I ran across this device and thought it might be an alternative to solar panels/batteries that that many of you bring for your electronics?

Don't own one, don't know anyone who does. I've always thought that some smart person would find a way to harness water/paddling power and this looks
like what I had in mind.

Check out the video:
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Looks very interesting, durability of the prop blades looks like the main weak point dragging it around the BWCA and Quetico boulder fields. It maybe possible to make a cone shaped rock guard to clamp on to it.

Quote:

It maybe possible to make a cone shaped rock guard to clamp on to it

I thought the same thing. Obviously, there are places you would want to use it but if it charges as they say, then some clever person can make a rock guard very easily.

My first thought was to take a plastic gallon vinegar bottle, cut the bottom off and slip the tether thru the top and adjust the fit so the props wouldn't hit but the cone would deflect the rocks. Something cheap and DIY.

Very cool find ST.  They should show up at Copia with that.  I wonder if MP couldn't whip one of these up over a weekend?

pd

portage dog wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2018 at 9:34pm:

Very cool find ST.  They should show up at Copia with that.  I wonder if MP couldn't whip one of these up over a weekend? pd

I bet he could. I had visions of something like this in my head for a long time but lacked the technical knowledge to make one myself.
I bet MP could come up with a DIY one too?

I don't know about electric adapters BUT if you could find a way to adapt the UBS outlet to the standard power plug on a fish finder, that might be the best of both worlds?

Charge it fully before leaving home then when you're done using your fish finder throw it behind the canoe and charge it while your paddling?

MP could read the specs and tell us if that's practical for sure.

I found the mfg website. Watch the video, they have a prop guard on a newer version.
They ARE expensive BUT if they would power a fish finder and charge other electronic gizmos like GoPro cameras then I guess expensive is in the eye of the beholder.  ;) ;D

I sent them an E-mail asking/suggesting an adapter from UBS to fish finder power cord if that's possible and the charger would run a fish finder?

I'll post if I hear back? They might be PETA folks since they're located in LaLand Los Angeles.  ;) ;D ;D We'll see.  ;D ;D


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I found some specks to make evaluations.  It weighs 628grams and will put out 5 watts if you pull it through the water at 1.2 meters per second.  I don’t think in grams and meters per second. So 1.2 meters per second is about 2.7 miles per hour.  You can paddle that speed if you are not dragging an anchor. 628 grams is about 1.4 pounds. My fish detector requires about 2.8 Watts to operate.  The output voltage out of it is for charging cell phones so you will need a voltage converter (if you can find one) and that will weigh .5 to 1 pound and will only be about 90 percent efficient the power will be stored in the attached battery which will be about 95% efficient and go into the fish detector battery which will be about 95% efficient so you will get to use about 80% of the power generated in your fish detector. So 80% of 5 watts is 4 watts.  So one hour of paddling will get you about 1.4 hours of fishing time. That is a rough estimate but it gives you a estimate.  I just put together some battery packs for W13 which if wired differently would run my fish detector for 24 hours and they weigh 1.9 pounds.  Neat little gadget but I don’t want one.

MP - thanks!  I knew you wouldn't disappoint with the tech specs and a good explanation.  Cool little gadget, but like so many other things that make life easier, it has to fit the application or it's less than worth it.  Now, if you were base camping at Louisa Falls and mounted it in the flow path, you might get enough juice to power a few strings of lights and a camp disco ball!

pd

pd
I think you got it.  For a long base camp trip beside a fast moving stream it might work out.

Magicpaddler wrote on Sep 24^th, 2018 at 12:33am:

So 1.2 meters per second is about 2.7 miles per hour.  You can paddle that speed if you are not dragging an anchor.

But you will be dragging an anchor, so to speak, the generator. The energy being transfered into the battery ultimately is coming from your paddling effort.  They give no indication of what kind of drag that adds when placed behind a boat.

I also chuckled at the commnet in their video at one of the reasons for the generator, using it to power a cell phone to keep in touch with family/friends.  Thta is not really an issue if you have a cell phone like mine, that uses revolutionary technology that allows to last for weeks without reqiuring a charge.  First, when left on, it is capable of maintain a chrage for over a week!! :o  Second, it has an off button, making it easy to triple its battery life by limiting having it on to just 8 hours a day!

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Quote:

They give no indication of what kind of drag that adds when placed behind a boat.

That kayaker didn't appear to be struggling to tow it, I would wager in a tandem canoe with 2 paddlers and load you wouldn't even know it's there.

The guys that fish seriously haul stringers of fish which REALLY adds so drag.

Now whether you NEED something like this, is another matter altogether. I don't think you NEED a phone or a fish finder but many think you do which is why I posted this.

Just another option if you think it would be for you.
The last couple of years I see more trip reports with pic/video from GoPro cameras. Charging them plus having a waterproof camp light might be just the ticket to some people.

I have one of those LED forever flashlights in my Go bag that you shake to charge the battery.

Maybe in the future, some smart guy/gal will come up with something that used the motion of the body as you paddle to charge a battery. That would be something.

You may have a hand generator laying in your garage. I have seen where people take an old battery powered drill and put a crank in the chuck and make a generator out of them. 

Magicpaddler wrote on Sep 30^th, 2018 at 5:25pm:

You may have a hand generator laying in your garage. I have seen where people take an old battery powered drill and put a crank in the chuck and make a generator out of them.

There are all kinds of video's showing how to use a cordless drill to charge batteries/UBS devices or even for making a DIY water wheel generator.

If you trip with a crew and some of them are kids with boundless energy that needs to be channeled so as NOT to drive the adults crazy, taking turns cranking a DIY generator might be an option for you.  ;) ;D ;D

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solotripper wrote on Sep 30^th, 2018 at 5:49pm:

Magicpaddler wrote on Sep 30th, 2018 at 5:25pm: You may have a hand generator laying in your garage. I have seen where people take an old battery powered drill and put a crank in the chuck and make a generator out of them.  If you trip with a crew and some of them are kids with boundless energy that needs to be channeled so as NOT to drive the adults crazy, taking turns cranking a DIY generator might be an option for you.  ;) ;D ;D

ST I think you may have hit on something there.  Bring a video game that is a battery hog and a hand crank generator. Maybe bring the pull behind generator and on moving day tell them the faster they paddle the more it generates.

Magicpaddler wrote on Sep 30^th, 2018 at 6:02pm:

solotripper wrote on Sep 30th, 2018 at 5:49pm: Magicpaddler wrote on Sep 30th, 2018 at 5:25pm: You may have a hand generator laying in your garage. I have seen where people take an old battery powered drill and put a crank in the chuck and make a generator out of them.  If you trip with a crew and some of them are kids with boundless energy that needs to be channeled so as NOT to drive the adults crazy, taking turns cranking a DIY generator might be an option for you.  ;) ;D ;D ST I think you may have hit on something there.  Bring a video game that is a battery hog and a hand crank generator. Maybe bring the pull behind generator and on moving day tell them the faster they paddle the more it generates.

  ;D ;D ;D