Second post.
Second post.
Looks like fun, you built it? Any additional pictures? Tell us about the steering, it looks like a joystick???
It is a joystick. The steering is by linear actuator (electric ram). I designed and built all the controls. The basic hull is from Custombilt Boats in Geneva, Al.Originally Posted by Josh*
Click on my picture and it will link to photo bucket for more pictures.
The boat is a blast to drive and is exceptionally stable. It is a tunnel hull, but I partially enclosed part of the tunnel. The tunnel fills with water when stopped and the water dumps out as I accelerate.
Now I LIKE that. Can you expand more on that steering system? How responsive is it to input? I would expect that the limits to port and starboard were a little tricky but I figured if you figured out the rest of it, then the limits were no problem
Oh and I noticed that heat sink in the box too.
Well, I measured the travel of several cable steering boats. The rod travel thru the tilt tube vaired between 8 1/2 to 9 inches. I chose a a high speed linear actuator with a 8 inch ram based on the mentioned measurements. I chose the speed of the actuator based on how I could turn my cable steer boat. It took about 4 seconds for me to go lock to lock in steering direction, so the actuator speed was selected based on this time. The actuator full load speed is about 2 inches per second. Close enough.
The Joystick has a 4 tap potentiometer which I use to control the speed and direction via a PWM circuit which drives a FET Hbridge that provides the control voltage to the linear actuator.
Steering is linear. If you move the joystick a little, the engine moves a little via the PWM control circuit, etc.etc.
Pretty simple circuitry and application.
I built my own engine position gauge using a automobile voltmeter. I called it the YAW gauge. It tells me the relative position of the engine with respect to the bow. Fun project for an old man.
That heat sink is a filtered dc/dc converter. It get me 12 volts@5A from the 24 volts on that side of the boat. Voltage sources are isolated. 12v on the right side and 24v on the left.
Cool stuff man. and people thought I was smart (or smart something or other LOL). 10 yrs USAF, 24 law enforcement and 15 in computer networks. But that's pretty dang cool. I work on my toon a lot (always doing something). Its now getting a facelift (new fencing skin, getting rails powder coated and replacing/rewiring accessories with new Bluewater LED stuff). Yep, so for you its simple - for me NOT. Give me a computer network, with radios and television network to make it all talk to each other with apple junk - hey I'm a Microsoft/Cisco/Sonicwall guy whatta expect
Yep, cool project thingy you got Cane Pole. Say is Pumphouse TN up near Maryville - north of Chattanooga? Kinda on the north end of Watts Bar lake?
I live (stays) on KY Lake, West Sandy Creek. I am about 10 miles from Paris Landing Tennessee by water. I fish the Big Sandy River a lot.
I have a Mac. ha
Way too high tech! But very cool!
Born to fish, forced to work.
Fly by wire, just like the F-16s I worked on.
Awesome!
Pro's Choice Marine's Facebook Page
Pete's Ranger Channel
Click on the banner to check out our website!
Reply With Quote