Peter Volken Smidt – episode 10 – Electrifying a Contest 30

August 1, 2023
Series

Introduction Robust-MT Marine Technology BV

Those who cannot divide cannot multiply! We at Robust-MT Marine Technology BV believe that success is a combination of factors. Knowledge is just one of these, but it is useless without facilities, resources, capacities, etc. It is for this reason that we will never be frenetic about sharing knowledge or providing a platform to someone else who deserves it or when there are useful knowledge to be shared.

Previous episodes:

1. How it all started

2. Removing the old engine

3. A boat on dry land and the removal of remaining parts

4. A hole in my torso, what next…

5. Building up the layer thickness

6. Making a foundation

7. Peeling the underwater hull

8. Armor coat, everlasting protection

9. The (temporary) installation of the pod motor

Preparing the engine compartment

Diesel engine compartments are often dirty and smeared with oil residue. Or let me just say my engine compartment was dirty and old. While it may have once been a tidy space with soundproofing materials, after more than 40 years, nothing remains. Touching it crumbles the pulverized insulation like dust. If modern, clean peripheral equipment is to be installed here in the future, I think the space needs to be clean and tidy. Furthermore, the battery needs to be installed in the same place as the engine, and that's not possible with the current uneven foundation.

I therefore decided to completely overhaul the engine compartment. I had hardwood wedges cut for the old foundation, and I drilled holes for the engine support bolts to fit perfectly. I treated the wedges with epoxy and secured them to the old foundation. The wedges were aligned in height with the new engine base. The current engine compartment walls were dirty, and holes had been made here and there over time for practical purposes. I finished the walls with waterproof plywood, which I cut precisely to size. Fortunately, most of the surfaces were straight, making it a relatively simple job to create a nice new plywood base.

To finally create a cohesive whole and also to redirect the engine's power back to the old foundation, I decided to coat the new engine compartment with a layer of fiberglass. This wasn't just beneficial for the power, but also meant that if some water did manage to get in, it wouldn't be a problem.

I'll fill in imperfections with epoxy paste, round off the corners, and sand away any minor corrections. Then I'll cover the entire space in two coats with a thick, irregularly patterned fiber that I still have lying around. Despite working in impossible positions, the result looks like a monolithic whole. Now I just need to finish it with a DD varnish. But that will take a while, since the temperature needs to be at least 15 degrees Celsius for that..

About us

Robust-MT Marine Technology BV is located in Monster on the edge of the water-rich Westland . Located in South Holland between Rotterdam and The Hague, but also near Delft and the North Sea. Our showroom and workshop are also located on a main waterway. We also have a berth on the Haringvliet, near Zeeland, where we can also arrange trial runs. We also work with a renowned yacht builder and shipyard in Woubrugge near Amsterdam and North Holland. This location also has its own port, a large crane as well as a heated and unheated warehouse. In summary, no matter how big or small your project is, we can provide you with the products and support you need.

About our products

Do you want to buy a new electric motor for your boat or, for example, convert an existing boat to electric propulsion? Everything you need to make your project a success is available in our webshop We offer the widest range in the Netherlands in the field of electric motors and drive systems for pleasure boating and at the best prices. We also distinguish ourselves through our own experiences with electrification of existing boats and therefore guarantee that your expensive purchase also leads to a positive experience. products on sale in our webshop , we post our own test reports in our blog page and we also offer complete sets of motor, battery and all additional required equipment. Our homepage also contains a number of reviews and ratings from satisfied customers, we would like to add your review here.