05-01-2006, 12:37 PM
[black][size 3]That is a sweet set-up. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I used a similar approach when designing my foot operated system - at least the mounting bracket that is attached to the motor shaft. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Because the extended arm would have interfered with my aft angled rod holders(and other things on the back section of my pontoon boat), I took a different approach.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I went with three cheapo pulleys attached to each side, and ran ropes down the pontoon frame on either side of my seat and hooked the forward terminal ends of the ropes by my foot bar. Then I attached a web strap foot harness to the end of the rope, just past the last pulley, and looped them around my feet - a push / pull action of my feet would turn the shaft of the motor and steer my pontoon. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]If I wanted to change the speed, I would have to reach around and do it with my hand. I was devising a wiring solution to that when I realized that I could just use the swivel seat option and overcome that issue and solve some other challenges at the same time. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The foot steering system was the solution that I had further modified and used to steer my pontoon when I experimented with running two electric motors simultaneously - one on the back and one on the front on the pontoon. With the addition of two more pulleys on each side, the appropriate stringing of ropes and by locking down one motor or the other to run straight, I could easily adjust things to switch and steer either motor with just the push and pull action of my feet, and still have my hands free for fishing. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]During my experiment using two motors, I didn't notice whether the front or the back motor steering gave me any real advantage in maneuverability. I would have had to repeat the experiment more in different conditions and eliminate some of the other additional inherent variables to evaluate that. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The greatest increase in maneuverability came with rerigging the two motors to steer simulaneously - i.e. the front motor pointing left and the rear motor pointing right. This however, made the turns too tight for trolling as the rigging I had wasn't precise enough for that kind of control - it did make turning on a dime possible in close quarters though.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I only used these set-ups a few times because of the complexity of setting it up, and the additional challenges involved with having the reduced fishing area and extra weight and gear to run the whole apparatus. But, it was fun to do and it did get me some great eyebrow raises and provided some good entertainment for a quite a few spectators that watched the entire process in action. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Disclaimers: Don't try this without adult supervision and an approved Coast Guard PFD. Also, have a back up plan "B" - like a couple of trusted associates close by in boat.[/size][/black]
[signature]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I used a similar approach when designing my foot operated system - at least the mounting bracket that is attached to the motor shaft. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Because the extended arm would have interfered with my aft angled rod holders(and other things on the back section of my pontoon boat), I took a different approach.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I went with three cheapo pulleys attached to each side, and ran ropes down the pontoon frame on either side of my seat and hooked the forward terminal ends of the ropes by my foot bar. Then I attached a web strap foot harness to the end of the rope, just past the last pulley, and looped them around my feet - a push / pull action of my feet would turn the shaft of the motor and steer my pontoon. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]If I wanted to change the speed, I would have to reach around and do it with my hand. I was devising a wiring solution to that when I realized that I could just use the swivel seat option and overcome that issue and solve some other challenges at the same time. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The foot steering system was the solution that I had further modified and used to steer my pontoon when I experimented with running two electric motors simultaneously - one on the back and one on the front on the pontoon. With the addition of two more pulleys on each side, the appropriate stringing of ropes and by locking down one motor or the other to run straight, I could easily adjust things to switch and steer either motor with just the push and pull action of my feet, and still have my hands free for fishing. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]During my experiment using two motors, I didn't notice whether the front or the back motor steering gave me any real advantage in maneuverability. I would have had to repeat the experiment more in different conditions and eliminate some of the other additional inherent variables to evaluate that. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]The greatest increase in maneuverability came with rerigging the two motors to steer simulaneously - i.e. the front motor pointing left and the rear motor pointing right. This however, made the turns too tight for trolling as the rigging I had wasn't precise enough for that kind of control - it did make turning on a dime possible in close quarters though.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I only used these set-ups a few times because of the complexity of setting it up, and the additional challenges involved with having the reduced fishing area and extra weight and gear to run the whole apparatus. But, it was fun to do and it did get me some great eyebrow raises and provided some good entertainment for a quite a few spectators that watched the entire process in action. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Disclaimers: Don't try this without adult supervision and an approved Coast Guard PFD. Also, have a back up plan "B" - like a couple of trusted associates close by in boat.[/size][/black]
[signature]