Re: [electricboats] Newbie - 20+ foot boat for wide/long river in Guyana, South America

Raj, 

Besides William Atkin, I suggest you look at the designs of Phil Bolger. In some ways they are kindred spirits, a generation or so apart. Both were very practical designers. 

Some people disparage "Bolger boxes." But remember he designed "HMS" Rose, aka HMS Surprise in "Master and Commander."

/

Greg DeCowsky ☠ 

Sent from my AyePhone® 

On May 16, 2023, at 21:12, rragbeer@wgsinet.com wrote:

Hi Reuben

I have not yet finalized on a boat size.  The more information I collect, especially from the responses I have had so far, I am more I am inclined to consider a vessel which I can use for living quarters if I would like to overnight on the river instead of back in the villa.

The outboard vessels which are around today in the river can do the 30 miles in about 55 min.  I do not mind going slower but more than 2 hours to do the trip may not the suitable.  Your two 10kW motors cruising for 5 hours at 5 knots would do the trip in just over 5 hours.  Am I calculating this correctly?

Budget - I truly do not know. In my thinking, 50 to 70 k was the figure but this may not be realistic and I have this number simply based on pure guesswork.

I do have the full solar set up for the villa and will likely be expanding the system so I will have access to solar power for charging.

I am inclined to go electric  because we are likely at a point where the advances in electric will be so much in the next year or 2 that my investment in a gas outboard motor may be not the best bang for the buck.  I am still 50/50 on this due to speed and possibly cost.

Appreciate the response.

Raj

-----Original Message-----
From: electricboats@groups.io <electricboats@groups.io> On Behalf Of Reuben Trane via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 6:52 PM
To: electricboats@groups.io
Subject: Re: [electricboats] Newbie - 20+ foot boat for wide/long river in Guyana, South America

I'm an advocate for electric propulsion. Before being able to offer any suggestions, one needs a bit more info.

1. How big a boat are you considering?
2. What speed do you want to go and for how long?
3. Budget?
4. Excess solar power for charging?

Most likely the battery will be the most expensive component. You can build your own using cells from Winston or other manufacturer - no more difficult than doing model trains as a youth.

The major outboard manufacturers are just beginning to offer electric outboards. Torqeedo has a variety of products - both outboard and inboard.

It's easier to go slow - but speed can be done with modest distances/operating time.

As an example, my 12m cruising cat has a 1,000AH/48v LFP battery using Winston cells and weighs close to 1,500#. My two 10kW motors can cruise for 5 hours at 5 knots.

Best wishes,

Reuben Trane
Mobile: 786.303.1013