Everything I see about
electric motors is "maximum" data.
Maximum Thrust
Maximum Horsepower
Maximum Wattage
Maximum Ampreage
These are, after all sailboats
The have their own
propulsion units(sails)
For a twist on
electric and renewable
power I'm thinking more in line of using an
electric motor for "assistance" to the sail.
Just a little more
power . . . a little more movement . . . a little better pointing when needed.
When the sailboat is only moving 2+ knots, maybe the electric motor(running about 1/4 speed), would make about 3-4 knots achievable, which will get you to your
destination "a little sooner".
When the sailboat can't quite make the high-up heading you're striving for, the electric motor(running at 1/4 power or so), will help make the heading more possible.
I'm not necessarily talking about the "electric"
motor being the main source of auxillary power(although that's what I'd like).
BUT . . . rather using the
electric motor at a greatly reduced power-level and coincidently using a
solar panel to maintain(or better) that particular level of
electrical usage.
Is it realistic to use self-sustaining
electrical power to make the sailboat
work just a little better?