Phew… You are almost done with this build. Now it’s time to mount everything to the boogie board. Your boogie board will probably be different from mine and your junction box could have different dimensions, so these instructions are somewhat general. Let’s get on with the boogie board mounting step. When you finish, it should look something like the picture below
Motor bracket mounts
- Place your junction box in the center of your boogie board, slightly towards the back
- You want the weight of the junction box and the thrust from the T200s to push the “bow” up as the Maker Boat Basic is moving forward
- Use a ruler or measuring tape to ensure the junction box is positioned in the center of the boogie board
- Trace the perimeter of the junction box with a pen or marker
- Place the 3D printed right motor bracket on the left side of the junction box
- Push a 3 mm threaded rod through the holes on the motor bracket and into the foam of the boogie board
- Remove the motor bracket and use a 3 mm drill bit to drill through the hard plastic bottom of the boogie board
- Repeat for each hole
- Mock up the attachment of the T200 mounting bracket and the 3D printed motor bracket to ensure that the mounting holes line up.
- Trim the threaded rod to size using a hacksaw
- Use a file to remove any burrs
- Leave enough room for washers and nuts on both ends of the threaded rod
- Apply thread locker to each end of the rod
- When the T200 and the right bracket are securely mounted, position the left bracket firmly against the junction box
- Poke holes in the boogie board foam with the 3 mm threaded rod and finish the holes with a hand drill
- Place the T200 on the bottom of the boogie board and line up the holes
- Trim sections of the threaded rod with a hack saw and remove burrs with a file
- Apply thread locker to both ends of each rod and secure the T200 and bracket to the boogie board with washers and nuts
- Drill an 8 mm hole to the outside of each T200 thruster to pass the thruster cables
- Feed the thruster cables through each hole and into the junction box via the IP68 cable glands
- Connect the thruster cables to their respective ESC
- Secure excess thruster cable to the bracket with a zip tie
- Position the front bracket firmly up against the front of the junction box
- Use a ruler or tape measure to center it
- Poke holes through the foam with the 3 mm threaded rod and finish them with a hand drill
- Trim sections of 3 mm threaded rod with a hacksaw and remove burrs with a file
- Apply thread locker to both ends of each rod and secure the front bracket to the boogie board with washers and nuts
- Position the top of bracket for each fin directly in front of each motor on either side of the junction box
- Poke holes through the foam with the 3 mm threaded rod and finish them with a hand drill
- Trim sections of 3 mm threaded rod with a hacksaw and remove burrs with a file
- Apply thread locker to both ends of each rod and secure the front bracket to the boogie board with washers and nuts
- Tie a piece of thin rope (we used paracord) to the rear of the left brack
- Run the rope across the top of the junction box and tie it to the front bracket
- Repeat with another piece of thin rope that runs from the right bracket, across the top of the junction box to the front bracket
- When you finish, you should have something that resembles the picture below
After you have finished mounting everything you can calibrate all your sensors!