Hi Jake,
I checked out the link and the marketing info is typically misleading. They say that the $2000 SL1 can run "up to" 4 hours and achieve "up to" 5mph. Let's check out those claims. The lead acid battery is 420Wh (12v x 35Ah). To run it for 4 hours, the draw would need to be less than 80W to 100% discharge. Let compare that to a kayak (more slippery) with a very efficient drive. 80W will drive a 51 lb Prijon Prilite touring kayak at about 3.5mph. Looking at the SL1 FAQs, they state that 3-4mph should last 2.2 hours and that is a 130W draw.I'm guessing that 4 hour "cruise" would be about 2mph. The top speed of 5 mph (360W) will run the battery completely flat in less than 40 minutes. They use a term "full speed cruise" that can last "up to 1.5 hours", that's 180W and nowhere near their claimed top speed. It's funny how they don't provide actual data related to duration at various speeds to better describe their product.
Likewise, the $8000 RX1 info is a little vague. With claims of "up to" 2.5 hours and "up to" 24mph, the actual performance sounds a little different. The Lithium battery pack is 3kWh (48V x 60Ah) so a 2.5 hour draw to 100% discharged is 1100W or 22A. They do say that 4mph can cover 48 miles that works out to a 250W (48V x 6A), so 22A may be about 6mph. If the top speed of 24mph takes 100A, then the batteries will run from full to flat in 33 minutes and that agrees with their FAQs.
So I don't know if the SL1 would be appropriate for commercial duty. The regular populace won't be gentle on the equipment, and the recharge time after a single 1 hour rental might require a fleet that only has 1/3 to 1/2 of the boats in service at any given time. If the lake is very small, and one couldn't run around at full speed for very long, then the SunLounger may be OK. The RX1 could also be used as an emergency vessel on a small lake, but the payload capacity would have to be vetted for its intended use.
You should evaluate one of these in person before you start building any business plans. You'll need accurate performance info before you can tell if it makes economic sense.
Good luck,
Eric
Marina del Rey, CA
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "eichenberger_j" <jteichenberg@...> wrote:
>
> Hey everyone. I am new to the group but I am very interested in the emerging market for electric boats. I am trying to put together a running list of blogs/websites that focus on this trend. I have a few sites that I have begun to build this list with and I am hoping some of you have some favorites as well.
>
> Does anybody have any suggestions? I recently saw a few boats at a radio broadcast on Lake Minnetonka that were made by Go-Float, LLC. After some research it seems like these guys have a interesting take on using electric power for small boats. A very cool-looking boat and a very attractive price point as they start under $2000. I can see these things really taking off in the rental/resort market as a much 'sexier' pedal boat, if that makes sense. Also could be a life-saver for people who own lake shore where gas motors are prohibited. Check out their website at www.go-float.com and let me know what you think of their new idea.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jake
>
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