Many people's favorite type of recreation is swimming in the water, sailing on a boat or catamaran.

Motor boats are most suitable for long-distance trips. Fishermen prefer to fish on simple, rowing boats.

Such vessels glide silently through the water, but they require skillful control, and their speed is not high. The craftsmen decided to combine their advantages. They replaced the powerful motor with a battery-powered motor.

What power should I choose for a boat motor?

We use a 2 hp generator as an electric motor. With. It is quite enough to operate the boat at a low speed of 10 km/h. The motor receives energy from two batteries.

The NKN-45 model has sufficient capacity; it will last for almost 4 hours of continuous operation in heavy duty mode. This time is quite enough to find a place for fishing, catch fish and return home.

The electric motor operates quietly, does not disturb neighboring fishermen with its noise, and does not emit harmful fumes into the atmosphere.

The simplicity of this mechanism is not explained by complex mechanical and electrical components.

Since the power of the electric motor is small, the current flows to it from the battery directly. With such a low power, no additional control devices will be required.

How to assemble such an engine yourself

Making it yourself will not be difficult. For this you will need the following materials:

  1. Steel pipes;
  2. metal sheet 8 mm thick;
  3. steel bar with a diameter of 20 mm;
  4. electric motor;
  5. propeller pylon.

Electric motor assembly diagram

We punch a landing groove on the top of the flange; it will be needed for mounting the electric motor. We make 4 threaded holes.

They will be needed to secure the engine. Next, we punch a rectangular hole with sides measuring 50 by 100 mm. A handle is placed in it to control the engine in skew mode.

A bracket is welded to the flange on the reverse side. It is used to install the motor control lever. An aluminum pipe is used as a handle, the length of which is 26 centimeters and the diameter is 22 mm.

Electric motor for a boat from a trimmer

An original version of a motor for a boat: using a trimmer to mow grass. This device has a long rod with a rotating shaft and a fairly powerful motor.

To use it as a motor, you need to make a small transformation: replace the fishing line device with wide blades.

The device is reliably protected from water getting into the electrical wiring. A trimmer powered by gasoline works especially well in water. This option is suitable for pensioners and people with low income.

Electric motor for a boat based on a device: screwdriver

Its rotation speed is slightly lower than that of a gas trimmer engine, but such a motor costs much less and has a number of advantages and disadvantages:

  • you can connect a 12 W battery to it;
  • The power reserve is enough for 6-8 hours of continuous operation;
  • low cost of movement.

Let's say a few words about the operation of the device. Although it has little power, it is quite suitable for short distance trips.

Electric motors, assembled by yourself and powered by a battery, are easy to maintain and install, and make virtually no noise during operation. The battery should be charged periodically. This device is economical and does not harm the environment.

Also watch the video with a description of a homemade motor for a boat from a lawn mower.


Probably everyone who lives in a rural area or comes there to relax in the summer has a boat or dreams of one. This is understandable, because spending time on the water is the most desirable and most wonderful vacation.

Boating is a great sport because it helps you strengthen your arm and back muscles. Another thing is that, while sitting on the oars, it is difficult to pay attention to all the beauties of nature, especially if the rower is inexperienced. And it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to catch fish - only if you anchor.

Not to mention that older people or those with health problems will get tired very quickly and will not be able to swim far.

But this does not mean that you should give up walking on the river or always take a partner with you to make the movement easier. You can install an electric motor for the boat and then all you need to do is control your boat around turns.

Here many may argue that not everyone can afford to purchase an electric motor. Even the Poltava electric motor (by no means the most powerful and sophisticated) is quite expensive.

But who said that you definitely need to buy it? It’s quite possible to make an electric motor for a boat yourself, it’s not that difficult. The main thing is to know how to use welding, have free time, a little patience and all the necessary parts.

6. Bearings.

7. Metal rods and plates.

Of course, the design obtained from these parts will differ significantly from the model described above. An electric motor for a boat of this type will not be able to move too fast, and the time it can operate at full power is not very long. But such an engine creates almost no noise and is completely safe for the environment.

More and more anglers are thinking about installing a motor on a boat. It allows you to speed up movement across a pond and relieve your hands from hard work with oars. When a man’s physical strength becomes less, ingenuity comes to the rescue. It turns out that you can make a boat motor with your own hands from various household appliances. For those reservoirs where the use of gasoline engines is prohibited, electric current is used as the driving force. In other cases, it is better to choose devices with gasoline power units.

Many fishermen have faulty electrical or gas equipment in their storage room or garage. If the motor in it is working properly, then such a device can be modified to fit an existing boat. In some cases, it is even cheaper to purchase a new screwdriver or brush cutter and modify the device than to buy a boat motor. It is the financial issue that pushes numerous “left-handed” and “home-made” people towards unique developments.

  1. To make a homemade electric boat motor, you will need a cordless drill or screwdriver. In this case, the fisherman will have to solve the following problems.
    • Unfortunately, the capacity of the standard battery will not be enough for carefree sailing, so you will have to take a 12V car battery on board. Accordingly, the device must also operate at the same voltage. As for power, an electrical device that produces more than 300 W can handle a light rubber boat.
    • The rotation speed of the screwdriver is quite high, so it is necessary to install a reduction gear.
    • You also need to purchase or make your own drive shaft and propeller.

A homemade electric boat motor will operate silently, which is very important for good fishing. In addition, replacing a failed electric motor will be cheaper than repairing a boat engine.

  1. Gasoline engines made for a boat with your own hands can significantly increase the fishing area. These can be power units from chainsaws, lawn mowers, walk-behind tractors, etc. The choice of installation depends on the size and design of the vessel, as well as which of the devices is available.
    • Trimmers require the least modifications. They look like they were made to be installed on a fishing boat. It is enough just to install a propeller instead of a reel with fishing line and the boat motor from the trimmer can be tested on a nearby body of water.
    • Engines from a chainsaw, motorcycle or walk-behind tractor will require more intervention by skilled hands. Requires a bevel gear from an angle grinder, a shaft and a propeller.

All homemade boat motors require a special device for attaching to the side of the craft. It's one thing when the boat has a transom to which you need to attach the engine. It is somewhat more difficult to secure the power unit on a regular elastic band with inflatable sides around the perimeter.

Making an engine from a screwdriver

Good homemade motors for boats are made using cordless screwdrivers. It is optimal to use a device with a battery voltage of 12V. It will be possible to connect a car battery with a capacity of 45-55 Ah to such an electric motor. Refinement will consist of several stages.

Lifting mechanism

The propeller of an electric motor for a boat made by yourself must move not only in a horizontal plane, but have a certain immersion limit and rise completely out of the water. The simplest design would be a system of clamps to which the engine is mounted. It is rigidly attached to the transom using a steel frame and plate. The clamps are equipped with rings through which the tube will pass. There will be a shaft made of steel wire or rod running inside. To ensure easy sliding, bearings of suitable dimensions are pressed inside the tube.

Gearbox and propeller

The screwdriver is capable of developing high speeds, which is required when drilling. A homemade electric motor for a boat does not need such high speeds, so a gearbox is installed to reduce them. The most suitable option is to attach a gearbox from an angle grinder. In the screwdriver chuck, it is enough to clamp the top part of the shaft to ensure a reliable connection.

The role of a propeller can be played by an impeller from a car pump or a computer cooler. But such a home-made electric motor will not be able to provide the boat with the required speed. You can make a propeller from a piece of stainless steel 2.5-3.0 mm thick.

  1. First you need to cut out a square blank measuring 30x30 cm.
  2. A square with a side length of 5 cm is marked in the center. Diagonal lines are drawn through the corners. The cut will go through them to a small square.
  3. Each petal should be rounded and rotated along its axis by 30 degrees.
  4. A hole is made in the central part for attachment to the gearbox.
  5. All that remains is to connect everything securely and test the resulting boat electric motor with your own hands.

Refinement of lawn mowers

The boat motor from the trimmer requires a little modification to get a workhorse for the watercraft. The advantage of gasoline trimmers is their low price and maintainability. Homemade motors for boats based on gas trimmers have a built-in tank, shaft and gearbox. You can look for a special conversion kit, which will contain a stainless steel propeller and drive, as well as a set of adapters for the trimmer shaft. Often there are kits with a clamp for installation on the transom, so there will be no problems with fastening to the boat. If you follow the included instructions, you can convert a boat motor from a lawn mower in 20-30 minutes.

More skills will be required from the angler if he decides to radically change the design of the trimmer. In this case, there is huge scope for imagination and ingenuity. One option involves making a vertical leg.

  1. To rotate the shaft 90 degrees relative to the engine, you will need a gearbox from an angle grinder.
  2. The existing trimmer tube must be shortened using a cutting machine. It is better to replace the bushings inside with bearings.
  1. A simple screw can be made from a strip of duralumin 10x30 cm, 2 mm thick. By attaching a stencil with a two-bladed screw to the workpiece, you need to make markings. You can cut the screw using a grinder and a chisel. The edges must be processed with a file. Place the plate on a flat surface and bend both blades to a height of 1 cm.

Advice! During testing, necessary adjustments can be made. At low speeds, the blade is trimmed or the propeller pitch changes.

  1. A hole is drilled in the center to connect to the shaft. To prevent the blade from touching the watercraft's cylinder during rotation, it is better to make a ring attachment. The trimmer-based boat motor is ready, you can go to the pond.

Manufacturing of fastenings and installation on the boat

Homemade boat motors require special mounting. The principle of its manufacture looks like this.

To reliably install a boat motor from a brush cutter, you need to use a ring to which the belt is mounted. You can use an old hand grinder to connect the braid to the transom. The lower part is cut out of it, and a 12 mm thick hole is drilled in the transverse plane of the body. It is important to carry out some modifications with a pin with a diameter of 12 mm and a length of 10 cm. One side is flattened, a hole 6 mm thick is drilled in it. An M6 bolt is inserted into it, then the eye of the lawn mower is inserted and the nut is screwed on.

Installation of a homemade installation on a ship is carried out in the following order.

  • A homemade mount is mounted on the transom of the boat using a stud and a corresponding nut.
  • Now the engine is installed and secured using a threaded connection. It remains to check how it turns on the boat in different directions.

Homemade motors for boats are not only an opportunity to increase the speed of your boat. The manufacturing process will allow the brain to turn on at full speed, as a result of which another folk invention may be born.

DIY boat

Making a boat with your own hands is only the first stage. You don't want to row it manually all the time, do you?

Stas comments:

This trimmer will quickly be reworked because it has no water cooling, but only air cooling!!! Judge for yourself soon it will be karachun!!!

Artem comments:

Who cares? The trimmer plows all day long without any problems, I mowed 40 hectares with it (I'm tired of it). And such alterations are driven around Ukraine in vain - they die from wear, but are restored by major repairs with rings.

Valera comments:

a screwdriver would be more likely to work here, since it is not intended for long-term work and heats up very quickly

Artem comments:

We rode on a motor made of no mows. Norm is rushing on an inflatable!

Igor comments:

just add a motor

ttt comments:

It just rattles like a tractor.

Peter comments:

Good afternoon. I am planning to buy a Haswing Osapian electric motor for fishing of this model: https://
What can you say about this company? Has anyone dealt with them, do they break badly and do they need to be serviced somehow? Thank you!

Sergey comments:

If you understand that your need is charitable assistance, then pay attention to this article.
Those who, without your participation, may lose an exciting business have turned to you for help.
Many children, boys and girls, dream of becoming pilots on the track.
They attend classes where, under the guidance of an experienced trainer, they learn high-speed driving techniques.
Only constant exercises allow you to overtake correctly, build a trajectory and choose speed.
Winning on the track is based on good qualification. And, of course, a professional kart.
Children who participate in clubs are completely dependent on adults, because lack of money and broken spare parts do not allow them to participate in competitions.
How much pleasure and new sensations children experience when they get behind the wheel and start driving the car.
Maybe it is in such a circle that not only Russian champions grow up, but even future world champions in this sport?!
You can help the children's karting section, which is located in the city of Syzran. They are in a really bad situation right now. Everything rests on the enthusiasm of the leader: Sergei Krasnov.
Read my letter and look at the photos. Pay attention to the passion with which my students work.
They love this developmental sport and really want to continue learning.
I am asking you to help the karting section in the city of Syzran survive.
Previously, there were TWO young technician stations in the city, and each had a karting section. There was also karting at the Palace of Pioneers. Now there is not a single station in the city, and the circle in the Palace of Pioneers was also destroyed. They closed it - it’s hard to say, they simply destroyed it!
We fought, wrote letters, and everywhere they had the same answer. About five years ago I went to the governor of the Samara region for a reception. He didn’t accept me, but my deputy accepted me.
After that, we were given premises where we were based. We have a lot of children who want to go karting, but very poor material conditions do not allow us to recruit children.
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Contact me, ADDRESS FOR PACKAGES, 446012 Samarskaya, 47, you can contact me through social networks SERGEY IVANOVICH write to xxUbahbi4xx@ Always, being on the wave of success, you need to do works of mercy, give alms. And if the Lord helps in difficult circumstances, then do not forget about gratitude afterwards. Then He will not forget about your needs.

Many deep water fishing enthusiasts prefer to install motors on boats. Making an electric boat motor with your own hands is quite simple and cost-effective. This is caused by the high (one might even say prohibitive) cost of modern boat engines. The price of some is comparable to the cost of a car. It is not profitable to purchase an old outboard motor that has been used frequently. It costs a lot, but bringing it into working condition will require a lot of effort and money.

An electric boat motor can be purchased either in a specialized store or made on your own from various devices and tools.

Operating principles of electric motors

Despite the development of technology and production, a boat motor remains a rather expensive thing that not every owner of a small boat can afford. The lower price limit for the cost of a new motor is about 30,000 rubles, while the upper limit can reach the same figures, only in dollars. Therefore, a homemade electric motor for a boat based on electric motors from various household devices is a good solution that will save money. In addition, you will gain good experience in design.

Electric motors have a number of advantages over other types of motors:

  1. The electric motor is the most common type of motor and can be found almost everywhere.
  2. They make little noise when operating (compared to internal combustion engines), which is especially important when fishing.
  3. They are safe to use. Low probability of fire, do not explode.
  4. Cheapness. Asynchronous electric motors are the cheapest motors that exist.

Disadvantages of electric motors:

  1. The electric motor is afraid of water; accordingly, it should not be in water and should not be flooded.
  2. The speed when sailing on a boat with a motor should be about 7-10 km/h under load. Therefore, the minimum engine power should be at least 1.75-2 hp.
  3. You should think about power sources in advance. Since the electric motor requires electricity, you should purchase batteries in advance and prepare a place in the boat for their installation. If you have the funds, you can purchase a generating solar panel that can be installed on top of the batteries and connected to them. Important: the solar panel should not be the only source of energy, it must work in conjunction with batteries (which may be the only sources of energy). You should take into account the weight of the batteries (they are quite heavy) and after installing them, do not overload the boat.
  4. Determine the operating conditions. For example, speed will naturally drop if you swim against a current or wave, or in a strong headwind. It is important to determine the purpose of installing the engine. If the main goal is to sail “race” with other boats, then an electric motor will not be suitable for this purpose. If sailing under unfavorable conditions (wind, waves, currents), you should take an engine with a power reserve.

When the necessary technical requirements are formulated, you can proceed to the implementation of the project. It's worth starting with calculations.

How to calculate parameters

The first thing you should pay attention to when calculating engine power is the conversion of units of measurement from one system to another. Often, when calculating the power of a propulsion system on boats, horsepower is used, and the power of all electric motors is indicated in watts. To convert watts to hp. it should be remembered that 1 kW = 1.36 hp. or 0.74 kW = 1 hp.

To calculate power, please refer to GOST 19105-79. To calculate power, you should measure the length of the waterline, deadrise, side height and the maximum possible weight of the boat (weight of the boat + weight of all passengers + weight of the engine, power supplies + weight of equipment and equipment). The 1 HP formula will work for most boats. per 25 kg weight. For punt, PVC and planing boats, the calculation formula is 1 hp. for 35 kg of weight. For example, consider the option with a two-seater PVC boat.

The weight of the boat is about 25 kg. Weight of 2 adults: 80x2 = 160 kg. The weight of the motor and batteries is about 20 kg. In addition, the weight of the equipment is about 15 kg. The result is: 25 + 160 + 20 + 15 = 220 kg. Motor power is 220/35 = 6.3 hp. Let's convert horsepower to watts: 6.3 * 0.74 = 4.66 kW.

The capacity of the battery is calculated using the formula: P/(Uх0.7), where 0.7 is the battery charge coefficient (since it is not possible to charge the battery 100%). Actually, for 5 kW and 12 volt power supply, 5000/(12x0.7) = 595 Ah is required. Let's round it up to 600. This battery will keep the engine running for 1 hour. If there is no battery of such capacity, then you can take 2 x 300 A*h, 3 x 200 A*h or 6 x 100 A*h and connect them in parallel. If it is necessary to ensure the engine operates for a longer time, then the resulting ampere-hours are multiplied by the number of operating hours.

Necessary materials

Once the calculations have been made, you need to prepare all the necessary tools and materials. To make a motor you will need:

  1. Electric motor. It can be removed from various household tools or purchased from appliance repair shops. Motors from a screwdriver, drill, grinder, circular saw, etc. can be used. If the power of the selected engine is less than necessary (for example, if you take a screwdriver engine), then you should take 2 or 3 pieces of the same power from several screwdrivers. Several pieces should be connected in parallel, and it is not necessary to mount them on one bracket.
  2. Batteries. Selected by ampere hours. How to do this is described above.
  3. Materials for the bracket. Can be any. It is recommended to use PVC pipes as they are cheap, durable and easy to work with.
  4. Gearbox. Can be used from household appliances or purchased separately.
  5. Screw (propeller). You can remove it from an old Soviet fan (models with steel screws) or make it yourself.
  6. Speed ​​controller. There is no point in installing it on such a vessel, but if you wish, it is worth purchasing a mechanical one.
  7. Clamps. Several pieces for attaching the bracket to the boat.
  8. Consumables: glue, self-tapping screws, screws, tape, etc.

How the work is carried out

The first thing to do is attach it to the boat. It is made from clamps to which clamps are welded under PVC pipes so that the clamp of the clamp is fastened to the side of the boat. A PVC pipe must be inserted into the clamps, inside which there will be a shaft. The length of the pipe depends on the height of the side and should ensure that the propeller is immersed below the waterline (preferably with a margin of 10-15 cm) and raise the engine to a height inaccessible to waves. The diameter of the pipe must ensure free movement of the shaft. As a shaft, you can use any rod (preferably made of stainless steel) with drilled holes at the ends. Such a transmission shaft can be mounted on the engine shaft and on the propeller axis without transmission links. It is important to seal the lower end of the pipe with a sleeve.

Next you need to tackle the underwater part. You should use a PVC pipe of larger diameter (preferably a tee), in which the gearbox with the propeller shaft is installed. It must be attached to the rack by soldering to ensure a tight connection. The ends of the pipe with the gearbox installed are sealed with bushings or a thick layer of silicone (the first is preferable).

The propeller shaft outlet should be sealed. Next you need to connect the upper and lower gearboxes with a shaft.

At the final stage, a structure is made for installing the engine and gearbox (upper). The structure for installing the engine must be sealed on the water side (so that the engine does not flood), and on the boat side there must be ventilation holes and a power supply. Its dimensions and shape depend on the size of the engine and how it is mounted.

With such a motor you can safely go out into calm waters or calm seas.

This article is also available in the following languages: Thai

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