Battery powered 30' sailboat under construction

[sandiegoskipper]

For those of you interested in the concept of converting from diesel to electric, there is a chap in Maine with a wonderful daily blog who is a converting a Mystic Legnos 30 over to full battery power. Thought you might enjoy watching his progress here. lackeysailing.com

Skip

[Drew13440]

Originally Posted by sandiegoskipper

For those of you interested in the concept of converting from diesel to electric, there is a chap in Maine with a wonderful daily blog who is a converting a Mystic Legnos 30 over to full battery power. Thought you might enjoy watching his progress here. lackeysailing.com

Skip

With all due respect, your link looks more like an advertisement for a marine service provider than an activity blog.

FWIW, a CF member, @GrowleyMonster has been down this road and shared his progress:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-129944.html

[sandiegoskipper]

Unless you live in Maine and have a lot of years to wait for service, this guy isn't available. He's a one-man, one-boat operation which hardly qualifies as a "marine service provider" in my wheelhouse... I just thought that readers might like to watch the progress on this one in particular as the concept of electrically power boats seems to be growing in line with electrically powered cars. I know I'm eager to see how it develops.

Skip

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by sandiegoskipper

the concept of electrically power boats seems to be growing in line with electrically powered cars

I think true solar-powered boating requires a purpose-built ground up design costing millions and marginally practical except for calm water inland use, canal cruising etc.

Conversions are just a hobbyist science project or marketing stunt.

That said, thanks for tge link I am also curious to see any actual implementation attempts.

[akprb]

Waste of time unless that is your hobby-converting diesel to electric.

If your hobby is actually cruising go cruising.

[Bleemus]

He picked a hull with a lot of drag for electric. I wish him luck.

[fatherchronica]

It seems this socalled marine service provider may not have cruising as his only interest, what is up with that. Why oh why would he tinker and fill his time on a project that clearly these other folks think is a waste of their hard earned time I will never know. More power to him. Every once in awhile I notice a thread here that gets attacked by naysayers immediately, and I have to say that usually the one being attacked seems like a more interesting, motivated person.

[fred4936]

Thank you for the link! I converted my Tartan 27-2 about 6 years ago and am very happy with it. It is not for everyone, nor is it perfect. But a good solution for many.

[robertmmcdermot]

Hi,
Maine Cat, maker of the MaineCat30, MaineCat38, and MaineCat43, has announced plans to market an electric powered MC38, and will offer a re-power kit for the MC30 (I don't know about the MC43).
The non-electric MC30 uses 2 8Hp Yamaha outboards. These will be replaced by 2 Torqeedo Cruise 4.0 outboards. Torqeedo has announced a 48v Lithium battery with impressive stats, due June 2018.

I've already put my name on the list for a re-power...

Rob

[waterman46]

If all sailboats were electric powered, we would not cruise very far and we would have to become better sailors and learn to be patient.

Still waiting for actual and meaningful performance reports on any electric boats.mmm

[robertmmcdermot]

Electric power isn't for everyone. But for some of us who primarily use the engines to get in and out of ports, (and sometimes to complete a tack) it satisfies the need. And, isn't sailing all about 'patience'?

My main reason for the post was to point out that at least one "real" boat manufacturer (albeit 'small') is confident that there's a market out there for electric auxiliaries (even at an extra cost of about $15K over gas engines).

Rob

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by Drew13440

With all due respect, your link looks more like an advertisement for a marine service provider than an activity blog.

FWIW, a CF member, @GrowleyMonster has been down this road and shared his progress:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...on-129944.html

Hey, that's me! Am I famous yet?

This is the year where I actually start adding solar, I hope hope hope...

[LoudMusic]

I think there's absolutely a market for it. If I was a lake sailor I'd probably be an easy sell for an all electric system.

[john61ct]

I also think there's definitely a market.

That doesn't mean the motivation is rational or sensible, but such decisions rarely are.

A cat definitely makes more sense than heavy monohull, lots more room for solar.

And if you need an ICE gennie on board anyway, a hybrid system can be sized, capable of propelling the boat without using the batteries (much)

Not as pure from a green POV but at least overcomes the safety objections.

[Olorin]

When we were on a mooring in Whangerei, New Zealand the fellow next to us had an electric powered auxiliary mono sailboat. It was solar powered. He used it to power on and off his mooring and a few miles to get to where he could sail.

His operation was a half step up from a friend who winters in the USVI and summers in Maine. USVI guy has no auxiliary engine at all and uses a long sweep to move the boat when there is no wind.