Jumping Ship to Power?

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

I was told Transatlantic21 was going to Florida.

Apparently, no one wanted to spend the time and energy to bring Transatlantic21 back across the pond to Basel.

I hope to keep track of it. Like you, I'd make an offer on it.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I hope to keep track of it. Like you, I'd make an offer on it.

You will be the first to know if I hear anything. She would really be a sweet ride for an Eco minded cruiser

[Ataraxia]

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

You do not need lithium batteries to have a viable electric boat.

The key is to have a boat big enough to have a large area for solar panels.
Traditionally a big boat is an expensive boat, but it doesn't have to be.

A trimaran is essentially a monohull that is very wide,
so one can have a monohull "price",
but a surface area big enough for a lot of solar panels.
And a trimaran is well suited as a lightweight boat that can be driven without a lot of power. So while I am starting with a cat, I can imagine taking a monohull, removing the lead keel, adding amas, and converting it to a solar trimaran at a very reasonable cost.

JackB

A Passagemakerlite designed by Tad Roberts would probably be a suitable monohull.

[nimblemotors]

If I had $250k at my disposal, I would be out looking at John Hitch's X-IT.
Boats for Sale, Talisman
While it is a sailboat, just imagine it without the mast and sails, and covered with solar panels, replace the outboards with electric versions.
This is something along the lines of what I hope to build.

JackB

[Quintessa]

I have changed to power after having many yachts cats.i really don't think it any more expensive. The expense come from putting on more goodies and creature comforts. Water makers hot water gensets etc. In my option the pluses outweigh the negatives. You want to do 100 miles and you do it in 10 hours and allows you nice anchorage

[deckofficer]

Quintessa, tell us about the powercat Stanyon.

[ranger58sb]

I think I'd be inclined to compare all those solar numbers against just cruising with the 1800 RPM diesel genset(s) running. Solar charging in a quiet anchorage sounds nifty.

I like sailing, too, but all the deck clutter from stays, sheets, winches, lines, etc. puts me off... and comparatively-poor visibility from down closer to the water doesn't suit me. (Although sometimes being up on our flybridge is like trying to steer from a bosun's chair, halfway up the mast; not without it's drawbacks.)

-Chris

[Quintessa]

Chris


The thing I have dealt with Quintessa is to set it up with 12 volt systems so get set is used as little as possible. We have wind generator and solar panels. I would love to put on watermaker to run off the main motors but where do you stop. That is the main reason we use the getset is to make water as it is 240 volt. I also like no sheets, winches etc. the other real bonus we have the layout of the boat is all one level so when on passage we can make a coffee or sandwich without climbing up and down from the fly bridge. We only have 3 steps down into the main cabin. It is a very good live aboard vessel and great vision all the time unlike many yachts. I to love sailing and when all is good nothing beats it but really it is not that often. I left an anchorage the other day with 3 other yachts who all left before me just to do short hop 40 miles. They were all sailing with motors going and sails flogging from side to side. After a couple of hours we had passed all and the last one we passed had all sails down and just motoring. Why not use jump ship and power in comfort. I feel so sorry for yachties when pissing down rain, blowing and cold. The inside of the boat is all wet and bashed all day to get 150 miles on a good day. I am not sorry to change to power and women in general much prefer comforts which we have in Quintessa. The luxuries of water, hot and cold, washing machine, fully queen size bed, keeping dry on passage, and not having to live like a third class citizen has a lot of benifites. Going to power boat cruising would definitely recommend power cats as far more eccomical. The negative with power cat is range which stops you doing 3000 mile crossings. Hence we are just doing pacific islands and SEAsia.