Electric powered PWC aka Yamaha Waverunner WR500

Submitted by Buckeroo Bob on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 16:09.

Other Electric Vehicles

I have an original Yamaha Waverunner WR500 which I want to donate to the University of Louisville rowing team to use as a coaching boat when they practice on a restricted lake that does not allow gas powered watercraft of any kind. I was thinking that the U of L Engineering Dept. might be able to convert the Waverunner to electric. Has anyone else done something like this? Thanks for any info.

------------

Login or register to post comments
Email this Forum topic

Re: Electric powered PWC aka Yamaha Waverunner WR500

Submitted by chas_stevenson on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 17:06.

Hi Bob,

Great to hear from you, how's the electric banana running?

The only electric conversions I have ever seen for water have some version of a trolling motor or a small gas motor with an electric motor in place of the gas engine. I am not sure how you could get an electric motor to turn the impeller fast enough to get the jet ski to move very well. Of course that doesn't mean it can't be done. I think it is a very interesting project you'll have to let us know how it works out. Hope you can get some pictures of the internal workings.

Chas S.

------------

Moderator Captain

Type of Bike	Battery	Amp	Motor	Internal Hub	Range		Top Speed
or Trike	Voltage	Hours	Watts	Transmission	Miles	Kilometers	MPH	KPH
Merida 1	36 Lead (AGM)	12	400	4-Speed	18	29	23	37
Adult Trike	36 Lead (AGM)	24	350	3-Speed	30	48	14	23
Merida 2	36 (5P 12S A123)	11.5	400	7-speed	30	48	30	48

Login or register to post comments
Email this comment

Re: Electric powered PWC aka Yamaha Waverunner WR500

Submitted by Buckeroo Bob on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 17:24.

Thanks for a reply. The "Electrical Banana" is out and about now that warmer weather has arrived...sporadically here in the Bluegrass...and working flawlessly! This electric craft would only need to move at slow speeds up to 10-12 knots. Part of their efforts would be to modify the pump/impeller parameters. It would be used by a rowing coach to monitor the women's crew as they practice on a small lake. I'll call the Speed Engineering School at The U of Louisville and see if they would like a project that would benefit the University.