg bends
2x T-piece
I found that the sizes can vary a little so I got all the same brand.
I had some 30 something mm grey conduit laying about and I put this inside the 40mm PVC to reinforce it. It was a little too big to fit directly so I had to cut a slit down the side.
I found I could cut a slot with a circular saw and squeeze the inner conduit down inside the 40mm stuff. Be very very careful doing this as the PVC can grab and shatter or go flying when being cut. Once I got the size right for the inner I glued it and put it in. Once the glue is on you only get 1 go at fitting.
I didn't glue the joined sections until I got all the angles right. The U-bolts are galvanised at the moment. Can't remember the size from Bunnings but they go through holes that are 55mm apart and the thickness of the U-bolt is about 6.8mm. I had to shorten the U-bolts as required.
One mod I still need to do is put a bolt right through the PVC and wood. This stops it from twisting under power.
I used plenty of varnish on the wood.
More of the finished items
The ends were finished off with rubber leg tips and black Sugru to make it look tidy and hold the rubber in. Might pay to drill a hole to let water out.
The fluro yellow bits are 3D printed spacers to help hold everything in place.
And don't forget it needs to be tied down securely on the opposite side to the motor.
