T-Pain Is On A Boat: [Electric Boats] Re: 29' CAL Looking to switch to EV

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

[Electric Boats] Re: 29' CAL Looking to switch to EV

Randy,

Don't overlook the possibility of recharging your batteries by capturing the energy of the prop's turning while you're under sail.

md

--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "r.ramjet@..." <r.ramjet@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Keith.
>
> Thanks for the interest in my problem.
>
> First we sail mostly in our Home port of Sandusky Bay in Ohio on Lake
> Erie, and around the islands. It's great to be able to go out in almost
> any weather condition and not have to face 8-10' short waves if you
> don't want to. Although I do that sometimes as well when it's warm and
> I want a change of pace.
>
> My comment on the under power is more concerned with head winds and
> waves. A short story, We went to Put in Bay for the weekend. took 2
> hours to get there. Great Sail at hull speed. Wanted to get back the
> next moring before the wind really picked up to 35. Reefed the main,
> unrolled a little Jenny and off we went. Great sail again till I had to
> turn more south and had to tight haul into the waves and wind. (It took
> us 8 hours to get back, not fun).
>
> Started motor went about 30 mins into the wind, only problem was we
> could only go about .5 KPH over water speed. Then beacuse of age of
> boat and tank and engine, the engine died from a plugged fuel filter. I
> Guess the rust in the tank wanted out of the boat as much as we did.
> ;-).
>
> We get 6 knots at 2500 PRM in flat water which is great. Don't really
> need much more than that except in certain conditions (you know the
> stupid one like I described above).
>
> We rarely go through more than a few gallons of fuel during the summer.
> It's mostly used for going to the weekly race course or in/out of the
> marina.
>
> Every place I have stayed has shore power, But I know I will need some
> other way of charging the batteries. I plan to do the solar panel but
> that won't be enough for long trip recharges. I also think that a small
> Honda generator would suffice for power for the chraging system as well
> as house needs if we are not close to shore power.
>
> As far as range. We have always sailed in the Bay/Islands but we now
> want to go cruising with the cruising fleet at SSC. I am thinking that
> 4 hours of running at dead calm could get us to almost any port up or
> down the shoreline in Lake Erie. We are not fans of motoring so I don't
> see us leaving a dockage without good wind forecasts.
>
> As far as your comment about repacing the W-B, Everyone I have contacted
> here has quoted in the 5500-10,000$$$$$ range for a diesel. NOT CHEAP.
> That's why I am looking seriously at the electric option.
>
> Randy
>
> CAL 2-29, Ariel, Sandusky Sailing Club
>
> Sandusky, Ohio
>
>
> --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "aweekdaysailor"
> <aweekdaysailor@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Randy,
> >
> > Welcome! I have a boat very similar to yours that I converted to
> electric a while back. When you say the Westerbeke is underpowered - can
> you elaborate? What kind of speed do you get at full-throttle? At
> cruising-throttle? And if you know the size and pitch of your prop that
> will also help.
> >
> > Also please describe the sailing conditions (typical, as well as
> worst-case) - currents, wind-patterns, etc.
> >
> > We also need some sense of how much speed and range you expect
> (without auxillary power like a genset). On your weekend trips - will
> you have access to shorepower?
> >
> > The Thunderstruck kit is not intended for direct-drive - they just
> leave the mounting as an exercise for the reader :) Note that there are
> vendors with more turnkey systems, but are priced accordingly. This
> system will typically need a 2:1 reduction.
> >
> > Best-case - you are looking at about $3K for a setup
> (motor/controller, batteries, cables, trays, meters, transmission, etc)
> including a lot of DIY effort. You probably already know you can replace
> your w-b for about the same or less.
> >
> > The pros and cons are going to depend a lot on you and your
> expectations. Your inclination to being fastidious (I am not) and
> detailed oriented (ditto) will mean a lot. Mechanical/electrical skills
> also count (much to my dismay).
> >
> > It is helpful to put electric in context - think about all the trips
> you have taken - now imagine you started with 1 gallon of fuel and think
> about how the trip would have changed.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > -Keith
> > e-S/V "Aja" - 1978 Hunter 30
> > San Francisco
> >
> > --- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "r.ramjet@" r.ramjet@ wrote:
> > >
> > > I have a westerbeake 1 lung 9hp diesel that is woefully
> underpowered. This winter the JB Weld that was dealing a cracked block
> in the water jacket sprung a leak. It is now time to take a serius look
> at an inexpensive EV system.
> > >
> > > I looked at the Thuderstruck page and it seems to be the cheapest
> and fairly simple to install.
> > >
> > > We pretty much do day sailing with some weekends in the plans.
> > >
> > > It also looks a\like a direct drive system rather than a belt
> system.
> > >
> > > Can anyone enlighten me on the pros and cons?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Randy
> > >
> >
>