Guru
Joined: 15/07/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 676
| Posted: 04:02pm 07 Jan 2016 |
We headed off for our Christmas trip to Adelaide, via Townsville, White Mountain, Mt Isa, Barkley Homestead, 3 ways, Alice Springs, Uluru, Macdonald ranges, Pebbles, Devils Marbles, Kings Cannon, Rainbow valley and all those good places to go and see. We went right down to Port Elliot on the south coast, below Adelaide. Almost all states, Qld, NT, 200 odd km from WA border, SA, Vic, NSW. I wanted to go to Canberra too, ACT, but decided not to drive just to see how far it was. Western Plains Zoo was cool, camped in the zoo 1 night. Total clocked distance, 8250km.
Ankara, we got straight into setting up the double canoes. At first we made the two tie beams fairly close together, the canoes had wide flat area there. Life jackets on, Dale and two of his cousins (Cameron and Shallan) help drag it to the water and had the first ride. Maiden voyage, it floats and was good for balance. The weight of the batteries were good in the middle, but the steering only worked if there people in the front seats. Real funny trying to nose up wind and it just would not turn. My Dad was next to have a ride.
We then set about changing the positions of the tie beams. The motor had to go further back to make the steering work properly. Dale and Cameron helped to make these changes. We also fitted the solar panels and more tie down straps to brace it better.
At the rate of power from the solar panels, 11.5A, we could drive at 7.6km/hr, that’s no power from the batteries. With some power from the batteries, at 33A, top speed was 9.2km/hr.
Trev @ drivebynature.com