Update on my solar powered mini platform boat!

This is a link to the original build video: • DIY! Cheap homemade bo...
This link leads to the video showing the solar update:
• Solar powered boat tha...

[@kirkw1740]

I'd do a clear and/or white corrugated roof so you can fold up two 4x8 foot sheets for transportation. Then for the walls you can do a roll up tarp, ideally a clear and opaque layer so you can still see while driving in poor weather and have privacy when needed. I would do the same for the doors, but give them three layers an opaque, a clear and a mesh layer so you can have ventilation with bug protection at the front and back. Love the modular design!

[@necrokittie2291]

you could make your own tarp. the old fashioned with with fatwax. it's 50% wax and 50% oil melted in a pot and mixed together. you can apply it to a canvas drop sheet or even a bed sheet and it will be water proof. I'd have the top fully attached but leave the sides able to be rolled up. so you can see in all directions while getting some shade. and roll it down if needed.

[@adrianwoodworm]

Very good suggestion, I love it! 👍

[@FarEastSurvival]

for the tarp, I would recommend that you use a heavy duty sewing machine to sew all edges and the windows.

[@cathrynmartin4395]

I've spent a LOT of time looking at ways to build a boat inexpensively and I started looking at the native style boats built in India and Vietnam to name just two - the boats feature bamboo prominently in the top part of the build. One boat in particular had "windows" that might work for your gothic arch framework. Think of something like tightly woven rattan "mat" (or blanket or however you view the finished, flat piece) that is somewhat flexible. The boat had the rattan mats "propped out" with a set of wooden sticks so that the interior of the boat received both cross current air and light, but the nice thing is, remove the wooden props and you have a solid side again. I would think that you could have notches or some sort of holders for the sticks in the gothic arches (with more than one set) so the height and angle of the "windows" adjusted to your needs at the moment. I wish I could insert a picture of the boat - I downloaded the image, but I wasn't looking to keep the site it came from because it was just the boat image that interested me.

[@adrianwoodworm]

That sounds very interesting and I love your idea, I will keep that one in mind for sure! Thank you for commenting!

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

I just got a 3.2 m inflatable boat, I'll be ordering a Bimini style folding top. With that I'll be ordering some attachable transparent sides, back and front for it. I'll have access holes for rods and controls. I've been quoted 350 Cdn (I'm in BC), which I think is fair.

[@adrianwoodworm]

I am in BC as well (Prince George) I have seen them as cheep as $150canadian online, but NOT with transparent back and fronts! So it definitely seems to be a good deal!

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

@@adrianwoodworm I'm ordering it from a tarp maker in Vancouver, picking it up saves a bundle. I'll double check my measurements next time I inflate it, at which time I'll mount my wheels on it.

[@adrianwoodworm]

@@PlayingWithFireOutdoors Interesting! To reach out to a tarp maker didn't enter my mind(to be perfectly honest, I didn't even know they exist😄) thanks for your insights! Sounds like you have a very cool, lightweight and movable rig going on there!

[@BradCagle]

Great videos! Regarding the sudden viewership spike, It's strange but I too have several videos to took off after 100 days to a year. Subbed :)

[@adrianwoodworm]

Thank you, I appreciate the support! Yeah, the whole KZbin algorithm is still strange to me, but I am not complaining. I checked out your channel, very interesting content! I will have to get into the whole solar topic sooner than later, and I look forward to learning from your videos! You gained a subscriber as well! 😄

[@PeaceProfit]

Boat cover... simplest a canvas cover, more of a project a used or new rollup awning from a camper trailer, which could also be mounted on your van for camping.

[@PeaceProfit]

A rollup awning for each side would allow for better vision while underway and one for both sides of your van.

[@adrianwoodworm]

Great idea! Love the dual purpose!

[@PeaceProfit]

Also... Lots of DIY camper awning videos out there.

[@2ukulele]

Hi Adrian. Love your pontoon boat and videos. Very inspiring. What about pitching an A-frame (cotton) tent on top, with doors on both ends. It may give you better side visibility.

[@adrianwoodworm]

Thanks! I guess it could work if you can roll up the canvas for operation. Otherwise it would be worse then it is right now. Interesting thought though. Sometimes the simple things are the best. Thank you for commenting! Cheers!

[@UtmostOutdoors]

Thanks for the update video. I like the overall design choice of pontoons and a platform. Looks like it makes for a lot of usable space to enjoy on the lake in a light and efficient package. I'm curious what sort of speed you get with that motor and hull. I'll have to look through your other videos to see what you're using for a battery. Very cool! PS: Amazon has some very cheap bimini tops available. I bought one expecting a poor quality product, but it actually was surprisingly good! I wonder if you could build a short wall down each side of the platform then mount a standard 6' by 8' bimini to the top of that wall. It might just work!

[@adrianwoodworm]

Thanks for your interest! I measured the speed once, but I forgot how fast(slow) it was. It is a 62lbs thrust motor, so somewhat equivalent to 1HP. Your are not flying over the lake, that's for sure, but it is just enough to fight even strong winds. I swapped the lead acid marine deep cycle batteries for lithium batteries. 4x as expensive, but also just a 1/4 of the weight, they can be completely discharged vs only 50% and they are capable of more cycles. (At this point two batteries are actually over the top, one would do just fine.) Someone else mentioned the Bimini tops. Great suggestion! And I like your idea of building a low surrounding!

[@FixitEasyDIY]

Such an interesting video. ❤

[@adrianwoodworm]

Thank you! I am glad you liked it!

[@LouisBackover]

The views went off just recently because it's now summer time and people are looking for ideas to get out on the water or away from crime filled cities with a DIY low-cost solution. It's a seasonal thing. When you re-do the superstructure you might want to sew a camper top. I've been experimenting with cotton canvas drop cloth (or maybe it's cotten blend) from Harbor Freight and waxing it with paraffin to make small totes. Sews nice and crisp on my Sailrite LSZ-1 sewing machine. Sunbrella is best, but it's expensive. Looking forward to seeing that houseboat floating. My only cringe is the lift struts on the bottom of the bow deck, but I really admire your work and video ability.

[@adrianwoodworm]

I definitely noticed seasonal changes when it comes to views on certain videos, but for the first year I had pretty much no views on this video, no matter the season, I found that to be strange. I like your idea of using drop cloth canvas! I have to ask you though about the lift struts, why do they make you cringe??😄

[@phoqt00b]

You might want to consider using a small greenhouse for the structure and cover. They are designed for the sun and wind, and will have zippers for the closure.

[@adrianwoodworm]

That is a very clever idea! I definitely will keep that one in mind! Thank you for commenting!

[@flatlandriver2471]

Agree with the greenhouse idea. Might I suggest Sun Tuf Solar Gray corrugated panels? Not too expensive. Sold at Home Depot and other places. 8’ and 12’ lengths. One panel of clear for the windows🤷🏻😊

[@barthanes1]

I got a 40 year old trolling motor for $30 from the scrapyard. I don't even know what kind it is because all the stickers had peeled off. I've done nothing to it except install $2 battery clamps. I've been using it for three years with no problems.

[@adrianwoodworm]

Wow, sounds like you got a really good deal there!

[@kevinwelsh7490]

I love this boat, and enjoy your videos about it. regarding visibility from the back, you could put the trolling motor on the front (like fishermen do) and sit up front or, leaving the motor at the back, you could lock the trolling motor in direction, and add a rudder with a steering wheel up front, wire a speed controller or PWM up front. or pre-set the throttle and just have an on/off switch up front. check Paul Elkins' videos for steering wheel turning trolling motor how big is your battery bank and do you only draw down a fraction of their Ah? could you get by with smaller bank since you are constantly charging? what gauge is your wire?

[@adrianwoodworm]

Thanks Kevin! All your ideas are great and I was thinking about some of them myself. I watched Paul Elkins video, the man is a genius in general! My battery bank is definitely a bit overkill, I have two 12v 110 ah batteries (lithium by now...) I just like the idea of having a second battery as a backup. I am sure only one would work just fine though. If you are talking about the wires going from battery to motor, I don't remember the gauge but I remember them beeing overkill as well, they are much thicker then the wires of the motor itself.

[@arthurverheijen6682]

Aber wie ist es jetzt mit dem grosse Boot?

[@adrianwoodworm]

Ich bin leider zu beschäftigt diesen Sommer mit Arbeit. Das grosse Boot muss noch ein wenig warten. Ich hoffe allerdings das ich es bis nächsten Sommer komplett fertig bekomme!