Adam,
Please check your premise when evaluating the financial impact of the decision. Let's assume that petrol and diesel both cost about the same, $1.40 AUD/liter. I'm in California, so you can adjust the fuel prices to your local sources. Also, diesel electric will not be twice as efficient as petrol outboards.
Dual petrol outboards should burn less than 4 liters/hour at electric equivalent speeds (5kts) or $1.12/nm.
If the dual diesel electric drives burn 3 liters/hour at the same speed, then they cost $0.84/nm or a savings of $0.28/nm.
If you circumnavigated the globe (25,000nm) entirely under power at 5kts, your total fuel savings would be only $7,000.00. A more realistic figure of 1000nm/year will save you $280.00 annually.
Of course, you can pick alternative drives because you're interested in new technology or just because you want to, but try to be realistic when formulating financial justifications.
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "nzsilvia" <nzsilvia@...> wrote:
>
> hi again everyone, thanks for all the advice!
>
> the main reason i am put off petrol outboards is the lower fuel ecnomy.. i will be living on the boat for probably at least a year before i get sails and moving around alot. plus i plan to live onboard longterm exploring overseas eventually so the fuel saved should overcome the likely larger initial investment....
>
> thanks.
> adam.
>
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