Wanting to convert to Electric Drive

[NCSailor52]

I am looking at a project boat, a Catalina 30. I'm a day sailor with a little coastal cruising along SE coast. Has anyone any experience with converting to electric drive? Or do you have a direction you could point me to find out info and resources? Just starting, I will keep you posted.

[cal40john]

The google custom search found in the search pull down above does a good job of finding things in cruisersforum

i.e. --

https://cse.google.com/cse?siteurl=w...ive&gsc.page=1

[NCSailor52]

Awesome. Thank you.

[Stumble]

One of the best places to see a full conversion is THE BIANKA LOG BLOG he documents every step along the way to convert a nunsuch 30 (I think) to full electric. I would start there.

For a daysailer its a very serious alternative with some real upsides.

[sony2000]

Here is a good forum, with a used system for sale.

Discussion Forum - Electric Seas

I'm there as well.

[w1651]

Wait! Stop!
What are you going to use it for? Are you a regular sailor? Do you sail or motor most of the time? These are just a few of the questions you will need to ask yourself. Do diligence is the first step you need to take before you make this investment. I installed electric on my contest see the address below. There are many types out there and I pieced mine together for what I need. I will be adding pics of my solar to charge the battery bank soon.
You also need to think about, charging the batteries and resale.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...3-a-55556.html

When I did mine I had a very focused reason for wanting it and I don't mind being becalmed out there. You may need more then I do.

[reed1v]

Why do you want to do this? Cat 30 is a fairly large boat to be pushing with a battery. Look up the engineering specs on speed/battery drain/displacement. Probably will need an onboard generator to keep system topped up unless this is only for getting in and out of the slip. Or cut the keel off to reduce resistance and power drain.

[spiv]

Check Torqeedo, they do outboards and inboard electric systems.

[LByers]

I work for Lake Union Charters and Adventures in Seattle and all our boats are electric. One of them is a Cal 3-30--approximately the same-sized boat you're converting. The company owner did the conversion himself. PM me and I'll connect you.

Cheers!

[Emouchet]

You may want to look at what Sailinguma.com did. They converter their 1972 pearson 36 to electric:

Sailing Uma— Electro-Beke

It is also YouTube documented, fun to watch, ep 19-20 if I remember well

[grjfield]

I recently converted my 40 x yacht from diesel to Electric...check out Electric Yacht as I think they have several conversion stories...including mine soon.

[zloitapok]

Hi,
I'm converting a 25 ft sailboat to electric inboard. Displacement is 4000 lbs, motor 3 kW DC brusless, two LIPO batteries each 4 kW*h, at 48V. Connection and wiring doing myself. My conversion overall cost ~3200 USD.

[reed1v]

sounds expensive.

[roverhi]

You better be sure you don't want to go anywhere or are willing to sit for days when the wind fails. For most battery powered sailboats motor run time will be a few hours at slow cruise or minutes beating into a headwind/sea. If you KNOW all that you will do is power out of the marina till you can sail and sail in nearly to your destination then power into the slip, you might be happy.

If you are actually going to go anywhere a diesel or gas engine is the only way to go. As an example, just did a delivery from Alameda in SF Bay to Oceanside in SoCal. The first day out got the crap beat out of us though we were averaging 7 plus Knots sailing in a 23' waterline boat. Unfortunately had a number of gear failures including rigging that made setting any sail impossible. Had to power more than 40 miles into Monterey to effect repairs. If I'd been restricted to battery power would have been out there still with subsequent gail force winds from the NW then a period of flat calms with overcast and then Gail force winds from the SW. As it was, just turned on the engine and powered for 12 hours to get into Monterey. Waited out the northerly Gail force winds and left in the windless period. Had to go into Moss Landing for more repairs and then a final leg to Oceanside under power with no wind. All in all nearly a 100 hours of engine run time over slightly more than a week and 400 miles. If I'd been restricted to battery power, would have had to face gail force winds from two different direction and long periods of calms with little hope of getting into a safe anchorage.

Better pay up your tow insurance if you go electric.

[barnakiel]

Torqueedo makes inboard and outboard electric. Very expensive.

I investigated but to get anything reasonable one needs heaps of batteries or else a genset onboard. End up with a heavy heavy kit.

If you are happy with only very short range and moderate speeds then this is doable. I think a typical scenario say 10 minutes out of the dock then 10 minutes back to the dock, not too much wind&current either.

b.