After testing the Bixpy motor in the Hobie Drive slot in yesterday’s post, I switched it to a stern rudder mount. The big advantage of this configuration is that the motor can kick up if it hits an object and also it can be used on any of my canoes, even without the pedal drive modification.
The disadvantage is that reverse is basically useless and also steering felt a bit sloppy and difficult to control but I think that might have to do with how I built the rudder plate so I’m planning to redo that and test it again.
Due to a minor design flaw on my rudder I accidentally discovered that this configuration will spin the can do 360° when the rudder got jammed sideways. I could see this being useful in tight waterways.
I’ll have to tweak this whole set up again and take it out for another test. By the way, all the racket is because this is directly underneath a very tall bridge, and there are nesting peregrine falcons.
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