Imagine gliding effortlessly over the sun-dappled waves, your catamaran slicing through the water like a hot knife through butter. This is the dream of every custom catamaran owner, and achieving it requires not just passion, but also the right technology. If you are looking for new ideas to upgrade your custom catamaran boat, this is just the article for you! We will cover highlights of Gregory Kingsley’s custom catamaran boat upgrade with our PA-06 Waterproof Electric Linear Actuators for an automated drop down kicker motor bracket.
Why Opt for a Drop Down Automated Kicker Motor Bracket?
Automated drop down kicker motor brackets represents a fascinating blend of engineering and practical boating innovation. They provide a valuable upgrade for custom catamaran boat owners looking to enhance their on-water experience.
- Convenience at Its Best: Automation means that you can deploy or retract your kicker motor without leaving the helm. This not only enhances convenience but also increases safety, especially in rough waters.
- Precision and Control: With a user-friendly control system, you can precisely adjust the motor's position, allowing for optimal performance whether you're docking, fishing, or simply cruising.
- Space-Saving Design: Custom catamarans are all about maximizing space and efficiency. An automated system neatly tucks away the motor, preserving the sleek aesthetics of your vessel when it's not in use.
- Durability and Reliability: These systems are typically built with high-quality materials resistant to corrosion and the harsh marine environment, ensuring long-term reliability.
Designing and Building a Kicker Motor
Gregory Kingsley had a one-off custom displacement catamaran designed and built, however, he wanted to mount a kicker motor in the middle. In his search for the ideal kicker motor, he found that nobody makes a bracket that swings down with 28 inches of travel. This motivated him to learn how to weld and eventually build one himself to the exact size and measurements needed for his catamaran.
After many hours searching on Google for actuators with suitable ratings, he found Progressive Automations. Gregory drew out the design on his shop floor in pencil and tested it with the travel ratios until he was satisfied with the plan. After confirming the measurements, he ordered our electric linear actuators and the necessary metal pieces to build the frame and begin the project. The automated kicker motor bracket lifts a mercury 25hp pro kicker that weighs about 155 lbs.
Gregory used two of our PA-06-24-180 actuators, each rated for high Ingress Protection ratings of IP67M for waterproof capabilities, a 24 inch stroke length, 180 lbs dynamic force, and 360 lbs static force. Power is supplied to the circuit from the ship's 12 VDC electrical system which also conveniently happens to be compatible with the 12 VDC operation of our brushed DC motors in our PA-06 Waterproof Electric Linear Actuators. A single BRK-06 mounting bracket set was also purchased by Gregory, a useful component during the prototype testing phase of the project before the installation of his very own custom brackets.
Wiring the DPDT Control Switch
The two actuators are connected in a parallel circuit to a double pole double throw switch for reversing the polarity to extend and retract them. This is a similar style of wiring such as those that use our DPDT style rocker switches and can be achieved by following a few steps:
- The upper-left and lower-right terminals must be connected to the ground of the power supply.
- The upper-right and lower-left terminals must be connected to the +12V terminal of the power supply.
- The middle-right and middle-left terminals must be connected to the 2 inputs from the actuator.
The wiring was extended with solderless crimps sealed with glue-lined heat shrink and connected to 14 AWG tinned marine wire. The wires then run through a grommet where all controls for the outboard enter inside the ship. This type of actuator switch wiring allows the operator to change the direction of electrical current flow entering the actuator to change travel direction. For a physical example of an actuator wiring circuit with a rocker switch, this video is a great example.
Normally, positional feedback is recommended when multiple actuators are required to travel together synchronously at the same speed. This is because the motors being mass-produced have a +/- 10% speed tolerance that is usually corrected in feedback-compatible systems with programming.
While this setup has no synchronization or positional feedback, Gregory determined that the tolerances were within an acceptable range from his prior tests. During his testing phase, Gregory found both actuators reached their close and open limit almost identically and were sharing the load perfectly. In the event of an overload condition, Gregory has a 5 A fuse protecting both actuators for electrical protection. In the future, Gregory believes the project will still need him to change a couple of bolts and clean up some welds for refinement, but right now, he is having way too much summer fun using the kicker motor bracket!
Customer Testimonial
“Built a hinge down kicker bracket with their electric actuators. Been using them in the salt water environment for a year now and they still look/operate as new. Nice quality stuff.”
Gregory Kingsley
To see more cool projects by Gregory Kingsley, feel free to check out his social media platforms below!
Facebook: Kingsleycat Ventures Ltd
https://www.facebook.com/people/kingsleycat-Ventures-Ltd/61559287916912/
Instagram: kingsleycatventures
https://www.instagram.com/kingsleycatventures/?hl=en
IN SUMMARY
Our PA-06 Waterproof Electric Linear Actuators offer high protection suitable for marine industries and versatile specifications in a sleek form factor. This makes them very popular for upgrading jet skis and custom catamaran boats.
Thank you, Gregory, for sharing your project! We hope the drop down kicker motor bracket will continue serving you well for many years to come!
We hope you found this as informative and interesting as we did, especially if you were looking for inspirational ideas for upgrading your catamaran boats. If you have any queries or wish to discuss our products further, please do not hesitate to contact us! We are experts in what we do and will be happy to assist however we can.
sales@progressiveautomations.com | 1-800-676-6123