First, let me provide some context. I'm considering having a customised Neel 45 built for my future long distance cruising, which should eventually include
Europe to
West coast US via the Northwest
Passage. The choice of
boat is not the point of this post.
I'm seriously considering having an
electric saildrive engine (15 kW Oceanvolt) instead of a
diesel engine (not too radical so far), but also not to have a
diesel generator at all. Thus, I will be entirely reliant on energy being generated by the 2x
wind generators, 2kW
solar panels and 2x hydro
generator.
The weight saving by not having a diesel engine (200kg), diesel generator (100kg) or diesel & tank (350kg) allows me to have 400ah 48Vdedicated
battery bank for the
propulsion and a 1000 aH 12V
battery bank for the household items and still be 200kg lighter. With an
inverter, I can run AC, dive
compressor, etc.
With this set up, the only time I can not generate
power to recharge
batteries is on windless nights, foggy days, either at
anchor or if the vessel can not go at least 3 knots (which a
trimaran will easily do in a 6kt wind).
A slightly less radical approach would be to have a diesel generator to have instant
power if needed, but negates the objectives, or to have a methanol
fuel cell as an option.
The up front cost is considerably higher, mainly due to the cost of
Lithium batteries, which are not coming down as fast as predicted. But, for being totally energy independent, and thus avoiding very expensive marina
fees just to
plug in to recharge, as well as hardly any
maintenance costs (compared to diesel), this in the long term should reduce the total cost difference.
So, the feedback I'm looking for from the forum members, especially the experienced long distance cruisers, is the pros/cons/challenges that will come with this type of system.
Thanks,
Floating Dutchman