T-Pain Is On A Boat: Re: [Electric Boats] Boston Whaler Project

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Re: [Electric Boats] Boston Whaler Project

Hi Monte,

Mastervolt makes a 26v 160ah Li-ion battery that weighs 106 lbs. Torqeedo makes a 26v 75ah Li-ion battery that weighs 42 lbs. (4) GPL4C lifeline AGM giving 24v 220 ah would weigh 260 lbs.

I'd be a little leery of the science experiments with shrink wrapped LI-ion cells and add on BMS.

Did you consider a Torqeedo cruise 2.0? Not such a neat mounting but similar in cost and probably a lot more push than the trolling motors with the tiny props. As you probably know they sell LI-ion batteries as well. You could drive the Lenco system with the Torqeedo batteries.

Hard to beat the tilt up and steering functions of the Lenco system. Too bad they don't sell them with the Torqeedo power units - that would be the best of both worlds.

Denny Wolfe

----- Original Message -----
From: Monte Gisborne
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 2:32 PM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Boston Whaler Project

I am always impressed by the broad range of experience and expertise that
this discussion group seems to attract and retain, so I decided I would put
a question out and invite all to ponder and respond.

I am working on a project involving the eco-enhancement of a fleet of 19'
Boston Whalers to allow the operator to opt to propel the boat using an
electric drive when there is no need to be up on plane. I have chosen the
36-volt Lenco Dual Digital propulsion system since it would work seamlessly
with the existing 150+ HP gasoline-powered outboards and complement them
rather than compete with them, as well as add the trim tab functionality.
When off plane, it would be a simple matter of turning off and tilting the
gas motor up, lower the Lencos and switch operation from helm steering to
the JoyRide T joystick. Quite simple and effective as I see it since
neither system will interfere with the other.

The question I pose is that we probably need to look beyond lead-acid since
we are trying to limit the overall weight increase of this parallel-hybrid
system. A 200 amp-hour, 36-volt nominal battery pack would be considered a
minimum. We are also concerned about battery longevity as they will get
tossed around quite a bit in the open waters on full plane and subject to
vibration and other environmental hazards. Cost is certainly a factor, but
not the dominating one.

Any thoughts on this out there in e-boatland?

Monte Gisborne, B.Tech.

Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company

207 Bayshore Drive, R.R.#3,

Brechin, Ontario Canada L0K 1B0

(705) 484-1559

(416) 432-7067 (cell phone)

monte@tamarackelectricboats.com

www.tamarackelectricboats.com

Tamarack Lake... Where Water and Electricity Mix!

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