T-Pain Is On A Boat: [Electric Boats] Re: Hello, New to group - do I have enough data to consider conversion?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

[Electric Boats] Re: Hello, New to group - do I have enough data to consider conversion?

Welcome to ElectricBoats! Denny's and "audeojude"'s responses put you in the ballpark. The only way you could get similar performance from a pure electric system is to have an onboard nuclear power plant.

Another option is hybrid. In your case, propulsion would be 95% conventional (what you already have, or maybe slightly more efficient engines) and marginal 5% electric, much like a small gas trolling motor. The electric would be no-wind, no-current, slow moving. The petroleum motors would be for speed.

Another hybrid option is new: kites. Big ocean going freighters are starting to fly propulsion kites when the wind is favorable, saving thousands of dollars of fuel per day. They are still using their petroleum engines, just not as high a throttle setting for similar performance.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/22225

Perhaps a little electric, a little wind, and mostly petroluem?

Take care,
Mark Stafford

--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, "mager_d" <mager_d@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> This looks like an awesome group! I would like to take the next step in an electric conversion but am not sure if I have or can even get enough data to due the job right. Here is what I know about my houseboat(this info comes from a brochure I found).
>
> 1975 Kings Craft Houseboat
> Length 55'
> Beam 15'
> Draft 33"
> Weight 18,500 Lbs.
> Hull Bottom 3/16" Aluminum
> Hull Sides 1/8" Aliminum
> Hull description - Modified vee which tapers down to a full length
> keel that doubles as a water tank.
> Engines - 2 225hp Chrysler with vee-drives and
> 2:1 reduction gears.
> Drive: 1 1/4" stainless steel propeller shafts.
> Propeller: 4 blade (I need to measure it)
> Speed: 28Mph
>
> What other data would I need to start considering a conversion project?
>
> Thanks for looking!
>