MOG’s Test Drive Defined…
The MOG has ventured from the nest with spectacular results. A short but scenic video record can be found at...
The following is a comprehensive report on the journey and of the tests performed and of the positive results from the cruise:
Although most of the 60 mile (round
trip near Wilmington, NC) was under the drive power of the 60 hp Mercury
outboard auxiliary engine, the electric motors were tested many times
throughout the trip as evidenced by the following summation.
The test plan devised and fulfilled,
was to test the new electric motors, stored electricity, solar collector array,
solar controllers, motor controllers, remote control steering and auxiliary
engine integration. Added to that rather large plate of technical inquiry was
the human test side of the new hot water system, food storage, potable water
system upgrades, waste/sanitation and ergonomic considerations.
All this was packed into four days
of, learning large boat - shallow water navigation, grounding and hull
integrity, re-floating (arising from sticking in soft bottoms), new boarding
ladder design test, anchor placement and retrieval, fixed anchorage/wind
best placement (alleviates running AC unit at night) and creating a good general
living environment. Most was accomplished at Masonboro Island, a thin barrier
island devoid of all human presence except a few visitors and occasional
campers. Seven kayaks and their 10 occupants were at the island's sound side
beach when Hillary and I arrived. They were there to enjoy, in the same
appreciative fashion, the beauty and power of God's creation. When they
departed, Hillary and I realized the true comfort of nights and days to be
spent dipping in the ocean 200 feet away and walking in the sound and its
beach. With all the comforts of home and the use of AC if needed, dining,
showering, radio, talking, reading and sleeping aboard were all absolutely
grand mini-events.
The electric motors were placed
under maximum thrust and split second reversals when initially exiting the slip
at Cape Fear Marina at about 1300 hrs Saturday, September 7, 2013. The motors
did exhibit a known controller program malfunction for which I made
compensation. There are times when a motor might hesitate from forward to reverse.
However, this is not a problem with its robust power and steering. A value that
needs modification in the motor controller's internal program must be altered
and the only way to know is to test rigorously. The motors and controllers are
indeed very impressive.
A three mile electric motor test was
also made (saved for the return leg of the trip) for extended 90% throttle
operation completely under RC (Remote Control). At this time the twin electric
drive motors were purposely driven (no gasoline engine used in this test)
without water cooling in a controlled 'near destruction' mode. The motors ran
superbly and shut down as intended by the internal heat sensors. No harm was
done to the electric motors because of the safe shut down. The gasoline
auxiliary engine was then employed and completed the trip while the electric
motors cooled. Back at the Cape Fear Marina in Wilmington, the electric motors
were restarted and performed as if no shut down had occurred.
A great deal of operational
scenarios were completed and now, back in port, all of the data needs to be
sorted through and each item addressed to completion. I look forward to the
challenge and even more to getting back out onto the water. This was but a
small sojourn into the Great Loop and what a pristine and gorgeous area of
nature in which to inaugurate our journey.
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